All trainers are responsible for knowing the medication rules of the California Horse Racing Board. The following is a summary of the those rules. Download the complete Medication Handbook (PDF Document - 121k) by clicking here.

Read article from Owner's Circle regarding medication testing by clicking here.

SUMMARY OF MEDICATION RULES:

BLEEDERS

Registration with the Official Veterinarian for first time bleeders and out of state bleeders must be completed prior to entry time to be added to the California Bleeder list. Bleeder status must be declared at entry time. It is the responsibility of the trainer to see that the bleeder status of the horse is correct on the horse’s foal certificate. When a horse is put on the bleeders list or taken off the bleeders list the papers should be in the racing office where the meet is running. If foal certificates are not in the office, or are removed before they are stamped, the trainer must bring them to the State Veterinarians office to be updated. Treatment with lasix is permitted 4 hours prior to post time with 5 cc lasix I.V. only. Premarin may be given at 4 hours prior to post time. Yellow detention stall sign must be posted at time of treatment.

PERMITTED MEDICATION:

Only one of the following substances may be given no less than 24 hours prior to post time and must be reported to the Official Veterinarian by 12:00 noon of race day. The allowed levels in post race test samples are indicated:

Phenylbutazone: 5 mcg./ML, Banamine (Flunixin): 0.5 mcg./ML, Ketoprofen 50 nanogram/ ML.

All other substances are either improper or prohibited substances when found in a post race test sample and may not be given after entry time.

SHOCKWAVE THERAPY
All horses receiving Shockwave Therapy must be reported to the Official Veterinarian. Those horses will be placed on the Shockwave Therapy List and will not be allowed to start for 10 days.

BICARBONATE LEVELS
Track is entitled to perform physiological tests consisting of the taking of blood samples from owners’ horses entered into races to be conducted at the Race Meet. Such samples will be tested for bicarbonate levels. Trainers of horses showing a total carbon dioxide per liter of plasma in excess of the level specified in the Race Meet Agreement (s) between the Track and the Thoroughbred Owners of California or The California Thoroughbred Trainers shall be subject to the disciplinary measures specified in such Agreement.

MOUTHWASHES
Effective immediately, only water shall be used for “mouthwashes”. The mouthwashes shall not contain any other substance, including flavoring agents. Any horse that has been administered a mouthwash other than water on race day shall be scratched from the race in which it is entered. In addition, a CHRB complaint will be filed against the trainer of record for violation of CHRB regulations (including but not limited to Rules 1843 and 1843.5).

VETERINARIAN’S LIST C.H.R.B. Rule #1866:

All horses placed on the Vet’s List will stay on the List for a minimum of Five days, and they will remain on the Vet’s List until the Official Veterinarian or his agent removes such horses from the List. Horses are not removed from the Vet’s List automatically. Horses will be placed on the Vet’s List for the following reasons:

1. Sick: The horse will be placed on the Vet’s List for five days and will be ineligible to enter until the sixth day after placement on the Vet’s List. Blood is not required.

2. Injury: Horse will be on Vet’s List for five days and will be removed from the Vet’s List the sixth day after placement on the List, upon demonstration that the injury has healed to the Official Veterinarian or his agent. A blood sample may be required.

3. Lame, Sore, Broken-down and Unsound Horses: Horse is on the Vet’s List for a minimum of five days, then horse must work a satisfactory 5/8 of a mile (published), and demonstrate racing soundness in the presence of the Official Veterinarian or his agent. Post-work blood sample will be taken. Drug levels may not exceed those allowed on day of race.

4. Bleeding Post-Race: Horse is placed on List for 2 weeks. Then the horse will be required to work 5/8 mile without bleeding for the official Veterinarian or his agent. The next time the horse bleeds visibly, the horse is placed on the List for 30 days. The third time, horse will not be eligble to race.

5. Exhaustion: The horse is placed on the Vets List for a minimum of five days and will be required to work 5/8 of a mile in the presence of the Official Vet or his agent and demonstrate improved physical fitness. A blood sample will be taken. Drug levels may not exceed those allowed on day of race.

6. Coggins: Horses shipped from out of State are required to have a current negative Coggins test within the last six months. Blood must be taken. Negative Coggins is required to remove horse from the Vet’s List.

VETERINARIAN REPORT. Every veterinarian who treats a horse within the enclosure shall, in writing on a form prescribed by the Board, report to the official veterinarian in a manner prescribed by him, the name of the horse treated, the name of the trainer of the horse, the time of treatment, and any other information requested by the official veterinarian. Any such report is confidential and its content shall not be disclosed except in a proceeding before the Stewards or the board, or in exercise of the Board’s jurisdiction.

BLOCKING OF LEGS OR ANKLES: The blocking of the nerves in a horse’s leg or ankle by injection or by the use of any local anesthetic or other means with the exception of ice is prohibited at any time on a day when such horse is to race.

COGGINS TEST

Horses shipped from out of state are required to have a current negative Coggins test withing the last six months. This should accompany a health certificate from an accredited veterinarian.