WHRC EQUINE VETERINARY PRINCIPLES

Trainers are required to be familiar with Chapter 260-70 WAC Controlled Medication Program.

Horses shall not compete under the influence of prohibited drugs or therapeutic medications.

No drug, medication, or chemical shall be administered to a horse within 24 hours of post time, except for furosemide.

Horses in training may require the administration of certain therapeutic medications at times to diagnose or treat illness or injury. However, because certain therapeutic medications may enhance or diminish athletic performance their use shall be closely monitored and any violation of the rules shall be subject to penalty.

Certain drugs have no therapeutic use in horses in training and these drugs shall not be administered to horses in training nor shall they be permitted at any concentration in post-race samples.

Certain substances may be present in post-race samples as the result of environmental contamination or accidental exposure to humans.

The WHRC veterinarians are ready to assist you with any questions or concerns you have regarding application of equine health and/or medication rules.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

State law requires horses entering Washington to have a current health certificate and negative Coggins test.

VETERINARIANS LIST

Horses may be placed on the Vets List for various reasons including bleeding, lameness, soreness, injury or illness.

Each horse will be evaluated on an individual basis and a work in the presence of a WHRC veterinarian may be required.

All required works will be by appointment only and should be made one day in advance.

A blood test may be taken after the work. Permitted medication levels may not exceed those allowed post-race.

PERMITTED MEDICATIONS

Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage

Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) occurs commonly in racehorses. The diuretic furosemide is recognized for its benefit in the medical management of the EIPH syndrome in racing horses.

A WHRC veterinarian shall prohibit any horse from racing that has bled externally from one or both nostrils as a direct result of EIPH during or after a race or workout for the following periods:

First incident—14 days;
Second incident within 365 day period—30 days;
Third incident within 365 day period—180 days;
Fourth incident within 365 days period—barred for racing lifetime.

For the purposes of counting the number of days a horse is ineligible to race, the day the horse bled externally is the first day of the recovery period.

The voluntary administration of furosemide without an external bleeding incident shall not subject a horse to the initial period of ineligibility as defined by this policy.

Furosemide

A horse is eligible to race with furosemide if the licensed trainer and licensed veterinarian determine that it would be in the horse’s best interest to race with furosemide. Notification using Furosemide Administration/Certification (WHRC-003) must be given to the WHRC designee, observing proper time deadlines to ensure public notification.

The specific gravity of post-race urine samples is measured to ensure that samples are sufficiently concentrated for proper chemical analysis. The specific gravity shall not be below 1.010. If the specific gravity of the urine is found to be below 1.010 or if a urine sample is unavailable for testing, quantitation of furosemide in serum or plasma shall be performed.

Quantitation of furosemide in serum or plasma shall be performed when specific gravity of the corresponding urine sample is not measured or if measured below 1.010. Concentrations shall not exceed 100 nanograms of furosemide per milliliter of serum or plasma.

Furosemide administration:
Recommended no less than 4 hours prior to post time for the race in which the horse is entered;
Dosage shall not be less than 150 mg or exceed 500 mg;
Shall only be administered by a single, intravenous injection.
The trainer is responsible to ensure that the Furosemide Administration/Certification forms (WHRC 003) are delivered to the test barn no later than one hour before the scheduled post time for the horse’s race.

A horse on the official furosemide list must show a detectable concentration of the drug in the post-race serum, plasma or urine sample.

A horse placed on the official furosemide list must remain on that list unless the licensed trainer and licensed veterinarian submit a written request to remove the horse from the list. The request must be on Request to Remove Horse from Furosemide (WHRC 002) and must be submitted to a WHRC veterinarian or designee no later than time of entry.

In order to ensure consistency to the betting public, after a horse has been removed from the furosemide list, the horse may not be placed back on the list for a period of 60 calendar days unless determined to be detrimental to the welfare of the horse, in consultation with a WHRC veterinarian. If a horse is removed from the official furosemide list a second time in a 365 day period, the horse may not be placed back on the list for a period of 90 calendar days.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

The use of one of three NSAID shall be permitted under the following conditions:

Serum and/or plasma concentrations shall not exceed:

Phenylbutazone—5 micrograms per milliliter.
Flunixin—20 nanograms per milliliter.
Ketoprofen—10 nanograms per milliliter.

These concentrations are consistent with administration by a single intravenous injection at least 24 hours before post time of the race in which the horse is entered.

These or any other NSAIDs are prohibited to be administered within 24 hours before post time of the race in which the horse is entered.

The presence of more than one of the three approved NSAIDs or any unapproved NSAID in the post-race serum or plasma sample is not permitted, except the presence of two approved NSAIDs is allowed if one of them is phenylbutazone with a concentration less than 1 mcg/ml.

The use of all but one of the approved NSAIDs shall be discontinued at least 48 hours before the post time for the race in which the horse is entered.

Failure to detect a reported permitted medication may result in a penalty.

Topical NSAID Salves

Topical NSAID salves are not permitted to be administered to a horse within 24 hours of post time of the race in which the horse is entered. These medications are detectable in post-race test samples. Trainers need to consult with their veterinarian prior to use.

Anti-Ulcer Medications

Gastric ulceration is a common ailment afflicting racehorses. The following therapeutic anti-ulcer medications are authorized to treat racehorses:

Cimetidine (Tagamet®)—8-20 mg/kg PO BID-TID
Omeprazole (Gastrogard®)—2.2 grams PO SID
Ranitidine (Zantac®)—8 mg/kg PO BID

The dosages specified above are permitted up to 24 hours prior to the post time for the race in which the horse is entered. No anti-ulcer medication shall be administered within 24 hours of post time.

Electrolyte Pastes
Electrolyte pastes are not permitted to be administered to a horse within 24 hours of post time of the race in which the horse is entered.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS AND SUBSTANCES OF HUMAN USE

Certain substances may be present in post-race samples as the result of environmental contamination or inadvertent exposure to substances of human use that could be found in the horse due to its close association with humans. The only such substances recognized by the WHRC are:
Caffeine
Serum and/or plasma concentrations shall not exceed 100 nanograms per milliliter.
Benzoylecogonine
Urine concentrations shall not exceed 50 nanograms per milliliter.
Morphine glucuronides
Urine concentrations shall not exceed 50 nanograms per milliliter.

PRE-RACE INSPECTIONS

Horses must be available from 7:00 am to 10:00 am on the day they are scheduled to race for a pre-race inspection. They must be free of bandages, mud or anything that would interfere with that inspection. Due to time constraints trainers should have a responsible person at the barn to facilitate the inspection. The inspection will include jogging outside the stall.

Horses that ship-in to race and are stabled in the receiving barn will be examined 1 1/2 hours before post-time for the 1st race of the day.

PROHIBITED MEDICATIONS AND PRACTICES

The possession or use of a drug, substance or medication for which a recognized analytical method has not been developed to detect and confirm the administration of such substance; or the use of which may endanger the health and welfare of the horse or endanger the safety of the rider; or the use of which may adversely affect the integrity of racing is prohibited.

The possession and/or use of a drug, substance, or medication that has not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for any use (human or animal) is forbidden.

The possession and/or use of blood doping agents, including but not limited to those listed below is prohibited:
Erythropoietin;
Darbepoietin;
Oxyglobin®;
Hemopure®;

The practice, administration or application of a treatment, procedure, therapy or method identified below that may endanger the health and welfare of the horse, endanger the safety of the rider, or the use of which may adversely affect the integrity of horse racing is prohibited:
Intermittent Hypoxic Treatment by External Device;
The use of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy or Radial Pulse Wave Therapy shall not be permitted unless the following conditions are met:
Any treated horse shall not be permitted to enter for a minimum of 10 days following treatment;
The use of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy or Radial Pulse Wave Therapy machines shall be limited to persons with a WHRC veterinarian license;
Any Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy or Radial Pulse Wave Therapy machines on association grounds must be reported to a WHRC veterinarian before initially being used;
All Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy or Radial Pulse Wave Therapy treatments must be reported using the Veterinarian Report (WHRC 027) to a WHRC veterinarian or designee.

The use of a nasogastric tube longer than six inches, inserted in a horse’s nostril for the administration of any substance within 24 hours prior to post time of the race in which the horse is entered is prohibited, unless prior permission has been obtained from a WHRC veterinarian.

POST RACE TEST BARN PROCEDURES

All winners and stakes placed horses will be tested. Other horses regardless of finish may be selected at random or selected by the stewards or a WHRC veterinarian to be tested. Trainers should ensure that grooms are prepared to go to the test barn anytime a horse is raced.

No one will be allowed into the test barn area without a current license and a specific purpose to be there. This includes children.

Trainers of claimed horses are required to have a representative with the horse until the test samples are collected.

Trainers will be held responsible for the condition and behavior of their employees.

Persons who are drunk or disorderly will be reported to security.

Blood and urine samples shall be collected from all horses selected for post-race testing. This may entail working with a horse for as long as needed. With the trainers permission furosemide may be administered to facilitate sample collection.

Testing of blood samples is necessary for:

Determination of those drugs with regulatory thresholds;
Those drugs not detectable in urine;
Determination, when possible, whether a concentration of drug and or metabolite found in the post-race sample is consistent with the administration documented in the Veterinarian Report (WHRC 027).

Samples will be split, provided that a sufficient quantity is obtained. Samples and splits will be labeled and sealed in the presence of the trainer or trainer's representative. This person will be required to sign as witness to the collection, labeling and sealing of the samples.

The finding of a drug in a horse's post-race test is a serious violation. Trainers should remain well aware of the complete medical history of their horses and should communicate carefully with their veterinarians concerning usage of medications.

Split samples (urine and blood) shall be made available for independent analysis by a laboratory approved by the WHRC, as long as quantity is sufficient. These samples shall be handled in such a manner that chain of custody requirements are met.

Laboratories conducting post-race split sample analysis must be able to perform the analysis using instrumental methods equivalent to the primary laboratory.

Minimum standards of detection shall be met by all laboratories conducting post-race split sample analysis. These standards are defined as the specific concentration at which a laboratory is expected to detect the presence of a particular drug or by the threshold adopted by the WHRC.

Medication Thresholds

The following quantitative medication levels are permissible in test samples up to the stated quantitative levels:

Procaine 25 ng/ml urine
Benzocaine 50 ng/ml urine
Mepivacaine 10 ng/ml urine
Lidocaine 50 ng/ml urine
Bupivacaine 5 ng/ml urine
Clenbuterol 25 pg/ml serum or plasma
Acepromazine 25 ng/ml urine
Promazine 25 ng/ml urine
Salicylates 750,000 ng/ml urine
Albuterol 1 ng/ml urine
Pyrilamine 50 ng/ml urine
Theobromine 2000 ng/ml urine

The official urine test sample may not contain more than one of the above drug substances, including their metabolites or analogs, in an amount up to the specified level. Official blood test samples must not contain any of the drug substances listed in this rule, including their metabolites or analogs, except for their thresholds.

You may contact the WHRC Veterinarians with any questions concerning the use of therapeutic medications.

PRE-RACE TESTING FOR THERAPEUTIC MEDICATIONS

An owner, trainer or veterinarian may request a WHRC veterinarian perform pre-race testing.
It is the responsibility of the requestor to obtain the sample and ensure the accuracy of identification of any sample submitted for testing. All requests must include the name of the specific drug to be tested, amount administered, route of administration and time sample was collected. The sample will be given to the WHRC Veterinarian to be submitted with the day’s race samples.
The cost of the testing shall be borne by the requestor. Payment must be received prior to the release of test results. The cost per test will be $40.00. Results will be forwarded to the WHRC.
The pre-race testing program is provided as a courtesy by the WHRC. A negative pre-race test result does not in any way modify the commission’s standards regarding permitted drug substances, post-race testing, the consequences from positive tests and the responsibility of trainers for the condition of the horse. The pre-race testing program should not be considered a part of, nor affiliated with, the WHRC drug testing program.

HEEL NERVED HORSES AND PREGNANT MARES

All heel nerved horses and pregnant mares must be reported to the Racing Secretary.

PENALTIES

The treating veterinarian must document the administration of a drug to a horse by filing a Veterinarian Report (WHRC 027) with a WHRC veterinarian, or designee, at the racetrack where the horse is entered to run. The Veterinarian Report must be filed not later than post time of the race for which the horse is entered. A timely and accurate filing of the Veterinarian Report that is consistent with the analytical results of a positive test may be a mitigating factor in determining the nature and extent, if any, of a rule violation.

Penalties for all medication violations, including a furosemide overage, are contained in Chapter 260-84 WAC. A lesser penalty than that required in the rules may be only be imposed if a majority of the stewards determine mitigating circumstances warrant a lesser penalty. (See WAC 260-84-090) Factors to be considered in determining mitigating circumstances may include but are not limited to:

The past record of the trainer and/or veterinarian in drug cases;
The potential of the drug(s) to influence a horse’s racing performance;
The availability of the drug;
Whether there is reason to believe the responsible party knew of the administration of the drug or intentionally administered the drug;
The steps taken by the trainer to safeguard the horse;
The probability of environmental contamination or inadvertent exposure due to human drug use;
The purse of the race;
Whether the drug found was one for which the horse was receiving a treatment as determined by the Veterinarian Report, and;
Whether there was any suspicious betting pattern in the race.
Whether the presence of the medication/drug in urine was confirmed in serum or plasma.

Penalties may be imposed on any person if he/she is determined to be responsible or party to a violation of the law or administrative rules.

Administrative action taken by the WHRC in no way prohibits or limits prosecution for criminal acts.

WHRC APPROVED
EQUINE SPLIT SAMPLE DRUG TESTING LABORATORIES

Industrial Laboratories
4046 Youngfield St.
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Phone: (303) 287-9691
Contact: Petra Hartman, Laboratory Manager
petra@industriallabs.net
Fee: NSAID Quantitation: $150.00
Urine: $400.00

Racing Chemistry
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
Phone: (515) 294-0508
Contact: Dr. Walter Hyde, Ph.D., Director

LSU Equine Medication Surveillance Laboratory
School of Veterinary Medicine
Skip Bertman Drive
Louisiana State University

Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Phone: (225) 578-3602
Contact: Dr. Steve Barker, Director
sbarker@mail.vetmed.lsu.edu
Fee: Blood or urine $500.00

WHRC APPROVED
EQUINE SPLIT SAMPLE DRUG TESTING LABORATORIES

Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
Drawer 3040
College Station, Texas 77841-3040
Phone: (979)845-3414 (979)845-9011
Contact: Mr. Kenneth Peck, Director
k-peck@tvmdl.tamu.edu
Fee: NSAID Quantitation: $250.00
Urine: $400.00

5) Michigan Department of Agriculture
Laboratory Division
Equine Drug Testing Section
1615 South Harrison Road
East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: (517) 337-5082
Contact: Dr. Steve Reh, Director
Bradley J. Skiba, Supervisor skibab@michigan.gov
Fee: Blood or urine $500.00

6) Center for Tox Services
1819 W. Drake Drive, Suite 102
Tempe, Arizona 85283
Phone: (480) 345-7454
Contact: Jeanne B. Mahoney, Director
Fee: NSAID Quantitation: $150.00
GC/MS: $350.00
LC/MS: $400.00-$600.00

WHRC APPROVED
EQUINE SPLIT SAMPLE DRUG TESTING LABORATORIES

7) Dalare Associates
217 S. 24th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19193
Phone: (215) 567-1953
Contact: Mr. Joseph Strug, Director
joestrug@aol.com
Fee: NSAID Quantitation: $250.00
Urine: $400.00

8) Racing Laboratory
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Florida
1200 S.W. 34th St.
Gainesville, Florida 32607
Phone (352) 392-4700, ext 3700
Contact: Margaret H. Wilding, Associate Director
Fee: NSAID Quantitation: $200.00
Urine GC/MS $400.00
Urine LC/MS $1000.00