By: TDN
The Jockey Club’s Graded Stakes Out-of-Competition Testing Grant Fund will continue to provide racetracks with funding for out-of-competition testing for the presence of blood doping agents and RCI Class 1 substances. The program, created in 2014, has been utilized by tracks in California, Florida, Kentucky, New York and Ontario. Thoroughbred racetracks that elect to participate may receive reimbursement to defray some of the costs associated with out-of-competition testing subject to certain criteria.
“Thoroughbred racing needs to greatly expand its out-of-competition testing,” said Dr. Rick Arthur, the equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board. “The Jockey Club’s grant program for graded stakes has made a positive impact in California, and I would encourage other racetracks in other states to use the grant fund to implement or enhance out-of-competition testing programs.”
“Out-of-competition testing is an extremely important weapon in the quest for integrity and fairness, and in the past few weeks we’ve seen how much other sports rely on such testing and punish those who violate drug rules,” said James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club. “As a sport and as a business, we need to take every measure we can to ensure the integrity of competition, and we encourage racetracks and regulatory authorities to participate in our Graded Stakes Out-of-Competition Testing Grant Fund program once again this year.”
