RMTC AND NTRA NEWS RELEASE
March 6, 2020
Contact: Hallie Roach Lewis (859) 759-4081
IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ON RACEHORSE HEALTH AND SAFETY HIGHLIGHT 2020 REGULATORY VETERINARIAN CONTINUING EDUCATION CONFERENCE
Sixty regulatory and official racetrack veterinarians from jurisdictions around the world participated in the third annual Regulatory Veterinarian Continuing Education Conference at Santa Anita Park on March 2 and 3.
Presented by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) and National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Safety & Integrity Alliance, the meeting provided training and presented best practices related to racehorse injury prevention, and track and veterinary preparedness.
The California Horse Racing Board’s Dr. Barrie Grant gave a demonstration and led a discussion on pre-race exams. Attendees participated in on-track emergency drills and simulations, led by Indiana Grand Racing and Casino’s Dr. Michael Hardy and Churchill Downs Inc.’s Dr. Will Farmer. Dr. Sue Stover presented a lecture and lab on pre-existing conditions and lessons learned from UC Davis’s Necropsy Program. Attendees engaged in interactive sessions on gait assessment and media preparedness.
Other lectures covered topics such as cardiology, post-race assessment and case follow-up, and investigating injury occurrence including surface considerations. A demonstration on the Equine Injury Database was also featured.
Topics covered over the two-day conference can be viewed here.
“[This] RegVet CE should be a staple for every regulatory veterinarian,” said Dr. Tara Law of Finger Lakes Gaming Racetrack. “I was blown away for the second year in a row. It just gets better and better!”
Added Dr. Gemma Silvestri of Queensland Racing, “Outstanding CE meeting with an excellent line up of expert speakers at the forefront of the industry. I’ve learnt a lot and it has been well worth the trip over from Australia.”
Another international attendee, Dr. Paula Soza of Chile, noted, “Sharing knowledge is the only way to keep improving the Thoroughbred racing activity all over the world. I am sure this will be a great contribution to the Chilean Industry.”
The Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) program of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) approved the conference for 18 hours of continuing education credit.
The 2020 Regulatory Veterinarian Continuing Education Conference was made possible through the generous support of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, AQHA Racing, Breeders’ Cup Limited, California Thoroughbred Trainers, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Industrial Laboratories Inc., Keeneland Association, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, New York Racing Association, Oak Tree Racing Association, Ohio HBPA, The Jockey Club, Santa Anita Park, The Stronach Group, Mixed Animal Veterinary Associates North America Inc, and the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Cooperative Extension Department.
The RMTC consists of 23 racing industry stakeholders and organizations that represent Thoroughbred, Standardbred, American Quarter Horse and Arabian racing. The organization’s efforts are focused on research, education and advocacy for science-based initiatives that promote the health and safety of the racehorse and the integrity of competition. For additional information, visit the RMTC website at rmtcnet.com.
The NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance is a standing organization establishing standards and practices to promote safety and integrity in horseracing and to secure their implementation. Information on the Alliance, including the Alliance Code of Standards, can be found at NTRAalliance.com.
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