(Sections in Red Updated July 2024)
OBS, in conjunction with Keeneland and Fasig Tipton have adopted the following Medication Policies and Prohibited Practices effective July 2024. These rules will apply to auctions held on the OBS sales grounds.
Additionally, Florida State Statute 535.08 requires all medication administered to a horse within 72 hours of an under-tack show or beginning of a sales session must be reported the earlier of 12 hours after treatment or 1 hour prior to an under tack show and/or sales session. The reports must be signed by a Florida licensed veterinarian and submitted to the OBS main office or Repository. The reports must identify the medication and the amount, strength, and mode of administration; the date and time of administration; and the diagnosis and/or reason for treatment. Medications may only be administered at or below manufacturers recommended dosages.
The OBS Medication Policy is in addition to the rights of the Buyer, Owner or the Consignor as set forth in the Florida Statutes, Title XXXIII, Chapter 535.01-535.14 and is not intended to replace or otherwise affect Florida law.
Controlled Therapeutic Medication Guidelines
Under Tack Show Medication Policies
– No NSAIDS OR CORTICOSTEROIDS MAY BE ADMINISTERED WITHIN 48 HOURS OF A HORSE’S UNDER TACK PERFORMANCE
– NO OTHER MEDICATION MAY BE ADMINISTERED WITHIN 24 HOURS OF A HORSE’S UNDER TACK PERFORMANCE
Sales Session Medication Policies
– NO CORTICOSTEROIDS MAY BE ADMINISTERED WITHIN 24 HOURS OF A HORSE’S SALES SESSION
– NO NSAIDS MAY BE ADMINISTERED AFTER 6:00 PM THE DAY PRIOR TO A HORSE’S SALES SESSION
NEW Penalties for all Medication Violations
– ALL MEDICATION VIOLATIONS INCLUDING ALLOWABLE THERAPEUTIC MEDICATIONS ABOVE THRESHOLD LIMITS (OVERAGES), UNDISCLOSED MEDICATIONS, PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES AND PROHIBITED PRACTICES WILL BE SUBJECT TO WITHDRAWAL OR RETURN
– PLEASE NOTE: WITH THE NEW RESTRICTED ADMINISTRATION TIMES, MULTI DAY ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATIONS AND/OR ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATIONS PRIOR TO RESTRICTED ADMINISTRATION TIMES INCREASES THE RISK OF A POSITIVE TEST
Additional Restrictions/Clarifications
- NSAIDS
A. NSAIDS – Phenylbutazone, Flunixin and Ketoprofen are the only allowable NSAIDS. Only one (1) of these may be present in test sample; stacking of NSAIDS is prohibited. IMPORTANT NOTE: DMSO IS CONSIDERED AN NSAID AND SHOULD NOT BE IN A TEST SAMPLE.
B. NEW Restricted Administration Times: No NSAIDS may be administered with 48 hours of a horse’s under tack performance. No NSAIDS may be administered after 6:00 PM the day prior to a horse’s sales session.
C. LIMITED EXCEPTION: A second NSAID may be used only to accommodate an emergency health or medical need of a horse, but only if the second NSAID is disclosed and documented by a licensed veterinarian stating the type of NSAID, dosage given, date and time of administration and an explanation of the medical need for the use. The veterinarian statement must be submitted to OBS the earlier of 12 hours after treatment or 1 hour prior to an under tack show and/or sales session.
2. Corticosteroids
A. NEW Restricted Administration Times:
i. No Corticosteroids may be administered within 48 hours of a horse’s under tack performance.
ii. No Corticosteroids may be administered within 24 hours of a horse’s sales session.
iii. No more than one (1) corticosteroid may be present in a test sale.
PLEASE NOTE:
a. Many throat wash medications contain corticosteroids. Consult your veterinarian when creating a treatment plan.
b. Depo Medrol and Betamethasone remain in a horse’s system longer than many other medications. A positive test may occur from treatments prior to arriving on the sales grounds.
3. The following medications are PROHIBITED and may NOT be administered on the sales grounds or present in a test sample:
- All substances classified as either Class 1 or Class 2 by the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI).
- Anabolic Androgenic Steroids
- Bronchodilators (Clenbuterol, Albuterol, and all other bronchodilators) Exception: The administration of a bronchodilator (including without limitation Clenbuterol) for valid, on-label use prior to July 1 of a horse’s yearling year is permitted but must be disclosed in the Repository with a note of explanation from the treating veterinarian.
- Bisphosphonates
- Procaine Penicillin
- Furosemide (Salix) (except for horses that have raced on furosemide)
- Medroxyprogesterone
- Antihistamines (2yo’s only)
- Guanabenz
- Drugs or medications for which no acceptable threshold concentration has been established
- Any substance banned by The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). IMPORTANT NOTE: ISOXSUPRINE, ALTRENOGEST (IN MALE HORSES) AND THYRO-L ARE ON THE HISA PROHIBITED LIST
PLEASE NOTE:
- For positive findings in which the identified substance is a substance of human use or abuse, the determination of whether the positive test constitutes a violation of the conditions of sale shall be made by OBS in its sole discretion following any investigation it deems fit.
- Fluphenzaine (Prolixin), Reserpine (Serpasil), Carisoprodol (Soma, Rela) are class 2 medications. Many herbal supplements contain prohibited substances including bronchodilators and stimulants. Please review these medication policies with your veterinarian to assume compliance.
Reference Materials
Please use the reference materials listed below as a resource when working with your veterinarian on any treatment plan. These materials may also be found in the BOS office or on the OBS website under the Consignor Information tab:
Testing
- Testing during Under Tack Shows will be on horses selected at the sole discretion of OBS.
- Buyers may request two different tests at the time of purchase by checking the appropriate box on the Buyers’ Acknowledgement:
- A medication screening which includes prohibited substances, undisclosed medications AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICATIONS ADMINISTERED WITHIN THE RESTRICTED ADMINISTRATION TIMES.
- A test for Bisphosphonates.
- Test samples will be submitted to a testing facility determined solely by OBS. A POSITIVE TEST WILL RESULT IN A HORSE BEING SUBJECT TO WITHDRAWAL OR RETURN.
- In the event of a Positive Test the consignor may be subject to additional penalties, including those described in Florida Statute Chapter 535.08 which includes being charged with a misdemeanor and barred from selling for a period of 2 years.
Prohibited Practices
Horses that have been subject to any of the following prohibited practices shall be subject to return or withdrawal:
- Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy or Radial Pulse Wave Therapy while on the sales grounds.
- Acupuncture and/or Electro-Stimulation with the intent of altering laryngeal function while on the sales grounds.
- Electrical devices designed or used to increase the speed of a horse. Anyone in possession of a prohibited electrical device will be banned from the OBS sales
- Any invasive practice which intentionally conceals a material defect or chronic lameness
- Internal Blister or other injections to the knee intended to have the effect of concealing the true conformation of the horse.
- Intra-articular injections are PROHIBITED on the sales grounds AND/OR WITHIN 14 DAYS OF THE SALE
Medication and Prohibited Practices - Subject to Return, Fines, & Suspension
If a positive test result is received and/or is confirmed by a laboratory selected by OBS for the administration of: Prohibited Substances (see above), Prohibited Practices (See above), Undisclosed medication administered within 72 hours of sale session or under tack show, Therapeutic Medications above their testing thresholds which indicate the medication was given after their Restricted Administration Time.
The purchaser shall have the right to rescind the sale and the consignor shall refund any sales proceeds paid to consignor by OBS and pay the purchaser or OBS all proper expenses and legal fees incurred by either of them from the time of the sale until the return of the horse to the consignor or consignor’s owner.
If the horse has not gone through the auction ring, the horse may be withdrawn from the sale and removed from the sales grounds immediately. The consignor shall be responsible for OBS fees, penalties, and expenses.
If the horse went through the auction ring and was not sold, the horse may be removed from the sales grounds immediately. The consignor shall be responsible for OBS fees, penalties and expenses.
In addition to the potential Return or Withdrawal of a horse, consignor will be subject to the penalties described in the section below.
Fines - Suspension Schedule
The consignor will be subject to the following penalties for positive test results or prohibited practices:
- 1st offense – Warning or a maximum fine of $2,000; possible increased testing of consignors’ horses at consignor expense
- 2nd offense – Warning or a maximum fine of $3,000; increased testing of consignors’ horses at consignor expense; possible suspension of consignor for up to 1 year to be determined by the OBS Board of Directors.
- 3rd offense – Fine of $1,000 to $5,000 absent mitigating circumstances; increased testing of consignors’ horses at consignor expense; possible suspension of consignor from participating in OBS Sales to be determined by the OBS Board of Directors.
Funds collected from fines levied will be distributed to a thoroughbred industry related charitable organization at the sole discretion of OBS. Fines are due and payable at time of assessment. If not paid, fines will be deducted from proceeds when available. Failure to pay fines may result in suspension from participating in OBS Sales.
Use of a Riding Crop and Spurs at an Under Tack Show
Excessive use of a riding crop while on the track is prohibited. Prior to the starting pole which the horse begins to breeze (i.e. 1/8, 1/4, or 3/8), a rider may only remove their hands from the reins and strike the horse two times behind the girth. Additionally, the swing of the riding crop may not be above the rider’s shoulder and the crop must remain in the “turned down” position. At any time after the starting pole which the horse begins to breeze, a rider may only use the riding crop while both hands are holding the reins and may not strike the horse behind the girth. In situations where the safety of the horse or rider is in jeopardy, a riding crop may be used in front of the girth. Spurs are not allowed. Any infraction of this policy may result in a fine up to $1,000 per incident to be paid by the consignor. Chronic offenders may be banned from riding on the sales grounds. The sales company or its representatives have full, final and sole authority to interpret and enforce this rule. Funds collected from fines levied will be distributed to a thoroughbred industry related charitable organization at the sole discretion of OBS.
Horseshoes
A horse at a two-year-old training and/or Horses of Racing Age sale may not train with the shoes that have toe grabs which exceed 2mm, bends, turn-downs, stickers, jar caulks or any other traction device. For training on the Main track, OBS recommends the use of only flat Queen’s Plate, Queen’s Plate XT or equivalent.