On Tuesday, December 3, the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council voted 4-2 in favour of a proposed uniform national medication rule.

As a report by Greg Hall on courier-journal.com explains, the proposal lays out two-dozen medications that would be considered appropriate for therapeutic use; outlines cut-off times for medications; sets threshold levels for medications, and would allow authorized veterinarians to administer lasix to horses that are to race that day.

The article explains that one of the contentious points of the meeting had to do with the need for different rules for standardbred racing. The issue had to due with the withdrawal times for clenbuterol treatments. The proposed withdrawal times would hinder a standardbred’s ability to race every week.

The state’s full racing commission is scheduled to next meet on December 11.

(With files from courier-journal.com)