the horsemen’s newsletter · 2020. 9. 2. · horsemen should notify the maryland jock-ey club...
TRANSCRIPT
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The Horsemen’sNewsletter
September 2020 Vol. 30 • Number 8
Lasix Free Study
Completes First Month
Continued on Page 2
Continued on Page 3
A survey study of 2-year-olds that race in Maryland this year to determine the extent of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage be-gan Aug. 7 at Laurel Park, and through Aug. 29 veterinarians reported that 51 horses had been scoped post-race.
Private veterinarians who practice at Laurel are conducting the video endoscopies and com-pleting information forms for each horse that include the horse’s name, its EIPH score, any related comments, and whether the horse trains on Lasix. Horses are being scoped post-race when they return to the barns in which they are stabled.
The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association purchased four video endoscopes as part of the survey study.
Owners and trainers don’t have to pay for the video endoscopies, and allowing the 2-year-olds to be scoped in their own barns led to an increase in the numbers after the first week. Horsemen should notify the Maryland Jock-ey Club Racing Office if they choose to have a horse scoped, and grooms must wait with a horse until it is scoped.
The survey study is part of a broader agree-ment between the MTHA and The Stronach Group for the Lasix-free pilot program that runs through 2023 for 2-year-old races. The Mary-land Racing Commission is maintaining all re-cords from the survey study, and only a horse’s owner and trainer will be given the results of a scope to maintain anonymity.
Under a new MRC regulation, Lasix can’t be administered to a 2-year-old within 48 hours of a race. Lasix is still permitted for workouts.
The Maryland study of 2-year-olds and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage cur-rently is the only one being done in the United States. Other jurisdictions—California, Florida
United States Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Aug. 31 announced he will sponsor a retooled version of the Horseracing Integrity Act that will include a major component for equine health and safety.
The announcement was made during a press conference at Keeneland. The new legislation, which apparently isn’t finalized, is called the Horseracing Integrity and Safe-ty Act. It will focus on medication, testing and enforcement, which will fall under the United States Anti-Doping Agency; equine health, safety and welfare; and racing sur-faces.
The legislation resulted from months of behind-the-scenes discussions after a Congressional subcommittee hearing on the HIA early in 2020. Several people who testified at the hearing – including Dennis Drazin, Chief Executive Officer of Darby Development at Monmouth Park – indicated they don’t prefer federal involvement but if it happens, any legislation must be expanded to cover more than just drug testing and medication policy.
McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said he has had “preliminary discussions” with U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein, a California Democrat, on sponsoring what he be-lieves is a bipartisan bill. He acknowl-edged, however, the current lack of
bipartisanship in Congress as the November election approaches.
McConnell also said he will work with U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, a Kentucky Republican who sponsored the HIA. Barr indicated he would support replacing the HIA with the new legislation.
A key to gaining support for the federal route was Churchill Downs Inc., which for years has opposed federal legislation. Dur-ing the press conference, CDI Chief Execu-tive Officer Bill Carstanjen said the effort to include equine health and safety measures satisfied the company. He also said indepen-dence, governance and more clarity of roles were important to winning support from CDI.
Like the HIA language, the Federal Trade Commission would oversee what would be called the Horseracing Integrity
and Safety Authority. The HISA would be majority “independent” – those from outside horse racing – with the minority comprised of individuals with knowledge of aspects of racing but no current involvement. There
was no discussion at the press conference on how voting by
the authority would be han-dled, though it was said a
Sen. Mcconnell Introduces Federal Bill To Regulate Thoroughbred Racing
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and Kentucky—and the New York Racing Asso-ciation also don’t permit use of Lasix for 2-year-olds on race day, but none have begun a formal study.
The parameters and mission of the Mary-land study were developed by the Equine Health, Safety and Welfare Advisory Commit-tee, which falls under the MRC and was created as part of the Racing and Community Develop-ment Act of 2020.
Study, continued from Page 1
MRC Approves Regulations, Changes In Md-Bred Bonuses
Doctor’s Schedules:
New Ambulance
The Maryland Racing Commission Aug. 27 took action on regulations regarding shock wave therapy, Lasix in graded stakes, and continu-ing education for trainers, and also approved a change in bonus payments under the Maryland-Bred Race Fund.
Regarding shock wave therapy, new language will ban its use 10 days before a workout or breeze. The current regulation pertains only to use of shock wave therapy within 10 days of a race.
The MRC in July passed an emergency reg-ulation—it took effect in August—that prohibits administration of Lasix in 2-year-olds 48 hours before a race. The new language will also pro-hibit administration of Lasix to horses in graded stakes effective Jan. 1, 2021.
The Lasix changes are part of a pilot pro-gram that runs through 2023 under an agree-ment between the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and The Stronach Group, which owns Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course.
The MRC also approved a regulation that will make continuing education part of the li-censing process for trainers and assistant train-ers beginning in January 2022. They will be required to take four hours worth of continuing education – online or in person – in 2021 and document it in order to be licensed for the fol-lowing year.
Trainers and assistant trainers must keep
records, which will be randomly audited. Two of the four hours must focus on equine health, safety and welfare as part of the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities.
The three regulations approved by the MRC are subject to the cus-tomary public comment period.
The changes in bonus pay-ments was recommended by the Maryland-Bred Race Fund Adviso-
ry Committee, which held two meetings before the MRC took action. In light of the shutdown of live racing for more than two
months because of COVID-19 restrictions, and the resulting loss of revenue, the Maryland-bred breeders’ bonus will drop from 30% to 25%, and the stallion bonus will drop from 10% to 8.33%.
In addition, the Maryland-bred bonuses in stakes will be 13.75% instead of 15% for breed-ers, and 4.58% instead of 5% for stallion owners. The 30% owners’ bonus for each overnight race remains intact.
The advisory committee also recommend-ed, and the MRC approved, that bonus pay-ments earned from May 30 – the day live racing resumed at Laurel after the COVID-19 shutdown – through July 31 will be paid as soon as they can be processed. The original plan was to not make payments until the end of September.
The advisory committee at a meeting in mid-August indicated that if there is a surplus at the end of 2020 bonus money can be paid retroactively.
“For the past year, the THA has been actively involved with industry leaders in seeking so-lutions to our medication issues and in enacting rules, policies and protocols to enhance the health, safety and welfare of our horses,” THA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alan Foreman said. “It has been our widely-expressed view that the original Horseracing Integrity Act, as proposed, should encompass mandatory equine safety and wel-fare standards for all racetracks and horsemen, and the creation of an investigative and enforce-ment arm of the industry.
“While we have yet to see the proposed legislation, it ap-pears that in his Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, Senator McConnell has substantially in-corporated our views. We intend to continue to be a constructive participant since the legislation, if enacted, will require substan-tial industry support and assis-
tance.“Our Association has been a national leader
in promoting equine health and safety proto-cols through the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities and we expect to con-tinue in that role.”
THA Issues Statement On Federal Legislation
THOROUGHBRED HORSEMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS, INC.
An association of official horsemen’s organizations
RACING COMMISSIONRACING COMMISSION
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2020 HORSEMEN’S HEALTH SYSTEM SCHEDULE
Dr. Frank DawsonDr. Kelly Ryan Dr. Jeffrey Mayer Dr. Christian Glaser Dr. Jason Pothast
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2020 HORSEMEN’S HEALTH SYSTEM SCHEDULE
Dr. Frank DawsonDr. Kelly Ryan Dr. Jeffrey Mayer Dr. Christian Glaser Dr. Jason Pothast
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2020 HORSEMEN’S HEALTH SYSTEM SCHEDULE
Dr. Frank DawsonDr. Kelly Ryan Dr. Jeffrey Mayer Dr. Christian Glaser Dr. Jason Pothast
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2020 HORSEMEN’S HEALTH SYSTEM SCHEDULE
Dr. Frank DawsonDr. Kelly Ryan Dr. Jeffrey Mayer Dr. Christian Glaser Dr. Jason Pothast
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2020 HORSEMEN’S HEALTH SYSTEM SCHEDULE
Dr. Frank DawsonDr. Kelly Ryan Dr. Jeffrey Mayer Dr. Christian Glaser Dr. Jason Pothast
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The Horsemen’sNewsletter
Published by the
Maryland Thoroughbred
Horsemen’s Assoc.500 Redland Court – Suite 105, Owings Mills, Maryland 21117;
(410) 902-6842; Fax: (410) 902-6841; E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mdhorsemen.com
Assistance is a founding principal of horse-men’s organizations around the country, and the Benefit Trust Program created by the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association is rec-ognized as one of the most robust programs designed to support individuals who aren’t cov-ered by other programs.
The longtime pro-gram, that was created in the early 1990s, provides trainers and their spouses with limited assistance with medical and dental expenses. Eligible trainers must have been cur-rently stabled at Laurel Park or Pimlico Race Course with a minimum of 10 starts in Maryland for at least one year prior to the request for as-sistance, and a majority of a trainer’s starts must
have been in Maryland during this period.Requests are subject to review by the MTHA
Health and Welfare Committee. The benefits are as follows:
Trainers: $50 deductible per bill with 90% coverage of the balance with up to a maximum
benefit of $5,000 per calen-dar year.
Spouses: $50 deduct-ible per bill with 50% cov-erage of the balance ($500 maximum for dental) with up to a maximum benefit
of $2,500 per calendar year.If you are a trainer and wish to take advan-
tage of the program, contact the MTHA at 410-902-6842. Copies of bills are required; no as-sistance will be offered without documentation.
After the more than two-month shutdown of racing operations because of COVID-19 re-strictions, the Maryland Thoroughbred Horse-men’s Association shifted from off-site services and reopened its offices at Laurel Park and Pim-lico Race Course.
Though some limitations remain because of COVID-19, the MTHA continues to provide in-person assistance in the areas of benevolence, medical care, counseling, transportation and some business services. On-site schedules vary, so if you don’t already have them, here are the following contact numbers for MTHA racetrack-based staff:
Diana Pinones (administration and medi-
cal): 410-902-6844Jessica Hammond (counseling, benevolence
and aftercare): 301-776-0404Tom LaMarra (benevolence and communi-
cations): 859-492-8365Dan Mangum (transportation, regular days
Tuesday and Thursday): 410-802-5798The MTHA remains committed to the back-
stretch community and hopes to bring back some popular events that had to be shelved be-cause of COVID-19 this year. We will continue to push for as much as we can within the cur-rent restrictions.
Again, feel free to stop by the offices or call whenever you need assistance.
Benefit Trust: A Valuable Resource For Maryland Trainers
MTHA Racetrack Services: There When
You Need Them
This year’s Health Fair, sponsored by the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, has been scheduled for Monday, Oct. 12, adjacent the Laurel Park Recreation Room.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. under a tent because of COVID-19 health protocols. For those based at Pimlico Race Course who wish to attend, a free shuttle will leave Pimlico at 11 a.m.
Services this year include flu shots, bloodwork (comprehensive metabolic panels, or CMPs), and blood pressure screenings. The services will be provided by MedStar Sports Medicine, which staffs the Horsemen’s Health System, and Adventist HealthCare LifeWork Strategies.
Please note that 10-hour fasting is required for cholesterol tests. All bloodwork results are confi-dential and will be sent to the address that you provide. Free hamburgers and hot dogs will provided.
MTHA’s Free Health Fair – October 12
“blue-ribbon commission” would select the members of HISA.
There also was no discussion on race-day Lasix, which would be banned under the HIA, and a funding mecha-nism for an operation expected to cost tens of millions of dollars a year. It was noted that HISA could contract with state racing regulators for various services, but there was no explanation of the role state regulators would play under the new bill.
The legislation is supported by members of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition—formed last year—including Breeders’ Cup, CDI, The Jockey Club, the New York Racing Association and The Stronach Group. Much of the ground-work on medication and equine health and safety over the past 15 years, how-ever, has come from the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions through the National Uniform Medication Program, and more recently the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities.
Federal Bill, from Page 1
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MTHA500 Redland Court, #105
Owings Mills, Maryland 21117
September 2020
STANDARDPRE-SORT
US POSTAGE
PAIDPERMIT #15
WESTMINSTER, MD
Board of Directors
Timothy L. Keefe, PresidentLinda S. Gaudet, Vice PresidentDale Capuano, Vice PresidentMichael F. Horning, TreasurerKatharine M. Voss, Secretary
A. Ferris Allen, IIIR. Larry Johnson JoAnn Hayden
Mark B. LapidusHugh I. McMahonH. Graham Motion
Charles J. ReedPhilip B. SchoenthalMichael J. Trombetta
MTHA/Medstar/MJC Celebrates Five Years Of A Landmark PartnerhipAn innovative program that sets Maryland
racing apart from other jurisdictions celebrates its fifth year and the benefits have been noticeable.
The Horsemen’s Health System, a joint effort among the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, MedStar Health and the Maryland Jockey Club, offers free medical services to any-one employed in the care of horses as well as MJC employees. MedStar sports medicine physicians who staff the doctor’s office at Laurel Park on live racing days have also developed a program for the local riding colony.
The program was created to provide advanced
medical care for horsemen and backstretch em-ployees and to implement advanced head injury protocols for jockeys to put horse racing on par with other major sports MedStar Health services. Maryland has become a leader in this regard with concussion protocols and ongoing efforts to create a broad health recordkeeping system for jockeys in the Mid-Atlantic region through HeadCheck.
Dr. Kelly Ryan, who is leading those efforts, recalled how the creation of the Horsemen’s Health System led to her interest in the sport. She had been doing a family medicine residence with MedStar at the time, but there were no full-
time opportunities for her until the deal with the MTHA and MJC was signed.
Ryan, who does sports and family medicine, said she was intimidated by the racetrack at first but took a keen interest in the health and welfare of riders. She has since traveled to multiple rac-ing conferences around the world and has written various papers on the topic.
The MedStar team of physicians this year was instrumental in developing COVID-19 protocols for the Maryland racing industry and for years has led the annual MTHA Health Fair, which this year is set for Oct. 12.
Call For AnAppointment
Though the grandstand at Laurel Park remains closed because of COVID-19 restric-tions, backstretch workers are still able to see MedStar physicians by appointment on live racing days.
Those who make appointments are asked to go to the main grandstand entrance with their Maryland Racing Commission badge so a security guard can escort them to the of-fice. Appointments must be made through Diana Pinones, who can be reached at 410-902-6844.