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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
A Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit arbitrator suspended trainer Antonio Meraz and fined him $5,000 after one of his winning horses at Mahoning Valley Racecourse, Isaul Gonzalez's First Kitten, tested above the limit for cobalt.View the full article -
By Chief Stipe · Posted
Well at least everyone realises now that Awapuni needed extensive renovating. The fact is shifting everything to Foxton or Levin wouldn't have been the answer. The bitching, moaning and Club parochialism hasn't helped either - but a dose of reality has. -
Would hardly think they would be more restricted than Brodie. Great that they won last night from betting big on the greyhounds, but they are coming to an end next year. No problem with them making money for punters that want to give them money, but TAB needs to treat all punters equally, but then we know that they dont. -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Back in the summer of 2024, the ubiquitous type 2 diabetes drug metformin was having an oversized impact on the sport. As a banned substance, a metformin overage came with a maximum two-year ban and $25,000 fine. Among the seven metformin cases adjudicated by June of last year, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) had meted out three hefty suspensions including one for the maximum two years. The crux of the controversy was this: While regulators said that they had received intelligence metformin was being abused as a potential performance enhancer, horsemen's groups voiced concern that because metformin is one of the most prescribed drugs in the U.S., the rules didn't account for the risk of environmental contamination. There were other key issues. When the Horseracing Integrity Act's anti-doping and medication control's (ADMC) program first went into effect in May of 2023, a metformin case went forward for adjudication if an individual laboratory was able to detect the substance. Towards the end of 2023, however, internal reviews of the (at the time) six HIWU-contracted laboratories uncovered different limits of detection in blood for metformin. Indeed, all metformin positives up to that point originated from just the one lab. To rectify the problem, HIWU harmonized “testing sensitivity” across its contracted labs, to ensure they were screening for metformin at the same levels: 0.5 nanograms per milliliter in blood and 1 nanogram per milliliter in urine. But were those the right levels to balance regulatory integrity and fairness to the trainers? In early June of last year, HIWU stayed the prosecution of all unresolved and new cases involving potential metformin “presence” violations. At the same time, the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium's (RMTC) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) began the formal process of trying to answer that key question. After first performing an initial review of the existing scientific literature, they then gathered together a team of researchers who performed a three-part study. The result, announced earlier this week, was a recommended Minimum Reporting Level (MRL) of 4.0 nanograms per milliliter in blood. The researchers didn't recommend using urine as a suitable testing sample due to what a HIWU press release described as “an erratic elimination behavior in urine and an inconsistent relationship between urine and blood concentrations.” Until the three papers that have come out of this process are published, the details surrounding the findings will be limited. But here's what is currently known. Sarah Andrew What do we know about the studies performed? Not a whole lot at the moment. The three-part study was led by Dr. Heather Knych, who is with the K.L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at the University of California (UC), Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. RMTC executive director Michael Hardy (who is also HIWU's acting chief of science) said he was unable to discuss the study parameters and findings until they were published. However, the press release offers a few important clues, including what appears a tacit nod to the potential for horses to test positive for metformin after eating tainted bedding. One paper, “Metformin in the Horse: Pharmacokinetics and Detection Times Using Monte Carlo Simulations,” has been accepted for publication. It reportedly describes the pharmacokinetics (i.e., how the body interacts with a substance) of metformin following a single intravenous and oral administration in the horse, as well as the “pharmacokinetics of metformin in various blood matrices.” But the paper also looks at the “potential for detection of metformin in blood and urine samples following a horse's exposure to metformin-contaminated urine and shavings,” according to the press release. While Hardy said he wasn't able to confirm that metformin had been detected in horses that had consumed shavings soaked with metformin-spiked urine, it appears very revealing that the recommended 4.0 nanograms per milliliter level in blood was landed upon in part to minimize the “possibility of a reported [Adverse Analytical Finding] due to inadvertent exposure.” Is metformin a performance enhancer? As part of a lengthy dive into metformin during the summer of 2024, the TDN sought to find out if metformin was a performance enhancer in racehorses. The result was inconclusive. Because Monday's press release doesn't mention whether the three-pronged study answers that question, the TDN asked Hardy if the RMTC was able to make that determination instead. Hardy emailed this response: “RMTC's Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) did acknowledge that Metformin has the potential to enhance performance in the racehorse through the physiologic mechanisms of enhancing glucose utilization in muscle cells and providing more energy for exercise, enhancing fat oxidation or the use of fat as a fuel source for exercise, and reducing body fat resulting in weight loss.” What proof is there that metformin is being intentionally administered to racehorses? Federal regulators repeatedly mentioned receipt of intelligence trainers have intentionally administered metformin to horses to try to enhance performance. Has HIWU got actual proof of this? In answer, a HIWU spokesperson wrote that the agency “cannot comment on the intelligence we have received regarding metformin. However, there is currently a pending case against a trainer for Possessing metformin in a manner indicative of intentional use in racehorses.” Jonathan Wong | Benoit Would the seven prior metformin cases already adjudicated have been pursued as cases under the proposed MRL? In short, no. There were seven metformin “presence” cases adjudicated prior to HISA and HIWU announcing the RMTC study and staying any unresolved and new cases. Importantly, a HIWU spokesperson said that all seven cases had metformin in the blood at levels under the new proposed reporting level. What happened in those seven cases? Trainer Jonathan Wong was issued a two-year suspension and fined $25,000. The level of metformin in Wong's case was 630 picograms per milliliter (pg/ml) in blood, which is 0.63 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml). Trainer Angel Sanchez was issued an 18-month suspension and fined $12,500. The publicly available case resolution doesn't show the level of the detected metformin, but it does explain that the metformin was found in a post-race urine sample. Trainer Michael Lauer was banned 75-days and fined $2,600. Once again, the publicly available case resolution doesn't include what level of metformin was detected, but the matrix was a post-race urine sample. Four cases have been resolved with no sanctions to the trainer, though in one case, that was because the B sample had insufficient volume for analysis. In another case, the trainer passed away before a formal hearing. Are any of the unresolved cases above the recommended reporting level? That's currently unclear. There are currently nine unresolved metformin cases. According to HIWU, they will continue to be stayed pending the Federal Trade Commission's approval of the new MRL. As per Monday's press release, “if approved, this change will not impact cases that were resolved prior to the June 2024 announcement and involved violations of the rules and testing specifications in effect at the time.” Asked about the metformin blood levels in the stayed cases, A HIWU spokesperson wrote that HIWU cannot currently disclose that information. “If the FTC approves the proposed Minimum Reporting Level (MRL), cases below the new MRL will be withdrawn at that time and updated on the HIWU website. Stayed cases that are not affected by the proposed MRL will continue through the adjudication process upon the FTC's approval of the rules, and their status will be updated on the HIWU website once resolved,” the spokesperson added. What scientific research did HIWU use to guide its approach? Pre-HISA, the Association of Racing Commissioners International's (ARCI) classed the drug a category 2 penalty B substance, which came with a 15-day suspension or 60-days with aggravating circumstances) for a first-time offense. There was no published testing specification for metformin, which meant that reported findings were determined by an individual laboratory's limit of detection for the substance (which meant that varied lab-to-lab). According to the ARCI, of the sanctions meted out for the metformin cases pre-HISA, the most severe was a 15-day suspension (and $2,000 fine) handed to Wesley Ward in 2023, along with a separate $5,000 fine (and 5-day suspension) handed to Ward in 2022. Given this, what science did HIWU use to guide its approach? A HIWU spokesperson responded with the following statement: “HIWU has the discretion to test for Banned Substances down to a laboratory's individual Limit of Detection because a Banned Substance should not be in a racehorse for any reason. “HISA/HIWU based initial regulation of metformin on the Program laboratories' Limit of Detection since there were no established testing specifications for metformin under ARCI rules or other jurisdictions internationally. “Later, HIWU directed the harmonization of testing specifications for metformin among Program laboratories in October 2023 based on the capabilities of the labs.” Does HISA/HIWU regret its initial approach to regulating metformin? Given how in all the seven adjudicated cases, metformin blood levels were below the recommended reporting level, does HIWU regret its initial hardline approach? A HIWU spokesperson responded, “metformin has no valid veterinary use in the racehorse and remains a Banned Substance under the ADMC Program, aligning with the ARCI's classification of metformin as a Prohibited Substance. “HISA and HIWU's request of the RMTC to review metformin and the subsequent proposed Minimum Reporting Level (4.0 nanograms per milliliter in blood) based on the research performed tracks with HISA and HIWU's mandate to ensure that regulations are science-based while prioritizing safety, integrity, welfare, and fairness. “While testing at 0.5 nanograms per milliliter in blood and 1 nanogram per milliliter in urine, there have been zero reported Adverse Analytical Findings for metformin in 2025, suggesting that horsemen have demonstrated that they are able to minimize the risk of exposure to this substance,” the spokesperson added. The post Picture On Metformin Getting Clearer, But Questions Remain appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
AMO Racing's Britain (Quality Road–Toasting, by Congrats) made her second start a winning won, striding home a comfortable two-length winner at Aqueduct on Thursday afternoon. Debuting with a third behind next-out stakes winner Shilling (Global Campaign) over this track and trip on Oct. 16, she was installed the 3-5 choice to get it done in this second go. A tad tardy off the blocks, the pricey New York-bred filly inched her way into contention along the inside as Backstreets (Connect) cut out an opening quarter mile in :23.08. Starting to gear up through a :47.14 half mile, Britain was shifted to the pacesetter's outside turning for home, took over in the stretch and drew off to win by a solid two-length margin over Interstatelovesong (Bolt d'Oro). Fellow Chad Brown runner Pomerance (Curlin) was third. Out of MSW and GISP Toasting, Britain has a yearling younger brother by Uncle Mo. Toasting was bred back to Cody's Wish on the latest cover. A $350,000 FTSAUG yearling purchase, the filly realized $1,050,000 at this year's OBSMAR Sale. 1st-Aqueduct, $82,450, Msw, 11-20, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:23.95, ft, 2 lengths. BRITAIN (f, 2, Quality Road–Toasting {MSW & GISP-USA, GSP-Can, $565,035}, by Congrats) Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $56,950. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Amo Racing USA LLC; B-3C Stables, LLC (NY); T-Chad C. Brown. The post $1.05M OBS March Grad Britain Gets Off the Mark at the Big A appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
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