Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton restrict medications at sales

Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton, the two major Lexington, Ky.-based Thoroughbred auction companies, have jointly announced restrictions on the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and bronchodilators, including clenbuterol, for horses at their auctions, effective immediately.

Juveniles and horses in training may not have NSAIDs administered within 24 hours of sale time. All other horses may not have more than one NSAID administered within 24 hours of sale.

Juveniles and horses in training may not have corticosteroids administered within 14 days prior to the sale, while all other horses may not have more than one corticosteroid administered within that time frame. Bronchodilators are prohibited within 90 days of sale except for broodmares, broodmare prospects, stallions, and stallion prospects. The administration of a bronchodilator for valid, on-label purposes prior to July 1 of a horse’s yearling year is permitted, but must be disclosed in the sale repository with a note of explanation from the treating veterinarian.

These latest reforms are in addition to medication and riding crop restrictions put in place earlier this year for the under-tack shows of 2-year-sales held by Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton. Those policies had already outlined that no medication may be administered within 24 hours of a juvenile’s breeze at an under-tack show, dovetailing with policy proposals from various racing jurisdictions to eliminate the race-day administration of furosemide, known as Lasix, in juvenile races. In 2009, sale companies banned the use of anabolic steroids in sales horses, and last year they banned off-label use of bisphosphonates in horses younger than 4. Buyers may now elect to have post-sale testing for violations of use in anabolic steroids, bisphosphonates, bronchodilators, NSAIDs, and corticosteroids.

“We remain united in our advocacy to serve the best interest of the horse,” Keeneland president and CEO Bill Thomason and Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr. said in a joint statement. “The use of medication is the most critical issue facing the Thoroughbred industry, and one that threatens the confidence of both the marketplace and the public. These reforms continue to promote transparency and integrity, and in doing so, strengthen the entire auction process.”