The United States Trotting Association has announced that its Board of Directors will be consulted to ascertain membership support of the recent call by the Association of Racing Commissioners International
to ban all race-day medications.
The USTA similarly looks forward to being an active participant in the Racing Medication Testing Consortium’s upcoming international summit, which this summer will investigate the same issue.
“Obviously, this is a controversial topic with many pros and cons,” said Phil Langley, USTA President. “There are many questions to be addressed, including whether the suggested ban is realistic or whether some other actions make more sense. A study committee is being formed and its makeup will be announced shortly.”
Keeneland Raceway’s board is also endorsing drug-free racing. That racing and sales company supports efforts to adopt a pragmatic approach for the phasing in of uniform medication rules, testing rules and penalties that will result in Thoroughbred racing being conducted in a medication-free environment, both nationally and internationally.
The date and location of the RMTC summit will be announced in the near future. USTA Executive Vice President Mike Tanner, who was recently elected to serve as the RMTC’s treasurer, said that the meeting will solicit input from racing industry stakeholders from around the world.
“I’m looking forward to participating,” said Tanner. “Encouraging dialogue and taking a critical and objective look at what the facts tell us is crucial to ensuring the welfare of the horse and the industry.”
(With files from USTA and Courier-journal.com)
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