BC to Employ National Medication Reforms

The Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held for the first time under reforms included in the National Uniform Medication Program.

California adopted parts of the national program earlier this year. Breeders' Cup adheres to jurisdictional regulations and also has its own integrity-related rules.

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium said the event, to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park, cited three aspects of the reform program: uniform medication guidelines; administration of furosemide, also called Salix or Lasix; and accredited laboratory testing. The Controlled Therapeutic Medication Schedule, which establishes testing threshold levels, became effective in California Oct. 1.

Protocols will be in place again this year requiring third-party administration of furosemide. The process includes additional security that limits access to horses on race day.

Breeders' Cup has its own rule that mandates horses be on the grounds 72 hours before their respective races, with heightened security through the week. Breeders' Cup follows the upgraded testing protocol under the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association graded-stakes program.

The RMTC said post-race testing of Breeders' Cup runners will be conducted at the University of California-Davis Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, which is RMTC-accredited.

"We commend Breeders' Cup, the California Horse Racing Board, Santa Anita Park, the Thoroughbred Owners of California, and the entire California racing industry for taking these important steps, and we look forward to the day when every jurisdiction in the country will have enacted these important reforms," RMTC executive director Dr. Dionne Benson said Oct. 29.