NEW YORK, March 30 (UPI) -- The New York Jockey Club said it has updated its rules on medications for American thoroughbreds and remodeled the penalties for violations.
The Jockey Club, which tracks the lineage of horses in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, said the Reformed Racing Medication Rules have been updated and thoroughbred racing jurisdictions are being encouraged to adopt the new regulations.
The new rules include barring horses from racing until their bodies are free of all medications and imposing penalties including fines, disqualifications and lifetime suspensions for violations.
The Jockey Club also recommended all samples taken from horses be tested by laboratories accredited by the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium.
"As we have said many times before, The Jockey Club believes that the overuse of medication endangers our human and equine athletes, threatens the integrity of our sport and erodes consumer confidence in our game," said James Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club. "Horses should compete only when they are free from the influence of medication, and these reformed rules represent a giant step toward achieving that goal."
