Consider the consequences of changing drug regulations in Louisiana

Industry and horsemen organizations are expressing concerns about possible negative consequences for Louisiana following veterinarian-run track rule changes that would repeal restrictions on controlled drugs and allowing increased use of substances of high concern, such as clenbuterol and corticosteroids.

The move goes against the rules nationwide as most jurisdictions have added restrictions on the drug in an effort to improve safety and integrity. These changes involve major track owners such as Churchill Downs Inc., which uses the track Fair Grounds Racetrack & Slot Machines as a launching pad for beginners, horsemen and industry organizations The Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1) raise questions about how the racing environment can function when a major state puts out a set of Medication rules are completely different from the rest of the country.

Classic winning trainer Keith Desormeaux, who runs horses in multiple states, said: “My first reaction was confusion because Louisiana is my home; Louisiana will always be my home.” “It’s just part of who I am and I’d like to see more progressive thinking come from it.

“I guess they could tweak drug regulations in smaller ways. But I think they’ve gone too far.”

That sentiment was shared by CDI and many horsemen interviewed by BloodHorse for this story.

CDI said it was overwhelmed by the rule change that will affect the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks races, with track owners trying to ensure that all Horses in that series all compete under the same medication rules. For example, the majority of Oaks and Derby prep races do not allow Lasix on race day, and for such races any horse racing with Lasix is ​​not eligible to secure qualifying points. .

Churchill Downs Incorporated is extremely disappointed with the Louisiana Racing Commission’s ’emergency rule issuance’ aimed at weakening Louisiana’s racing drug standards,” Churchill Downs said in a statement. We have not had the opportunity to weigh in on this action and consider it an inexcusable abuse of process that has resulted in a significant deterioration in the safety and integrity of racing operations in the state.

“To reiterate, we have no prior knowledge that these new emergency rules are being discussed or implemented. We are evaluating our options for the Road to the Kentucky Derby/Oaks and the annual race. day at Fair Grounds.”

Both Louisiana Racing Commission executive director Steve Landry and Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association board chairman Benard Chatters said the changes were supported by racetrack veterinarians currently serves as a committee member and Steven Barker, who retired in 2015 after 29 years as director of Equine Medicine. Supervising laboratory and state chemist for the commission.

Chatters acknowledged the lack of consensus within his organization, noting that he has heard from cavalry members who support the changes and those who oppose the amendment. Chatters himself supports the changes, saying he believes some of the rules put in place in the United States are just knee-jerk reactions rather than based on scientific and veterinary expertise.

Changes regarding clenbuterol, corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other controlled drugs allow for larger doses of these substances, withdrawal times closer to the race and increased threshold levels for amount of substance allowed in horses on race day.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s rules, enforced by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit, do not currently apply in Louisiana, while the sport awaits a ruling from the District Court of Appeals. Thursday on the controversial constitutionality of the federal law authorizing HISA.

Coach Bret Calhoun, a Louisiana HBPA board member and a longtime critic of HISA regulations, said he sees some of the rule changes as beneficial. He said restrictions on the use of certain drugs have resulted in horsemen having to use less effective drugs to treat common ailments associated with racing and exercise. He rode horses all over the country.

Calhoun does not support all of the changes in Louisiana.

“The biggest sticking point is clenbuterol. It’s not going to work. It’s not going to work for you running a horse in the state and then trying to go out of state.”

Clenbuterol, approved for controlled drug use as a bronchodilator, has long been a substance of concern because of its anabolic properties if abused. The LRC rule will allow up to 725 micrograms of clenbuterol (brand name Ventipulmin) with a withdrawal period of just 72 hours—down from 14 days.

HISA has introduced further restrictions to prevent abuse of clenbuterol. It requires documentation that clenbuterol has been prescribed and requires horses receiving it as a prescription drug to have tests showing they are healthy before they can race. If detected during testing without prescription records, clenbuterol is considered a prohibited substance and is subject to severe sanctions.

Some trainers are disappointed to see a major racing state go against the rest of American racing.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux, who runs the horses at Fair Grounds before bringing them to her home base in Kentucky, added: “These rules are going against everything the industry has stood for and tried to do. trying to give — a more positive direction in racing.”

She and other trainers have questioned how clenbuterol use might affect claiming and transporting horses from one state to another, as horses often do. Some are concerned that requesting or purchasing a horse from another trainer who does not recognize clenbuterol use could put them at risk for subsequent testing in a HISA-regulated state and cause dangerous to the horse’s eligibility.

Trainers who do not use clenbuterol may be at a disadvantage when competing in Louisiana against others who use the drug.

Coach Al Stall Jr. said he respects Barker’s views and considers him “the leading equine pharmacology expert in the country.” Stall, whose late father, Al Stall Sr., chaired the LRC for 28 years, was not as surprised as other coaches by the committee’s actions.

“This has been in the hopper, in the container for a while,” he said.

Some faculty see the LRC’s action as a response to HISA, which some critics say has gone too far in its rules and adjudication processes. In another example, the Texas Horse Racing Commission believed that it alone was authorized to regulate horse racing in that state.

Stall believes elements of Louisiana’s emergency regulations can be changed. Its regulations regarding clenbuterol will be controversial enough to require discussion for revision.

“I’m not going to throw a flag at it or love it,” Stall said. “My guess is that by the time Fair Grounds comes around, the premier meet, the rules may be tweaked a little bit here and there.”

Although some year-round Louisiana-based horsemen are said to support the changes, top Fair Grounds trainer Shane Wilson does not.

On the afternoon of May 30 while driving Lower Louisiana And Evangeline Downs in the state, Wilson said he “found nothing wrong with (the state’s) regulations as they stand.” The Louisiana-based coach said “they’ve been more lax than others” in operating under strict HISA regulations.

Like Calhoun, he doesn’t see all the changes as negative. He cited that treating horses with ulcers close to racing with omeprazole, also known by the brand name Gastrogard, would be beneficial to the horse’s health.

Leading organizations are interested. As an international event that promotes consistency in U.S. drug and racing rules to create a level playing field among competitors, the Breeders’ Cup expressed disappointment at the changes to Louisiana.

“As an unequivocal supporter of uniform rules and regulations nationwide, the Breeders’ Cup is embarrassed by the Louisiana Racing Commission’s misguided decision, which puts safety and The integrity of race in Louisiana has gone completely and incomprehensibly in the wrong direction.” , vice president of communications for the Breeders’ Cup. “We call on the Louisiana Racing Commission to immediately withdraw their ’emergency rules’ and accommodate the majority of racetracks, breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys and other another dedicated organization whose thoughtful collaboration is making significant progress towards improving the sport, especially where horse safety and welfare are concerned.”

Andy Schweigardt, secretary of the American Ranked Stock Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, said the Louisiana rule changes will not affect stock eligibility in state for consideration for listing or ranking.

AGSC, the body that determines U.S. racing to consistently attract the highest quality competition through rostered to tier 1 status assignments, has rules in place to ensure integrity. of these races. Those rules focus on post-race testing.

The rule requires testing for alkylating agents, which is detailed and requires testing for 166 substances, and recommends testing for an additional 20 substances. AGSC does not consider drug regulations in individual jurisdictions.

AGSC’s approach states: “The Commission does not intend to change individual state drug regulations regarding acceptable drug levels but only to ensure that the highest possible level of testing is performed on samples from classified and listed holdings”. on the TOBA website.

Most of the racing season in Louisiana doesn’t offer many listed and graded stakes — even the Grade 1 Super Derby once lost its listed status — but that will change when the Fair Grounds returns in the fall. Fair Grounds offers a number of graded bets, including key preps for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. While the AGSC rules will not affect the placing potential of those races, it is possible that the field quality of those events will be affected as trainers consider their options.

Several trainers interviewed by BloodHorse questioned whether horses would be moved in or out of the state as often if Louisiana regulations remained in place. Wilson, who sent his star from Louisiana ova charges ARRIVE Churchill Downs to win the Unregulated Sidney Stakes (G3T) on Kentucky Oaks day, wondering if some tracks might not need consignors from Louisiana because of its liberal drug regulations. He believes the new regulations could put “horses in this state on an island.”