New York Regulator Gathering Information on Changes
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New York regulators said they are carefully eyeing racing industry developments involving restrictions on riding crops and the January start by the New York Racing Association and other tracks to begin phasing out the use of race-day furosemide (Lasix).
The New York State Gaming Commission told staff Dec. 19 to meet with representatives of the Jockeys' Guild regarding California's recently approved proposed rule to limit the number of times a jockey can use a whip on a horse.
"That would be very beneficial and useful in providing us some guidance,'' board chairman Barry Sample told the commission's staff.
The panel did not specifically state it is considering following in the footsteps of California, which last week gave preliminary approval to a rule limiting the number of times a jockey can strike a horse in a race to six—with no more than two in succession without a deliberate pause.
The New York regulators noted concerns were raised by the Jockeys' Guild about the California rule-making effort and that they want to hear more about the specifics of those concerns from the commission's staff at the next meeting in January.
Commission members also want the staff to provide information about the fledgling effort—set to begin Jan. 1—by NYRA to start limiting race-day applications of Lasix. NYRA is a founding member of the track-led Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, which formally launched last month and plans sweeping medication policies, including the elimination of race-day Lasix for 2-year-olds.
"I think that's a great step in the right direction,'' said board member John Crotty, who has been pressing for Lasix restrictions for at least a couple of years.
The board has been considering new Lasix restrictions and this year sent a questionnaire to industry stakeholders seeking their input on the state government possibly moving to ban race-day Lasix. A group of Thoroughbred tracks this year unveiled an effort to limit Lasix's use on race days, starting Jan. 1 when the track-imposed standards will be applied to 2-year old horses.
As with the riding crop issue, New York regulators did not signal what next steps they might take regarding Lasix.