The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation announced June 25 that amendments to its veterinary examination rules will take effect July 1, two days before the opening of Ellis Park's summer meeting.
The new rule states the attending veterinarian must conduct a soundness examination of a horse within three days after the close of entries and no later than two days before the race. The previous rule called for horses to be inspected before entry.
The amended rule now states that a horse shall only start if an attending veterinarian, licensed by the veterinary regulatory body in the jurisdiction where the examination occurs, inspects the entered horse in the above stated time frame and certifies and electronically submits a report to Kentucky's equine medical director that the horse is in serviceable, sound racing condition. Previously those findings could be certified via a written report.
The examination required shall include, at a minimum, examination of the legs and observation of the horse at rest and while jogging.
If the attending veterinarian who examines the horse prescribes a diagnostic test as part of the evaluation of the horse's soundness, the results of the test shall be provided to the state veterinarian no later than one day before the horse is set to start.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
