Cooperative of Eastern states to adopt stricter medication rules

The seven states operating as a regulatory cooperative in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast have agreed to adopt more stringent rules over the administration of therapeutic medications that can act as painkillers and anti-inflammatories, the states announced this past weekend.

The seven state - Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia - will adopt rules prohibiting the use of any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug within 48 hours of a race, the cooperative said. The states will also prohibit the intra-articular use of any corticosteroid within 14 days of a race.

The regulations would require the state’s racing commissions to amend rules that allow for the use of some NSAIDs 24 hours prior to a race. The racing commissions would also need to extend the seven-day prohibition on intra-articular injections of corticosteroids to 14 days.

“Sound medical practice dictates that we allow our veterinarians and horsemen the proper time to evaluate these horses following treatment and before returning them to high-speed exercise,” said Dr. Scott Palmer, the equine medical director of the New York Gaming Commission, in comments to the seven states at a conference last week that was distributed by the cooperative. “Amending our regulation to reflect this best practice is a vital step.”

Representatives of all of the states participated in the conference, including officials representing horsemen, tracks, and racing commissions. Several years ago, the seven states agreed to cooperate on a strategic plan designed to reduce racehorse injuries at tracks operating in the region, and the new medication rules were added to that document, officials for the cooperative said.

Members of the cooperative have proved adept in the past at pushing through regulations agreed to under the strategic plan.

New York already has a rule in place prohibiting the administration of NSAIDs within 48 hours of a race, according to Andy Belfiore, the project manager for the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan. The other states would need to adopt the new rules.