NEWS & VIEWS continued...
knowledge in equine anatomy, biomechanics, and kinesiology. T eir focus is on hoof care that contributes to and maintains the well-being of the horse. And their working knowledge of the factors that contribute or detract from this well-being is unparalleled. References from USDA Documents: 1. Retitling § 11.2 as “Prohibited actions, practices, devices, and substances” to prohibiting all action devices, pads, and substances applied to a horse’s limbs. 2. From the summary of major provisions: “Changes we are proposing to the regulations include amending the regulations to prohibit use of pads, substances, and action devices on horses at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions.” 3. “We would also remove the provision in current § 11.7(a)(2) that farriers, horse trainers, and other knowledgeable horsemen can be qualifi ed as DQPs if their past experience and training qualifi es them for positions as horse industry organization or association stewards or judges (or their equivalent) and if they have been formally trained and licensed as DQPs by a horse industry organization or association. Instead, we would state in paragraph (a) of revised § 11.6 that only veterinarians and veterinary technicians may be licensed as HPIs [emphasis AFA]. We are making this change to ensure that inspectors have the professional education, working knowledge, technical and practical experience, and training necessary to inspect horses properly under the Act and regulations.
Maryland Racing Offi cially Adopts New Doping Penalties.
In October, the Maryland Racing
Commission formally adopted new rules regarding medication penalties in concert with the guidelines provided by the Association of Racing Commissioners International. When this vote happened, we Equiery staff ers
scratched our heads. Didn’t we already report on this a year or so ago? Well, according to our colleagues at T e Racing Biz, there was a collective “oops” moment: in 2014, the Racing Commission adopted the updated list of banned drugs, but did not update the penalties for use of those drugs. T e new guidelines for banned drugs and penalties was released by the ARCI in July of 2013. T is national uniform medication program was developed by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium and features four key components: • third-party administration of Lasix (furosemide);
• a limited list of (now) 30 permitted therapeutic medications; • accredited testing laboratories; and • a multiple medication violation point system to enhance penalties on repeat off enders. In June of 2014, the Maryland Racing Commission adopted these more stringent rules, and it was a banner moment for Maryland racing, as we became a national leader in adopting these new aggressive rules. T e “oops” was that the penalty aspect for violations was never adopted. It was the 2015 Maryland Million that revealed this oversight, when the winner of the $100,000 Nursery race tested positive for the prohibited vasodilator isoxsuprine.
Instead of penalties
that would have included disqualifi cation of the horse, return and redistribution of the purse and a fi ne of $1,000, the trainer had only to pay a fi ne of $500. What happened? According to T e Racing Biz, the stewards were following state medication policy guidelines last revised in 1999 in assessing penalties.
Both the drug classifi cation system
and some of the recommended penalties in the older document diff er from the more modern
rules. And since the Racing Commission had overlooked adopting the new penalties, the old penalties stood. T is continued into 2016, with as many as eight violations with the lighter penalties, according to research by T e Racing Biz.
Maryland-bred Curlin Colt Tops Midatlantic Yearling Sale
If the results of 2016 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic
Fall Yearling Sale are any indicator, the Maryland T oroughbred industry is enjoying a rebound. A total of 268 yearlings were sold at the October 4 auction in Timonium, for $6,436,600, up 23% from 2015, with 274 yearlings for a total of $5,228,800. T e average sale price was up by about 26%, from $19,000 to $24,000. T e median purchase price remained steady at $10,000. According to T e Daily Racing Form, this year’s buyback rate was 17%, down from 27% in 2015. Last year, fi ve yearlings sold for six fi gures; this year 11 sold for that amount. T irty- three horses brought $50,000, up considerably from only 24 in 2015. Of those 268 yearlings, according to the
Maryland Horse Breeders Association, 114 were Maryland-breds (42.5% of the sale’s total) for a gross of $2,618,400, surpassing the totals of 2015 (104 sold for $2,373,200). T e average was also up slightly over a year ago ($22,968 compared to $22,819 in 2015). T e top-selling yearling, with a fi nal bid of $450,000, was a Maryland-bred colt by Curlin out of Formalities Aside, bred by Tom and Chris Bowman and Milton P. Higgins II. T e price ranks second all-time in the sales’ history, behind the record of $500,000 held by another Maryland-bred, the Silver Deputy colt T eir He Goes sold in 2004. T e chestnut Curlin colt from the consignment of agent Becky Davis was purchased by Charles
continued on page 42
The Stables of Rolling Ridge is a one-of-a-kind 77 acre Dressage farm in Montgomery County:
• minutes from DC Capital Beltway • world class indoor facility • large outdoor ring • individual turnout
• brand new indoor ring - Equifi bre footing • 28 stall facility
• access to miles of trails
We are currently accepting boarders for the 2016-2017 Winter Season
301-401-9860 Laytonsville, MD 20882 12 | THE EQUIERY | NOVEMBER 2016 Training slots available with
More information about the farm can be found on our Facebook page.
BARBARA STRAWSON 800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com
905761-161116
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