Tom LaMarra
Tom LaMarra is the news editor for The Blood-Horse magazine.
Articles by Tom LaMarra
Drug Consortium Moves on Violations, "Milkshakes"
January 26, 2005
The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium has set a deadline for adoption of recommended uniform medication violations and testing protocol for "milkshakes," which are mixtures of bicarbonate of soda and a liquid given to a racehorse before i Read More
Kentucky Equine Drug Panel Gets New Members
December 01, 2004
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council, which hasn't met since the fall of 2003, has been officially reconstituted. The council serves in an advisory capacity to the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority.
The terms of members of the previou Read More
Above the Surface: Polytrack
October 04, 2004
Polytrack--polypropylene fibers, recycled rubber, and silica sand covered in a wax coating--has been used for training and racing for years in Great Britain, but Keeneland is the first U.S. facility to install it. Read More
Racing Drug Panel Moves Forward with Per-Start Fee for Owners
September 15, 2004
Lab accreditation, quality assurance to get close look
Racehorse owners would contribute about $4.5 million a year to support research projects under a recommendation by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, which Read More
ID Program Gets Funds, Suggestions
August 25, 2004
The push for the National Animal Identification Program has picked up momentum with formation of a consortium, the contribution of millions of dollars from the USDA, and recommendations from The Jockey Club on how equine identification should Read More
VS in Texas: Breeders' Cup Moving Ahead With Plans
August 01, 2004
Breeders' Cup, which has plans to set up a "disease-free zone" to allow horses to ship in and out of Lone Star Park, is moving full-steam ahead with preparations for this year's World Thoroughbred Championships even as a vesicular stomatitis (VS Read More
Full Implementation of Drug Testing Delayed
July 21, 2004
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association has delayed implementation of its drug-testing protocol for graded stakes in the United States because not all jurisdictions were prepared to implement it, the American Graded Stakes Committee sai Read More
Lobbying for Proposed National Drug Policy Continues
July 02, 2004
Three months after national regulators' associations approved model rules for a proposed national medication policy, the task of lobbying jurisdictions to adopt them continues.
The Association of Racing Commissioners International and th Read More
VS Update: Breeders' Cup, Lone Star Park Moving Ahead With Plans
June 23, 2004
Breeders' Cup, which has plans to set up a "disease-free zone" to allow horses to ship in and out of Lone Star Park, is moving full-steam ahead with preparations for this year's World Thoroughbred Championships even as a limited outbreak of Read More
Proposed National Drug Policy Takes Another Step Forward
April 10, 2004
Voluntary Salix use, 24-hour rule on non-steroidals sought Officials gathered in New Orleans for the first Joint Conference of Racing Regulators approved model rules for a national medication policy. It Read More
Medication Policy Takes Somewhat Different Approach
February 11, 2004
The National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) has adopted a position on medication and drug testing that states any changes in policies in each jurisdiction should be enacted only after there is scientific evidence Read More
Regulators View Drug Policy; No Race-Day Changes Yet
December 11, 2003
The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium continued its march toward a national model policy on medication and drug testing Dec. 10 when regulators responded favorably to the proposal. But wholesale changes in race-day medication rules around Read More
AQHA Responds to Allegations From Horse Charity
December 05, 2003
The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), which has hundreds of thousands of members, has reiterated its position on euthanasia and horse slaughter in the wake of an accusatory Blue Horse Charities letter that was disseminated to the racing Read More
Veterinarians, Trainers Support Ky. Drug Policy
December 02, 2003
The debate over whether Kentucky should implement a restrictive race-day medication policy heated up Nov. 18 with calls by racetrack veterinarians and trainers to keep the current policy intact, and criticism of the way the national Racing Read More
Groups That Oppose Slaughter Ban Target of Letter
November 09, 2003
Blue Horse Charities has stepped up the campaign for passage of legislation to ban horse slaughter with a strongly worded letter and a full-page advertisement on the back page of the Nov. 8 edition of Daily Racing Form.
In a Read More
Salix-Only Policy on Race Day Advocated for Kentucky
October 03, 2003
The chairman of the Kentucky Racing Commission has advocated a Salix-only policy on race day in the state, and said he would schedule meetings around the state to get feedback. Currently, five medications are permitted on race day in Read More
MRLS Research Funded by Kentucky Agriculture Board
March 25, 2003
The equine breeding industry is among the recipients of funds from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, which allocated more than $4.3 million for 2003 projects.
The Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders received $190,000 to Read More
Without Definitive Test, Battling EPO Use Big Challenge
March 14, 2003
Officials said the classification of erythropoeitin -- the blood-doping agent commonly known as EPO -- as a prohibited practice has curbed its use in some jurisdictions but a definitive test for the substance is a must if any regulation is to have Read More
Change in Store for Kentucky Equine Drug Research?
January 23, 2003
A campaign to bring about changes in equine drug research in Kentucky has spilled over into the public and political arenas with a call for legislative action.
The Kentucky Equine Drug Council began a fight more than a year ago for the Read More
National HBPA to Issue Revised Medication Proposal
December 11, 2002
The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association is prepared to release a revised proposal for a national policy on drug testing and therapeutic medication. The document deals with Class 1, 2, 3, and 4 medications, as well as Read More
Researchers Lay Groundwork for Future MRLS Studies
August 30, 2002
The scientific community wrapped up a two-day workshop at the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Center Aug. 28 with a thorough review of research into mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS). They put forth some ideas on how to Read More
NYRA Issues Restrictions on Shock Wave Therapy
July 17, 2002
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) issued a policy whereby horses that receive shock wave therapy cannot race for at least 10 days after treatment. Earlier, the California Horse Racing Board ordered restrictions on shock wave therapy Read More
Therapeutic Medications in the Spotlight Once Again
March 15, 2002
As the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Racing Integrity and Drug Testing Task Force prepared to release the results of round two of its super-testing program (an initiative to identify drugs that may be used and to streamline the Read More
Racetrack Vets Could Form Own Organization
March 12, 2002
As the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Racing Integrity and Drug Testing Task Force prepared for its March 12 meeting, some racetrack veterinarians moved closer to forming their own organization.
Representatives from The Race Read More
Medication Summit Panel Moves Forward on Plan
March 01, 2002
In a Jan. 28 teleconference, representatives from about 20 racing industry organizations unanimously endorsed a plan to develop a national medication policy. Members of the Thoroughbred, Standardbred, and Quarter Horse racing industries Read More
