On Wednesday, August 27, the Ontario Racing Commission announced that the current out-of-competition testing program relating to Thoroughbred racing at Woodbine Racetrack will be enhanced.

An ORC release on the matter states that the enhanced testing program will pertain to all Thoroughbred Grade I and II stakes races that will run at Woodbine Racetrack for the remainder of the 2014 racing season.

For more information, please read the contents of the ORC release on the matter, which appear below.

WEG and ORC announce enhanced Out of Competition Testing

Applies to Thoroughbred Grade I and II Stakes Races

Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) and the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) will enhance the ORC’s current Out of Competition Testing (OCT) program. Effective immediately, WEG will apply for reimbursement of qualifying out-of-pocket testing and laboratory expenses through The Jockey Club’s Out of Competition Testing Grant Fund (“Grant Fund”).

The Grant Fund has been established by The Jockey Club to assist in defraying out-of-pocket costs associated with out-of-competition testing programs for Graded Stakes races at eligible licensed Thoroughbred racetracks to promote the integrity of Thoroughbred racing.

The enhanced testing program will pertain to all Thoroughbred Grade I and II stakes races that will run at Woodbine Racetrack for the remainder of the 2014 racing season.

All participants that nominate their horse to Grade I and Grade II stakes races will be required to allow access to the horse and consent to biological samples being collected from the horse by the ORC or its representative.

The sample collection(s) will take place from the closing of nominations to running of the race, without further notice or warning.

Should a participant fail to produce a horse when requested, the horse will become ineligible to run in the race and the owner and/or trainer may be ineligible for licensing in Ontario. In addition, further regulatory action may be appropriate in these circumstances.

For further information on this initiative, please contact: ORC Assistant Manager of Racing Russ Fernandes at 416-213-0520.