Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton Expand Sales Medication Policy

The joint announcement April 30 from Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton sales companies of new medication policies for all auctions effective immediately should have a positive impact, instilling confidence in buyers. That was the consensus from several people involved with the sales process following the announcement of restrictions on the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and bronchodilators, including Clenbuterol.

The following changes in the medication rules will govern all sales at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton:

Bronchodilators (Including Clenbuterol)

On all horses with the exception of broodmares, broodmare prospects, stallions, and stallion prospects, bronchodilators are prohibited within 90 days of sale. The administration of a bronchodilator for valid, on-label purposes prior to July 1 of a horse's yearling year is permitted but must be disclosed in the Repository with a note of explanation from the treating veterinarian.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatories

• All horses except 2-year-olds and horses in training—no more than one NSAID administered within 24 hours prior to sale.
• 2-year-olds and horses in training—No NSAIDs administered within 24 hours prior to sale.

Corticosteroids

• All horses except 2-year-olds and horses in training—no more than one corticosteroid administered within 14 days prior to sale.
• 2-year-olds and horses in training—no corticosteroid administered within 14 days prior to sale.

Buyers may now elect to have post-sale testing for anabolic steroids, bisphosphonates, bronchodilators, and the use of NSAIDs and corticosteroids in violation of the conditions of sale.

The most substantive of the new policies are the restrictions on Clenbuterol, a legitimate bronchodilator that can affect a young horse's growth with long-term administration.

"It's not a huge change other than the policy on Clenbuterol," said Eaton Sales' Reiley McDonald, who buys and sells at many auctions. "That needed to be done, even though it's only been abused for yearlings by a small percentage of consignors. Simply put, it artificially makes a yearling look bigger, stronger, and better. Now everybody is on a level playing field, and buyers should have much more confidence that what they see is what they get. It was a great move by the sales companies and needed to be done. I believe the other changes (were) minor. Decreasing the number of NSAIDs down to one from two within 14 days is no big deal. I probably wouldn't even have made that change myself, but certainly there is a positive in doing so."

Patrice Miller, the vice president of Equine Biomechanics & Exercise Physiology, is an active buyer at all major auctions and advises breeders who sell. She applauded the moves by Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton.

"I think we really have to be very aggressive on medication," Miller said, adding that most of EQB's clients take advantage of the sales companies' policy of permitting post-sale drug testing as a part of the conditions of sale. "Everybody has bought the 'incredibly shrinking yearling.' Really, all you have to do is feed them and they blossom; that is the way it's supposed to be. The drug thing is horrible. It puts a very bad taste in everyone's mouth. I don't think they can be aggressive enough. They aren't just hurting themselves and the horses, but those things just hurt all of us in the end. It has got to start with the very basics, with the people raising the horses."

Kerry Cauthen of Four Star Sales said the policies were well thought out in that they provide for the therapeutic use of the medications, especially Clenbuterol, while reining in abusers.

"When you find out people are abusing something, you put better rules in place," he said. "The hard part is creating rules that prevent the abuses without removing the legitimate uses of these things. I think they did a good job in balancing that. I believe the vast majority of breeders and sellers are behind reasonable modification of rules and procedures that make for a more level playing field."

Acknowledging he may be naive when it comes to the off-label use of a drug like Clenbuterol, Cauthen said he was unaware of the potential for abuse until the sales companies began steps toward the initiatives announced Thursday.

"It's well known it can be used to clean up the respiratory system, and that is an appropriate use," he said. "I had not understood the use of Clenbuterol on a long-term basis until I heard about these efforts to reform. The bottom line is when we discover abuses of medications, it is common sense to put restrictions in place. If we find out it's not good enough, then we should take another step."

"I don't think they will change the way we (or most consignors) operate," said Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency. "It's a pretty straightforward change that should be positive. Putting in specific language about Clenbuterol is definitely a good thing."

The reforms are in addition to 2-year-old medication restrictions announced this year by the two companies, the 2009 action banning the use of anabolic steroids in sales horses, and last year's ban on the off-label use of bisphosphonates in horses younger than 4.

Keeneland president and CEO Bill Thomason and Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr. said in a joint statement: "We remain united in our advocacy to serve the best interest of the horse. The use of medication is the most critical issue facing the Thoroughbred industry, and one that threatens the confidence of both the marketplace and the public. These reforms continue to promote transparency and integrity, and in doing so, strengthen the entire auction process."