Vet Education Conference Concludes

[Wandering Eyes]

The two-day Regulatory Veterinarian Continuing Education conference concluded Tuesday with sessions dedicated to discussions on regulating medication and developing enforcement strategies. The conference, presented by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium and National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety & Integrity Alliance was held at Gulfstream Park Mar. 4 and 5.

Tuesday’s morning session was highlighted by a panel on U.S. and international out-of-competition testing strategies. Dr. Rick Arthur of the California Horse Racing Board, Dr. Tessa Muir of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Dr. Izzy Trejo of the New Mexico Racing Commission covered subjects such as hair testing and the scope of substances that should be included when performing out-of-competition testing.

UC Davis’s Dr. Ashley Hill discussed scientific threshold level development and the 95/95 threshold interval, and on a later panel that focused on laboratory issues including sample turnaround logistics and unknown substances. Dr. Mary Scollay, equine medical director for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, presented on the purpose and philosophy behind therapeutic medication regulations, and regulating substances present in the racehorse’s environment.

Tuesday afternoon sessions included a talk led by Zoetis’s Dr. Kenton Morgan on adulterated substances, compounded and illegal new medications, misbranding and mislabeling.

The conference, which attracted more than 60 regulatory and official racetrack veterinarians from 20 states and six countries (and covering almost 50 North American racetracks), was organized by RMTC’s Dr. Benson and Steve Koch, executive director of the NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance.

“The 2019 Regulatory Veterinarian CE conference marked another successful event, which is evidenced by the group of attendees and significant industry support,” said Dr. Robert O’Neil, director of equine health and safety for The Stronach Group. “Our sport’s equine athletes will certainly benefit from the support that continuing education provides veterinarians in the field–from developing their networks and skill sets to expanding access to critical resources. This annual gathering has become the gold standard in training regulatory veterinarians.”

Monday’s session of the conference focused on pharmacology–with a review provided by Dr. Cindy Cole of the University of Florida’s Racing Laboratory, and a presentation on regulated substances in the equine environment by Scollay. Attendees also visited Gulfstream Park’s shed rows for simulated pre-race inspection demonstrations on racehorses currently in training. A discussion on pre-race examination decision-making was led afterward by Dr. Barrie Grant of the California Horse Racing Board.

“Regulatory veterinarians are the only ones that advocate strictly for the horse, without having to answer to a trainer or an owner,” pointed out event co-organizer Dr. Dionne Benson, executive director and COO of the RMTC. “We ask veterinarians at this conference to be mindful of to whom they are ultimately accountable.”

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