NEWS RELEASE

September 12, 2014

Contact: Hallie Roach Lewis (859) 224-2848

ARKANSAS RACING COMMISSION ADOPTS NATIONAL UNIFORM MEDICATION PROGRAM

The Arkansas Racing Commission yesterday became the most recent commission to adopt the Controlled Therapeutic List and the Multiple Medication Violation portions of the National Uniform Medication Program recommended by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC). In addition to the adoption of these two portions, Arkansas currently works with Truesdail Laboratories – an RMTC Accredited Laboratory – for its testing. Arkansas commission officials are confident that third party administration of furosemide will be in effect by the start of the 2015 Oaklawn Park race meet on January 9.

The four-pronged program has been endorsed by over 60 industry stakeholders. Once fully adopted, Arkansas will join Delaware, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Dakota and Virginia as the sixth state to fully implement the program with many other states in process.

“The Arkansas Racing Commission is pleased to join the growing number of states adopting the Model Rules on uniform medications and multiple violation penalties,” said its Commissioner and chairman-elect of Racing Commissioners International Mark Lamberth.

“We applaud the Arkansas State Racing Commission for adopting the national uniform medication reforms,” added RMTC Chairman Alex Waldrop. “These important reforms address an array of safety and integrity issues in horse racing and have the support of virtually every major industry organization. I urge all racing jurisdictions in the United States to follow the lead of Arkansas and others and uniformly adopt these reforms.”

The development and advancement of scientifically-based uniform medication rules, an effective multiple violator penalty system, and the industry’s only laboratory accreditation / external quality assurance program has been a top priority of the RMTC over the last year. “These reforms are in the best interest of the health and welfare of the horse and the safety of all participants,” said RMTC Executive Director and COO Dr. Dionne Benson. “The Arkansas Commission led by Chairman Cecil Alexander has made great strides in ensuring the integrity of the sport and the health and welfare of horses racing in Arkansas in 2015.”

For a map of state-by-state comparisons of model rule adoption progress, please visit rmtc.kinsta.cloud.

The RMTC consists of 23 racing industry stakeholders and organizations that represent Thoroughbred, Standardbred, American Quarter Horse and Arabian racing. The organization works to develop and promote uniform rules, policies and testing standards at the national level; coordinate research and educational programs that seek to ensure the integrity of racing and the health and welfare of racehorses and participants; and protect the interests of the racing public.

For additional information, visit the RMTC website at rmtc.kinsta.cloud or contact Hallie Lewis, RMTC director of communications, at (859) 224-2848.