Louisiana Racing Commission aims to increase safety with new rules

The Louisiana Racing Commission has implemented "Active Emergency Rules of Racing" set to take effect on June 8. These new regulations lower permissible dosages and shorten withdrawal times for several medications, notably the bronchodilator Clenbuterol and the corticosteroid Depo-Medrol.

Stephen Landry, the Commission's Executive Director, explained that the goal of these changes is to make the sport safer. This approach contrasts with the prevailing belief that restricting drug use is the best way to enhance safety. Landry believes these changes will benefit horses competing in Louisiana.

“The rules were changed to allow trainers to train their horses and veterinarians to treat their horses in a way they felt would increase safety,” said Landry.

Landry, who has been in his position for about two months, acknowledges the backlash but insists the changes were made with good intentions.

“We're very hopeful that there won't be a statistical anomaly that shows we did the wrong thing. We will monitor that,” said Landry. “We want to promote horse racing and safety. The last thing I'd like anybody to believe is that we in Louisiana don't care about the horse or are looking to allow cheaters to operate.”

Dr. Steven Barker, the Commission's former chief chemist and now a Professor Emeritus at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, helped write the new rules. Barker explained that the adjustments were necessary due to overly sensitive testing thresholds that detected therapeutic drugs at pharmacologically irrelevant levels.

“The pendulum in these things always swings to the left or the right. There is such a thing as being too conservative or too liberal. We're trying to come back to something more reasonable, rational, and scientifically based,” Barker said.

The Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) does not govern racing rules in Louisiana. Larry Findley, a licensed veterinarian on the Louisiana State Racing Commission, supports the new rules, arguing they will not increase breakdowns.

“God gave us these beautiful creatures and we are here to take care of them, not to abuse them. So, the withdrawal times that they've come up with, in my experience, are not going to increase breakdowns,” said Findley.

One controversial change permits the use of Depo-Medrol at 200 mg seven days before a race, compared to the current rule of 100 mg 21 days before a race. Despite concerns about its potential detrimental effect on joints, Findley believes the new rules are restrictive enough.

“Now, if you inject that horse [with Depo-Medrol] once a week, you're going do damage,” said Findley. “But one injection of Depo-Medrol is not going to hurt a horse.”

Findley also disagrees with the idea that the new rules around corticosteroids and NSAIDs will mask injuries, asserting that these medications should be part of a comprehensive approach to diagnosing injuries.

“If the horse is sore, somebody ought to be X-raying and determining, 'Is this a chip? Is this nothing? Is it just inflammation? Does he need operating on? Do you need to rest him?' Those kinds of things need to be made by the veterinarian taking care of the horse at the racetrack,” said Findley.

If an increase in equine fatalities is observed after the new rules take effect, the Commission would consider revising them. However, Louisiana does not currently make equine fatality data public, unlike other jurisdictions.

Several trainers have voiced concerns about the new rules, suggesting they may create an "unfair playing field." Findley dismissed these concerns, stating, “It's common sense to me. You should know you should look it up. It's available. And we do it for them. We tell them what to give.”

Other veterinary experts, like Jeff Blea, the California Horse Racing Board's Equine Medical Director, strongly disagree with the Louisiana Racing Commission's stance, describing the new rules as a significant step backward in terms of equine and human safety.

Blea's concerns include the relaxation of restrictions around NSAIDs and intra-articular corticosteroid injections, which he believes can mask potential injuries and lead to increased fatalities.

“The government tries to control too much, in my opinion, the federal government. And that's what HISA is,” said Findley. “You can tell everybody in the whole world, I'm totally against HISA.”

Former LRC equine medical director Tom David criticized the new rules, saying they set Louisiana racing back "about 50 years."

“Clenbuterol has a definite anabolic property, and when you race on it with that short of an interval, that's what they'll be giving it for,” said David.

Kevin Dunleavy, a Kentucky-based veterinarian, expressed concerns about horses shipping into and out of Louisiana from HISA-regulated jurisdictions, fearing they might be at a performance disadvantage due to the differing medication rules.

Dunleavy's "biggest concern" is with Clenbuterol, emphasizing the need for careful management of its withdrawal times to ensure therapeutic use rather than performance enhancement.

In conclusion, while the Louisiana Racing Commission aims to increase safety with its new rules, the changes have sparked significant debate and concern among industry professionals. The impact of these rules on horse welfare and racing integrity will need to be closely monitored.