RMTC NEWS RELEASE
March 9, 2020
Contact: Hallie Roach Lewis (859) 759-4081
RMTC BOARD APPROVES BISPHOSPHONATES RESEARCH STUDY, TECHNICAL BULLETIN, AND DRUG CLASSIFICATION CHANGES
At its February 24 meeting at Gulfstream Park Racetrack in Hallandale Beach, Florida, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) board approved the funding of a study on bisphosphonates through its Tactical Research Grant Program. The research will be conducted at Cornell University under the direction of Dr. Heidi Reesink.
“This study is an important first step in answering questions about the prevalence and effect of bisphosphonates in the training and racing population, so that we can refine our strategies in protecting racehorse bone health,” said RMTC Executive Director Dr. Mary Scollay.
RMTC board members also approved the twice-yearly release of a Technical Bulletin for veterinarians. The soon-to-be-released Technical Bulletin addresses the use of medroxyprogesterone (also known as Depo Provera) and recent updates to the Uniform Classification of Foreign Substances. A corresponding bulletin for horsemen is currently under development.
Upon a recommendation from its Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), the RMTC board voted to reclassify the medication dipyrone from a 4/B penalty classification to a 4/C, in the ARCI’s Uniform Classification of Foreign Substances. Dipyrone is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in Zimeta®, which recently received FDA-approval for use in the horse.
RMTC board members also heard a report on the Chemists’ Workshop on Growth Hormone, scheduled in conjunction with the next SAC meeting in June.
Upon a recommendation from its Horseracing Testing Laboratory Committee, the RMTC board approved updates to the Laboratory Accreditation Code of Standards.
In other business, RMTC board members approved the revision of the organization’s mission statement, which will now be: “Research, education and advocacy for science-based initiatives that promote the health and safety of the racehorse and the integrity of competition.” In addition, the tagline has been changed to, “Science. For the health of the horse. Integrity. For the health of the sport.”
The RMTC consists of 23 racing industry stakeholders and organizations that represent Thoroughbred, Standardbred, American Quarter Horse and Arabian racing.
For additional information, visit the RMTC website at rmtcnet.com.
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