Columbus, OH –  In a memorandum to all Kentucky harness horsemen, Kentucky Harness Association President Bob Brady provided on an update on the status of proposed medication regulations.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has indicated that they are hopeful that these regulations will be heard at the August 25, 2020 meeting of the General Assembly’s Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations.  If these regulations pass, they will become law on the same day.

In his memo, Brady requested that all industry participants publish the attached KHRC notice to all horsemen licensed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission regarding proposed medication regulations that are in the final stages of the legislative process.

If passed, these regulations will apply to anyone intending to race in Kentucky.  Along with the notice, Brady included the updated Withdrawal and Threshold Guidelines from the KHRC that would apply as part of the new regulations.

These regulations include:

• the 48-hour NSAID restriction and the ban on stacking;
• the 14-day stand-down on intra-articular corticosteroid injections and the ban on stacking;
• the 24-hour restriction on furosemide administration for 2-year-olds;
• the ban on bisphosphonate use in horses under 4 years old;
• the restriction on race day use of electronic therapeutics; and
• the medical history and veterinary examination requirements for entry.

Any questions regarding the proposed regulations should be directed to Bruce A. Howard DVM at 502-338-3730 or by email at bruce.howard@ky.gov.