Graded Stakes Committee tightens rules on steroids, toe
grabs
The American Graded Stakes Committee announced on Friday new eligibility
requirements for graded stakes races in the United States.
At its meeting this week in Saratoga Springs, New York, the committee adopted
two new eligibility requirements for graded stakes.
States or racetracks through house rules must adopt, at a minimum, the
Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) model rule on
androgenic anabolic steroids by January 1, 2009, or the date of a state or
racetrack’s first graded race in 2009, whichever is later. If a state or
racetrack does not adopt the model rule, then their races will lose their graded
status. Those races will not be eligible again for grading until the rule is
adopted.
In addition, the committee adopted a requirement for grade eligibility
whereby states or racetracks through house rules must adopt the ARCI model rule
on toe grabs on front feet by January 1, 2009, or the date of a state or track’s
first graded stake in 2009. If the rule is not adopted, then races will lose
their graded status. Those races will become eligible for grading once the rule
is adopted.
“There has been much discussion recently about how any recommendations put
forth by various groups could be implemented given Thoroughbred racing’s
fractured organizational structure,” Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders
Association (TOBA) President Dan Metzger said. “The committee members feel
strongly about these two issues and determined that they should be implemented
in graded stakes by expanding the conditions of eligibility.”
Also, the committee expanded its drug testing protocol to include testing for
alkalinizing agents in graded stakes beginning January 1, 2009. All horses
participating in graded stakes are to have blood samples drawn pre-race in
accordance with the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium’s recommended best
practices. It will be up to the jurisdiction to determine the testing method,
either TCO2 or base excess. A race will lose its grade eligibility if this
testing is not performed.