California Horse Racing Board amends claiming rule

ARCADIA, Calif. –The California Horse Racing Board amended a rule pertaining to claimed horses on Thursday. Under the rule, a claim is void if a horse is placed on the veterinarian’s list by the racing vet or state vet after being found to be lame or unsound after the race or in the receiving barn.

The rule, which passed unanimously by a vote of 6-0, is not expected to take effect until July 1, pending approval by the state’s office of administrative law.

Dr. Rick Arthur, the racing board’s equine medical director, told the racing board that 96 Thoroughbreds were claimed and placed on the vet’s list for lameness or unsoundness in California during a three-year period beginning in 2009. Of those, 13 horses were euthanized as a result of racing injuries.

He said that claims would not be voided under the new rule if a horse is vanned off for heat exhaustion or if its bleeds from the lungs.

The rule change is an amendment to a 2011 rule change that voided a claim if a horse died during a race or before it was unsaddled after a race. That rule was deemed inadequate after two incidents when a horse suffered a severe injury on the track, but was transported off the track and euthanized in the stable area.

◗ Also during Thursday’s meeting, David Israel was voted chairman. Charles Winner will serve as vice-chairman. Former board chairman Keith Brackpool resigned last month to become chairman of Santa Anita.