The New York State Gaming Commission has announced that its Equine Medical Director Dr. Scott E. Palmer VMD and all three stewards will be made available to the media at the conclusion of the program to discuss any incidents that occur during the races at Saratoga Race Course Sept. 3.
In addition, Dr. Palmer will be available to speak to the media in the event of any equine health-related on-track incidents that take place during the day. Dr. Luis Castro, the American Association of Equine Practitioners on-call veterinarian, will provide media support for the FOX Network coverage of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Horses entered for the Gold Cup will be subject to 72-hour 'dedicated watch'–i.e. one guard stationed full time–by experienced security personnel leading up to post time. Horses are bound to the following:
- Horses must be on the grounds of Saratoga Race Course no later than 72 hours prior to their anticipated post time. Exceptions are at the discretion of the Stewards.
- The Commission will obtain out-of-competition blood samples of horses competing in The Jockey Club Gold Cup and have the samples tested at the New York Equine Drug Testing and Research Program at Morrisville State College.
- The Commission has coordinated with other jurisdictions to obtain out-of-competition samples from horses not stabled in New York.
- Once arrived, horses must remain at Saratoga Race Course until after the running of the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Exceptions will only be granted in the case of an unforeseeable emergency, as determined by the dedicated watch security in consultation with veterinarians and the Stewards.
- Horses shall reside in their trainers' current barns and/or at stalls on the grounds, which are subject to monitoring by security personnel.
- No horse entered in the Jockey Club Gold Cup may be treated within 72-hours of the race unless Commission security personnel are present. NYRA or Commission security personnel will monitor all treatments performed by veterinarians.
- No administration of any medication or substance by dose syringe is permitted within 24-hours of a race.
- All syringes and containers for administered medication will be retained by Commission personnel for possible testing.
- Veterinarians shall submit a 72-hour treatment plan for each horse entered in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Plans were due by noon Aug. 31, 2022.
- Complete veterinary records for 72-hours prior to the Jockey Club Gold Cup shall be submitted to the Commission, which will review and then publicly post the records to its website.
- Entry-exit logs will be maintained by NYRA and Commission security personnel.
- All persons–including veterinarians, trainers, assistant trainers, farriers, owners, or other connections–on entering the stall, engaging in contact with the horse, or performing any service for the horse, must have a valid Commission license on their person.
- Such persons will be logged-in by security personnel, along with the reason for their visit.
- Routine stall and horse maintenance by identified grooms and staff will be monitored but are exempt from logging.
- All equipment, feed, hay bales, etc. are subject to search and seizure by both NYRA and the Commission, as provided by law.
- On race day, no treatments will be permitted for horses entered in any Stakes Race pursuant to NYRA policy, unless it is for an emergency or as approved by the Stewards.
- All horses participating in the Jockey Club Gold Cup must report to the Assembly Barn no less than 45 minutes prior to the designated Post Time.
- On race day, blood samples for TCO2 analysis will be collected from horses in the Assembly Barn between 45 minutes to 1 hour before post time. Horses will then be escorted to the paddock.
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