by Kimberly Rinker, for the Ohio State Racing Commission

Columbus, OH — The Ohio State Racing Commission will focus on a trio of priorities in 2017, it was announced at the Jan. 17 monthly meeting.

Chairman Robert K. Schmitz announced that the OSRC plans to address the regulation of advance deposit wagering platforms and review recommendations by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium and Association of Racetrack Commissioners International.

“ADWs are currently unregulated here and it’s time the commission examined them to see how they’re regulated in other jurisdictions and develop a plan to oversee them in Ohio,” acknowledged Chairman Schmitz.

Medication testing procedures are currently performed at Ohio’s seven pari-mutuel racetracks and at county and independent fair horse racing meets. Chairman Schmitz says he hopes to implement regulations that would provide for out-of-competition medication testing at training centers, farms and county fair ovals when racing is not being conducted.

The Commission’s third area of focus will be to study RMTC and ARCI medication proposals.

“We need to have industry input via meetings with both the Thoroughbred and harness racing entities,” Chairman Schmitz stated. “It’s vital that we study the trends and issues that horsemen and permit holders face in order to uphold the integrity of racing in the state of Ohio.”