Tom LaMarra

Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council Targets Corticosteroids

February 10, 2011

The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council (KEDRC), citing a need to explore use of corticosteroids in racehorses, agreed Feb. 9 to take bids for research into one of the drugs in the research planning phase.
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Bill Provides $30 Million for New Jersey Racing

January 11, 2011

A bill that would shift $30 million from the Casino Redevelopment Authority to the horse racing industry in the state of New Jersey over a three-year period progressed in the legislature on Jan. 10. The money would be paid on a sliding scale Read More

Beulah Park Quarantine Continues, Three Horses Confirmed Dead

January 10, 2011

One barn at Beulah Park near Columbus, Ohio, has been released from quarantine, but a possible new case of equine herpesvirus (EHV) is being investigated in another barn, officials said Jan. 8.
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Beulah Park Racetrack Quarantined with Possible EHV Outbreak

December 31, 2010

A possible equine herpesvirus (EHV) outbreak has prompted quarantine measures to be implemented at Beulah Park in Ohio.
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KHRC: Life At Ten Investigation Continuing

November 09, 2010

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission said Nov. 8 it is "continuing its inquiry" into the circumstances surrounding the performance of Life At Ten in the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Read More

Kentucky Breed Incentive Changes Being Considered

October 24, 2010

A Kentucky Horse Racing Commission committee is considering changes to the state's Breeders' Incentive Fund, money for which comes from a 6% sales tax on stud fees. The committee met Oct. 21 to toss around ideas and devise a Read More

Training Injury Reporting Sought for Database

October 19, 2010

Officials with the Equine Injury Database are seeking support from owners and trainers to start voluntarily reporting injuries to Thoroughbreds during training hours. The Equine Injury Database (EID), now in its second year, already Read More

Upset Lingers Over Proposed Bute Regulation in Horse Racing

September 22, 2010

The largest horsemen's group in the country continues to call for the racing industry to perform thorough research before it continues with its plan to lower the testing threshold for phenylbutazone, a commonly used non-steroidal anti-infla Read More

Kentucky Drug Test Upgrade Needed for Breeders' Cup

August 11, 2010

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission hopes to expedite regulations for out-of-competition testing and have them in place in time for this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs. Breeders' Cup has empl Read More

Horse Racing Study Looks at Number of 'DNFs' by Surface

June 30, 2010

A study performed by Equibase at the request of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) indicates the percentage of "career-ending did-not-finish" (CEDNF) incidents was about twice as high on dirt than synthetic surfac Read More

Horse Racing Injury Data Shows Familiarity Across All Surfaces

June 28, 2010

An initial analysis of equine injury data released earlier this year shows no statistically significant difference in the risk of fatalities in Thoroughbreds on different racing surfaces, officials said June 28 during the third Welfare and Safety of Read More

Equine Diseases Get a Closer Look

June 24, 2010

Federal officials are calling for more education, research, and cooperation when it comes to emerging equine diseases. During the June 22 American Horse Council National Issues Forum, a panel discussion on "Emerging Diseases: A Read More

Unwanted Horse Coalition Takes the Next Step

June 21, 2010

The Unwanted Horse Coalition, now in its fifth year, adopted a multifaceted strategic plan June 21 designed to continue advocacy and education programs but move the organization to the next level. Coalition members met in Washington, Read More

Pimlico Race Course Earns Full Safety Accreditation

May 11, 2010

All three Triple Crown host racetracks are now fully accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance.

The NTRA announced May 10 Pimlico Race Course, which received provisional accreditation a Read More

New Phenylbutazone Threshold Level Recommended for Racing

April 16, 2010

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium has lowered the testing threshold level for phenylbutazone ("Bute"), a commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), but has kept the administration time at 24 hours prior to a race. Read More

Thoroughbred Owner Ejected from Track, Investigation Continues

February 03, 2010

Thoroughbred owner Michael Gill, ejected from Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course Feb. 2 by order of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, said he has no intention of backing away from an announcement he's leaving the business Read More

Kentucky Horse Council Modifies Mission

January 13, 2010

The Kentucky Horse Council said Jan. 12 it has modified its mission statement to offer a "more accurate reflection" of how its role in the equine community has evolved.

The KHC board of directors recently adopted the new mi Read More

Drug Uniformity Remains Somewhat Elusive

December 11, 2009

Although studies have been completed to determine threshold levels for almost 20 therapeutic medications, it doesn't mean the industry will know for certain whether the drugs can impact equine performance. And it remains to be seen whether Read More

Equine Injury Data Called Critical to Racing

December 10, 2009

The Jockey Club Equine Injury Database has compiled statistics over a 12-month period for 84% of all flat racing in North America, but now comes the process of analyzing the data in an attempt to quantify the results.

Dr. Mary Scolla Read More

Thoroughbred Safety and Integrity Alliance Earns Positive Review

December 09, 2009

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance received a positive review from its independent monitor Dec. 8 but was also told it has a lot of work to do in terms of educating the public and getting racetracks to bu Read More

Safety Alliance Monitor Seeks Public Comment

November 27, 2009

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance is seeking public comment on its activities in advance of the release of an annual report in late December.

Tommy Thompson, a former federal and state Read More

Zenyatta Tops Horse of the Year Poll

November 10, 2009

Zenyatta has reclaimed the top spot in the final National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll of 2009.

The poll, which covers racing performances through Nov. 8, was released Nov. 9. Voters rated the horses on a scale of 10 down t Read More

Reduction in 2010 Kentucky Racing Dates Approved

October 28, 2009

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, on the advice of one of its committees, Oct. 27 approved 2010 racing dates for all three breeds, including a 25% cut in Thoroughbred racing.

Racetracks requested reductions because of economic Read More

Thoroughbred Racing Safety and Integrity Standards to Expand

October 02, 2009

The independent monitor for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Safety and Integrity Alliance will conduct a "systematic and formal data-gathering phase" in the next few months and release a "detailed, comprehensive report" by th Read More

Saratoga Fully Accredited by Safety Alliance

August 22, 2009

New York Racing Association-operated Saratoga has been fully accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance, officials announced Aug. 21.

Saratoga, host of the grade I Travers Stakes Aug. 29, was Read More