A Kentucky legislative subcommittee, in a surprise vote, found regulations governing equine medication "deficient" Aug. 27, just one week before they are scheduled to take effect.

The regulations call for regulatory administration of furosemide on race day, a ban on adjunct bleeder medications, and a reduction in the amount phenylbutazone that can be administered to a horse 24 hours before a race. The regulations are in line with national model rules approved by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) and the Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI).

The regulations are supposed to take effect Sept. 4, in time for the Turfway Park meet that begins Sept. 6.

The bipartisan Interim Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations held its regular meeting Aug. 27, and on the agenda was a report from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on its activities. The new drug rules weren’t on the agenda