By Daniel Ross
ARCADIA, Ca. — Confusion reigned at Santa Anita Friday morning after a California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) memo was texted to trainers Thursday evening which read, “Horses entered to race shall only be given water, hay, and grain until post time,” and that, “no drugs, medications, or substances shall be administered to a horse after it is deemed entered to race.” The link in the text pointed to a letter from the CHRB dated Feb. 27, which read, “The following amendments to the CHRB Rules and Regulations were approved by the Office of Administrative Law and became effective February 26, 2020. The memo went on to say that a list of prohibited substances after entry day includes the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) phenylbutazone, flunixin, and ketoprofen, electrolyte solutions and amino acid solutions, and that “a horse's mouth shall only be washed with water.”
Friday morning, CHRB equine medical director Rick Arthur further clarified the situation. Though the rule changes went into effect on Wednesday, Feb. 26, they will be enforced starting Mar. 1, this Sunday, he explained. A horse is deemed entered to race at midnight the day entries close for the race. Entries already drawn are not affected.
The only exemptions to the prohibition on the use of drugs, medications and substances after the entry date are Lasix, certain injectable vitamins and ulcer medications, Arthur explained. “There is no change in the Lasix regulation,” he said.
In California, the entry date at certain tracks can be as many as six or seven days out from a race, which caused concern among a number of trainers in light of the new rules. Currently in California, an NSAID like phenylbutazone is prohibited for use within 48 hours of a race. Several Santa Anita-based trainers said they were worried they might also be restricted from using electrolytes on horses sent on the long journey to Golden Gate Fields during the hot summer months.
An earlier version of this story stated that, in response, The Stronach Group (TSG) would take entries at the company's California tracks 48 hours before a race. Aidan Butler, TSG's chief strategy officer, explained that TSG was still working out the specifics, but added that entries at their tracks will probably be taken either between 48 and 72 hours before a race, likely the latter.
Arthur explained that the amendments to the various CHRB rules were noticed in January of this year. “So, I'm a bit bewildered why people are confused,” he added.
Indeed, a CHRB statement issued early Friday afternoon explained how these changes were adopted “on an emergency basis” at the Jan. 22 board meeting “pending adoption of permanent regulations at the February 20 Board meeting.”
“The texts of these emergency and permanent regulations were posted on the CHRB website and contained in meeting packages throughout the months-long regulatory processes. The CHRB received no communications regarding 1843.5 during the public notice periods for both the emergency and permanent rules, and there were no comments during public hearings prior to approvals,” the statement read.
California Thoroughbred Trainers president Eoin Harty, however, warned that the new changes are unworkable for multiple industry stakeholders as written.
“Entry dates fluctuate so rapidly, it's just not a workable solution,” he said. “We need to take a deep breath and come up with something better.”
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