by Steve May, Vice President and Business Manager, Association of Racing Commissioners International

Saratoga Springs, NY — The Drug Testing Standards and Practices Committee of the Association of Racing Commissioners International will hold a special meeting later this month in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to consider expert opinions relevant to the association’s review of current regulatory policy.

Proposals to phase out the raceday use of furosemide by some RCI member regulators have triggered an industry-wide debate on the issue that was the focus of an international summit held last month at Belmont Park that was sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.

“Although the summit was helpful, there was limited opportunity for regulators to ask questions of the participants. It was the consensus of those present that a follow-up meeting was necessary,” RCI President Ed Martin said.

The DTSP Committee will meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26, at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs.

“The central question for regulators is the extent to which the removal of this medication on those days a horse actually races would pose any significant equine health risk,” Martin said.

To examine this issue the committee will hear from Tom David, DVM, Chair of the RCI Regulatory Veterinarian Committee and Scott Palmer, DVM, Chair of the AAEP’s Racing Committee.

Expert testimony will also be presented by N. Edward Robinson, DVM, from the Center for Integrative Toxicology at the Veterinary Medical Center at Michigan State University. Dr. Robinson is recognized as an expert in the study of animal lung dysfunction, particularly equine airway disease. He directs the Equine Pulmonary Research Laboratory at MSU, which is dedicated to studying the pathogenesis and treatment of diseases of the air passages (airways) of the horse.

Racing journalist and author Bill Heller will brief the committee on the history of allowing a raceday administration of furosemide in North American racing, based on the information contained in his book, “Run, Baby, Run: What Every Owner, Breeder, and Handicapper Should Know About Lasix in Racehorses.”

“The committee is also interested in the views of horsemen’s organizations as to how a transition to a new furosemide policy should be implemented if it is determined that a change is warranted,” Martin said.

Both the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and the National Horsemen’s Benevolence & Protective Association have been invited to appear in person before the committee. It is anticipated that other groups will be invited to submit written position papers following the July 26 meeting.

RCI Chair William Koester, a member of the Ohio Racing Commission, has proposed the complete phase out of furosemide as a permitted raceday medication. The RCI Board has determined that a review of the current regulatory policy permitting horses found by a veterinarian to demonstrate any level of exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage to be treated on raceday is warranted.