The Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America (TRA) welcomes the proposal by the leadership of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) of an industry effort to develop a plan to eliminate within the next five years any possible medication influence on the performance of horses on race day.
The TRA recognizes medication policies are set solely by each respective racing commission and would support a concerted effort among the commissions, in consultation with the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium and others, to address the concerns about current policies regarding any pharmacological effects of medications on race day.
“This is a proposal that should merit the active participation of every facet of the industry in resolving an issue of great interest to racing fans and the general public,” said Chris McErlean, president of the TRA. “As continued revision of equine medication rules for racing seems probable, it would be best for the industry to manage these changes by having them addressed cooperatively in a realistic and practical way.”