from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — The United States Trotting Association, through the Medication Subcommittee of the USTA Board of Directors, has established a group, to include both academic and practicing veterinarians, to be called the Harness Racing Medication Collaborative (HRMC).

The HRMC’s purpose is to assist in identifying and developing the scientific background for medication regulation in Standardbred racing. Scientific research projects may be conducted if needed to support Standardbred regulatory policy, once funding can be organized.

The USTA plans to provide the HRMC’s reports and supporting data to the Association of Racing Commissioners International, which would transmit those reports to its regulators in the various racing commissions.

The members of the USTA Medication Subcommittee are:

Joe Faraldo (Chair)
Sam Beegle
Mark Loewe
John Brennan
Andrew M. Roberts DVM
Robert Boni

The Medication Subcommittee identified the following veterinarians as having expertise in the Standardbred racehorse:

Dr. Thomas Tobin
Dr. Kenneth McKeever
Dr. Mary Robinson
Dr. Clara Fenger
Dr. Peter Kanter
Dr. Richard Balmer

Additional practicing and academic veterinarians will be invited to join the HRMC.

“The HRMC will close a gap in the science and policy underlying Standardbred medication regulation,” stated USTA President Russell Williams. “Our primary goal is to improve the quality of medication information available to our regulators.”