The California Horse Racing Board wants the governor pursue changes to state law that would allow the agency to immediately release the results of a positive horse drug test and permit more stakeholders, including jockeys and track veterinarians, to access a horse’s medical history.
Currently, state law requires the results of drug tests to remain confidential until the CHRB files a complaint against the responsible parties through a process that can take weeks. If the proposal moves forward, those results would now be published within 24 hours.
The changes are part of an effort to curb equine deaths at California’s racetracks. Nearly 40 horses have died at Santa Anita in Arcadia in the past year.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has called the deaths a “disgrace,” appointed three new members to the horse racing board earlier this year and tasked the new board with developing reforms that would improve animal welfare in the troubled sport.
On Wednesday, the board sent back 16 proposals, three of which will require the Legislature’s involvement.
“As always, our overarching priority is to protect the safety of riders and horses,” wrote Rick Baedecker, the agency’s executive director, in a Dec. 4 letter to Newsom. “Many of the proposed initiatives below will require the cooperation and support of the industry and its stakeholders, and we are optimistic that they will do so.”

Much on reform list

Among the panel’s recommendations is a complete ban on shockwave therapy, a gradual phasing out of corticosteroids, and the prohibition of racing and training on weather-sealed tracks. Other changes would create stricter standards for removing a horse from a veterinarian’s watch list, increase the frequency of drug testing for horses beyond race days,and require trainers to submit 30-day medical reports at the time of entry.
Those reforms are expected to be implemented by the board through its rule-making process.
The racing board wants permission from the Legislature to earmark its revenues from licensing fees and penalties for additional safety measures, such as hiring more state veterinarians, stewards and support staff, according to the letter.
The CHRB plans to review and strengthen its penalties for violations as well. Fines can currently range from $500 to $10,000 depending on the number of offenses in the same year and the severity.

Medication at heart of reforms

The reforms aren’t the first and likely won’t be the last in what has been a tumultuous year for horse racing in California. The spate of deaths at the iconic Santa Anita racetrack have drawn a national spotlight, creating tremendous pressure on the industry to shape up. Racetrack owners and state officials, recognizing the turning tide, have developed and supported several reforms on their own, but opponents still say not enough has been done.
Medication abuse has been at the forefront of the debate over the sport’s future. Many of the common medications can mask a horse’s injuries, allowing it to run when it shouldn’t.
Besides the proposed changes, the racing board is in the process of prohibiting bisphosphonates, which is believed to affect horses’ bones, and Lasix, an anti-bleeding medicine used often as a diuretic to lighten a horse before a race.
At the board’s last meeting, new Chairman Greg Ferraro made it clear that the agency would take a hard-line stance on drugs.
“The days of permissive medication are over,” Ferraro said. “We will gradually eliminate medications and keep them away from racing and training.”

National legislation pending

Some stakeholders, including The Jockey Club, have pushed for the passage of the Horseracing Integrity Act, a bill in Congress that would establish an anti-doping authority to oversee regulations nationwide. Currently, the industry follows a patchwork of standards that vary from state to state.
Jim Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club, applauded the CHRB and governor’s efforts, but stressed that reforms are needed in more than just one state.
“While this is a step in the right direction, our industry still needs the nationwide unity of high standards that will be accomplished through passage of the Horseracing Integrity Act,” Gagliano said.
Two similar bills were introduced in the House and Senate earlier this year, but so far neither has moved out of their respective committees.
The industry is not waiting on the legislation. In late November, it formed the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, representing more than 85 percent of graded stakes racetracks in America, promising to develop best practices and stricter guidelines for medications, whip use and record-keeping.
It’s still unclear what caused a spike in deaths at Santa Anita last winter. The CHRB is expected to release a summary report of its investigation sometime this month, but no official date has been announced.
Separately, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is conducting a parallel investigation, but a spokesman declined to provide an update about its progress.