By Bill Finley
Responding to a rash of recent breakdowns at Woodbine, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which regulates racing in the province, has taken steps it hopes will lead to fewer injuries. Woodbine has now had six fatalities since the Nov. 9 card in which two horses died and the remainder of the day's program was cancelled, as was the next scheduled day of racing.
The biggest change is that any horse that has raced within the previous 14 calendar days is ineligible to race and will be scratched if already entered. With the new rules having gone into effect after entries were drawn for Saturday's races, 12 horses that were entered to run back within 14 days were scratched from the card.
Four horses were scratched from the second race, leaving it with a field of just six. Five horses had to be withdrawn from the 10th race, leaving a field of six.
Other steps that were taken include:
(*) Any racehorses that have received an intra-articular fetlock injection–used to treat joint issues–within the previous 14 calendar days of race date will be restricted from entering to race.
(*) The AGCO is requiring that an official veterinarian be present and observe horses during all morning training at Woodbine.
Before a horse on the Veterinarian's List is permitted to return to work, its trainer and a private veterinarian must observe it jogging within 48 hours before the work and jointly certify that the horse is fit and sound before being examined by the official veterinarian and being permitted to work.
The new rules will be in place until further notice.
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