During three sessions Tuesday during the latest Circuit Industry Symposium (RTIP) in Tucson, Arizona, more meat was openly added to the bones of the Safety and Integrity Act (HISA). .
However, the specifics overall are rather light – disappointing for many – with an overarching message that various safety and drug programs are well underway.
Flicking through the proceedings was yesterday’s news that Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico), Sudden apparent cardiac death after a scheduled workout at Santa Anita.
Indeed, Charles Scheeler, president of the Safety and Integrity Authority — the vast nonprofit organization founded by HISA and often referred to as “the Agency” — picked up on the presentations by warning that the subject The sport is seen by many as participating in an “existential crisis.”
Highlighting how the US has the most catastrophic musculoskeletal injury rates of the five major global racing jurisdictions – including the UK, Hong Kong, Australia/New Zealand and Canada – Scheeler calls it a key metric for HISA.
“We have to understand that we have delayed maintenance here,” says Scheeler of the industry’s broad approach to horse health and safety.
Arguably the most remarkable thing Scheeler has shared – at least as far as the actual implementation of HISA is concerned – is that individual countries will continue to conduct race day testing and collect samples, if indeed HISA takes effect on July 1 next year. Initially, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) will administer the non-competitive testing program, according to Scheeler.
However, once the 2023 season begins, USADA will then be responsible for both race day testing and the out-of-competition testing program.
Scheeler explains that this staggered implementation allows some key tweaks to be made (shown in Next press release and repost here):
- Less disruptive transition to race day testing from midseason to early season
- State Racing Commissions for easier budget cycle synchronization
- Laboratories have more time to adapt to the new standard
- Greater opportunity for additional education on new procedures and protocols for insureds
- More thorough testing and implementation of necessary new technology solutions
And who will adjudicate any drug violations during this time? Due to the spread of rollout, individual states will continue to adjudicate post-race samples they are responsible for collecting, explains Scheeler.
If USADA encounters an out-of-competition testing program violation, “they will prosecute it according to the rules they have enacted,” Scheeler said.
Scheeler also used her presentation to highlight some of HISA’s key selling points, such as a centralized database that identifies trends to reduce deaths and catch fraud, as well as a “program rigorous and vigorous investigation”.
And what about the cost? Here, Scheeler has no answer, explaining that the Agency is still working on it, despite emphasizing the repeated expectation that HISA will eventually create an advantage of scale.
Anti-Doping and Drug Control Commission HISA
While this constituted the third HISA-related workshop of the morning, it was arguably the most relevant to the industry, including, as it did, information on the testing program and recommended daily drug enforcement under HISA.
The panel was led by Jim Gates, permanent director of the Anti-Doping and Drug Control Commission. Adolpho Birch, committee chair, Scott Stanley, another committee member, along with USADA’s Tessa Muir and Jeff Cook, all of whom participated via Zoom.
Much of the first half of the presentation constitutes a summary of information that has been publicly available for some time, including proposed information. results management process and overview of possible sanctions. Arguably the most salient information comes through the public questioning stage, to the very end, although highly sought-after specifics are often left out.
Under the new rules, a positive finding may not necessarily be publicly disclosed after stakeholders have been notified, but when the violation has been confirmed through analysis of sample B. The panelists explained that Coaches and/or agencies reserve the right to disclose results prior to analysis of a confirmatory Model B – especially in cases such as an upcoming big race – but the idea is to protect reputational losses. worthless sound.
Another key new component to how drug violations are handled is the ability to penalize a horse that tests positive — a seismic shift away from the current system.
Under recommended guide, horses will be automatically disqualified in the event of a race day violation. But a horse also faces the possibility of a fine of up to 14 months, depending on the substance and what is described as a “method”.
When asked about the philosophy behind these forms of punishment, Gates explained that “in most cases, when a horse is unruly, it’s time for any drug to undo the system of the horse. they leave them without a competitive advantage in the future.”
It is also important to note that a horse can also be sanctioned in the case of a violation of the abode. It is the intended system that horses may be tested anywhere and at any time without prior notice from the time they are covered by the program until the time they are retired for good. race.
A horse is under the auspices of HISA at one of four times: their first timed and reported practice day at a track, timed and first reported practice day at a facility training, the date of their first race, or the date of their first nomination for a race.
Under the new rules, violations of the shelter can result in a 12-month penalty for the respective horse. Just don’t expect this search program to take effect immediately, with USADA warning that the actual operational logistics need to be phased out and step-by-step.
Another key point of contention among industry stakeholders has been the lack of a publicly available list of therapeutic agents to date – in other words, those drugs will largely fall under the “substances” umbrella. secondary”.
Muir explains that the list is still being computed. However, she added that it will use a model that combines thresholds and screening limits. Read here for a more detailed explanation about the meaning of that difference. The screening limits will particularly apply to substances commonly found in horse habitat, and therefore a real threat of unintentional contamination, Muir said.
The panelists also explained that the committee is using as the main reference point the International Federation of Equestrian Authorities (IFHA) thresholds for therapeutic substances. IFHA screening limits for urine may found here. As for blood, it is here.
In other discussion points, panelists explained the reasons behind deviating from the current system of heavy drug punishment to a much more severe punishment. The change “allows for stricter sanctions for those who violate more severe or more frequent violations,” Cook said.
Cook also explained that the new system provides “more discretion to issue commensurate sanctions based on the degree of fault of those involved.” For example, fines are allowed, but not specified because “we want meaningful fines to deter behaviour,” explains Cook.
The panelists confirmed that veterinarians could face charges for certain crimes, though did not provide any specifics.
Likewise, when asked exactly how the National Governing Council works, the panel explained its goal was to recruit the most capable individuals available, but added very little other details.
Interestingly, when it comes to the educational component, the board explains that the overall plan is to have an easy-to-use education module in English and Spanish for every “protected person” to take. . But again, it is not clear when that will be done and what the educational module will specifically entail.
Draft anti-doping and drug control rules are expected to be submitted to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) later this month.
HISA Circuit Safety Committee
The second HISA-related presentation was a Q&A session between Sue Stover, permanent chair of the Track Safety Committee and hot seater, and Ann McGovern, the committee’s director, asking questions.
This was a statistics-heavy presentation, with Stover broadly connecting the points between HISA’s plans to begin collecting relevant data in a unified manner and what is known about factors. cause the racehorse to suffer catastrophic injury.
From an industry point of view, arguably the most relevant information regarding HISA racetrack accreditation standards. According to the board, existing racetracks accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) will receive a temporary HISA certification that lasts for three years, as long as they comply with the program’s requirements. Other songs that are not recognized by the NTRA will receive a one-year provisional certification.
The panelists provided a slide on some of the key components of the accreditation program. The list includes:
- Expanding veterinary surveillance
- Claim rule invalid
- Transfer the medical records of the horses claimed
- Surface curing and measurement standards
- Advanced reporting standards
- Data reporting: drugs, treatments, injuries and deaths,
- Jockey concussion and medical care reporting
However, the panelists warned that recognition is neither automatic nor guaranteed for any length of time after it is given.
According to McGovern, “there are processes in place to help smaller races get recognized and learn what needs to be done to meet the standards outlined.”
However, Stover has warned that “if a track loses its certification, they will lose the ability to conduct interstate bets”.
Earlier in the panel presentation, Stover – a longtime UC Davis professor – guided the audience through her research into some of the key factors that underlie catastrophic incidents in horses. racing, such as:
- Mechanical loads and cyclic wear on fetlock joints
- Relative safety of different surfaces
- Prescription and drug history of a horse
- The importance of under- and over-training
Stover then explains how a key component of HISA’s data collection program will focus on these factors, with the focus of this statistic being: 85% of catastrophic racehorse injuries are related to pre-existing medical conditions.
Stover also explains that horses returning from layoffs are at a higher risk of injury and that, according to HISA, they will be looking for information that explains what makes a good or bad training program.
Therefore, “We also ask trainers when they send a horse for a hospital stay that they submit the horse’s training and medical records for that stay,” explains McGovern.
A member of the audience asked the panel if this type of data collection would ultimately lead to a scenario in which trainers, participating veterinarians and owners would have minimal say. in training and racing programs.
“That’s not the point,” McGovern replied. “The aim is to provide trainers and veterinarians with information so they can make decisions about how they train horses and how they race.”
The proposed Track Safety rules have been submitted to the FTC for review, although the public will have the opportunity to edit the document further during the required public comment period.
