By: TDN
The New York Racing Association (NYRA), in conjunction with the New York State Gaming Commission, has released the security protocols for next week’s Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
Horses entered for the GI Belmont S. will be subjected to 72-hours of “dedicated watch” by experienced security personnel leading up to post time. One guard will be stationed at the stall of each runner.
A somewhat less stringent “intensified watch” will apply to those horses entered across the day’s other seven-figure races. Between six and eight experienced security personnel will conduct mobile suveillance and direct horse check on at least three occasions from 72 to 30 hours prior to race day. Dedicated watch will take place in the final 30 hours before post time.
For all horses in the above races:
· Horses must be on the grounds no later than 72 hours prior to their anticipated post time. Exceptions are at the discretion of the Stewards.
· The Commission has taken out-of-competition blood samples of horses competing in these races and sent them to New York State Equine Drug Testing and Research Program at Morrisville State College for immediate testing. The Commission has coordinated with other jurisdictions to obtain out-of-
competition samples from horses not usually stabled in New York.
· Horses must remain on the NYRA facility grounds until after the running of the specified race. Exceptions will be granted only in the case of an unforeseeable emergency, as determined by the dedicated watch security personnel in consultation with the Stewards.
· Horses shall reside in their trainers’ current barns and/or at stalls on the grounds, which shall be monitored at all times by additional security personnel.
· Commission personnel will monitor all treatments of participating horses performed by veterinarians prior to the scheduled post times of the respective races. No veterinarians will treat horses without first making an appointment with Commission investigators. All containers for medications administered will be retained by the Commission for possible testing.
· A full daily veterinarian’s record of all medications and treatments given to horses 72 hours prior to the race will be provided to the Commission. Any changes to treatment must be disclosed to the Commission. If medications and treatment records are not provided to the Commission in a timely manner and prior to treatment, veterinarians will not be permitted to treat the horse until this issue is resolved. The Commission will post these records on its web site each day on Wednesday, June 7, Thursday, June 8 and Friday, June 9.
· Stall entry/exit logs will be maintained by security personnel. Each person, including grooms, veterinarians, trainers, assistant trainers, farriers, owners or other connections must have a valid Commission license or NYRA badge on his/her person before entering a stall, engaging in contact with a horse or performing any service for a horse. Each visit will be logged in by security along with the reason for such visit. Routine stall and horse maintenance by identified grooms and staff will be monitored but are exempt from logging.
· All equipment, feed, hay bales, etc. are subject to search and seizure, as provided by law, by both NYRA and the Commission.
· As is current policy, Salix administration will take place in the horses’ own stalls by a NYRA veterinarian. Syringes will be preserved by the Commission for possible testing.
· On race day, no treatments will be permitted (other than Lasix for specifically designated horses) unless it is for an emergency or as approved by the Stewards.
· All horses participating in the applicable race must report to the Assembly Barn no less than 45 minutes before the designated post time. Each trainer is responsible for knowing the designated post time. TCO2 blood sampling will take place in the Assembly Barn before horses are escorted to the paddock. A fine or a scratch may be issued by the NYRA Steward if horses are late to the Assembly Barn.
· Participants in these races receive priority for paddock schooling with security personnel present.
