The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) supports administration of Salix by regulatory veterinarians only and a ban on adjunct bleeder medications, but will continue to study a pilot program proposal to ban the use of Salix in 2-year-olds .

The RMTC, a group of 25 Thoroughbred racing industry stakeholders with a variety of positions on race-day medication, met Aug. 4 in Northern Kentucky. The meeting was one of several held recently to discuss proposed changes in equine drug rules, including an eventual ban on the anti-bleeding medication Salix (furosemide), also known as Lasix.

The proposed ban on Salix is a divisive issue, but there has been broad support for its regulatory administration, generally given four hours before a race. Also, horsemen’s groups that strongly opposed a Salix ban haven’t fought a ban on adjunct bleeder drugs also used on race day.

Thus, National Thoroughbred Racing Association president and chief executive officer Alex Waldrop presented the recommendations from a RMTC committee that called for a model rule. The proposal will now go to the Association of Racing Commissioners International for consideration