Veterinary regulatory and analytical experts gathered this week in Dublin for the biennial European Horserace Scientific Liaison Committee (EHSLC) conference.
Hosted by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, the conference began on Tuesday and concluded on Thursday and consisted of various working parties who held lengthy discussions relating to their expertise within the regulatory framework.
Delegates of racing regulators in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, Norway and Sweden were present, while members of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), the Japanese Racing Association (JRA), the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) and the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) were also in attendance in an observatory capacity.
Speaking at the conference, IHRB Chief Veterinary Officer/Head of Anti-Doping, Lynn Hillyer said, “The IHRB is delighted to welcome and host this expert group in Dublin for important scientific veterinary and regulatory discussions. It is a critical part of our work to maintain close engagement with international horseracing bodies, exercising leadership where appropriate, to ensure consistency of regulatory standards as per our commitment to Integrity in our 2024-2027 Statement of Strategy. As Chair of the International Group of Specialist Regulatory Veterinarians (IGSRV), I believe that this meeting of European colleagues provides an invaluable opportunity to share best practice.”
The EHSLC was formed in 1992 following a discussion between the Stewards of France, Great Britain and Ireland on the need for greater co-operation in technical areas and their wish to encourage co-operation in research to successfully counter future challenges concerning the control of prohibited substances in racing.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
