Caribbean Equine Advocacy submitted formal recommendations June 8 to Puerto Rico's Gaming Commission urging amendments to a new mandate that requires veterinary lameness exams of imported racehorses prior to registration.
The mandate, approved May 11 and to take effect 30 days later, requires a lameness exam on every horse of racing age imported for training or competition. The mandate was drafted with the cooperation of owners associations, independent owners, and the executive operating Camarero Racetrack, according to an administrative order authorizing the exams.
Recognizing the importance of imported stock, the Gaming Commission had previously authorized payments from an "Additional Dividend Fund" to assist with owners buying 2-year-olds in training, horses of racing age, or yearlings primarily in the United States.
"The importation of horses from other jurisdictions carries the responsibility of ensuring that such horses are in physical condition suitable for training and competition, without this representing a risk to their physical integrity, the safety of jockeys, or the integrity of the races," the administrative order states. "The participation of horses with undiagnosed musculoskeletal conditions or lameness could significantly increase the risk of serious or catastrophic injuries, which compromises the well-being of racehorses, track safety, and the integrity of the sport."
While Chrissy Laughlin, founder of CEA, said the lameness exams are a meaningful step for equine welfare and racing integrity, she also identified five areas where the mandate as written could be circumvented. She submitted these changes to Juan C. Santaella Marchan, the commission's executive director, hoping they would be addressed before the mandate takes effect.
The proposed changes include:
1. Addressing undefined terms. The order applies to horses of "racing age" that are "acquired" outside Puerto Rico, but neither term is defined, which creates ambiguity that could be exploited to avoid the examination requirement.
2. No pre-transport examination is required. The order mandates examination "prior to registration," not prior to departure. A horse could be transported to Puerto Rico in compromised condition and only then be denied registration, which defeats the preventive purpose of the regulation.
3. Implementing enforceable examination standards. The order states the examination "ordinarily includes" certain components, without mandating a specific protocol, validity window, or veterinarian qualifications for the examiner,
4. Includes no anti-masking provisions. The order contains no requirement preventing the administration of anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, or local anesthetics before the examination. This gap could allow a lame horse to pass inspection and be registered, and is biggest deficiency identified by CEA in the new mandate, and
5. Needs to include a sufficient enforcement mechanisms. The order does not prescribe a standardized documentation format, establish a disposition protocol for horses that fail inspection, or provide penalties sufficient to deter non-compliance.
"The Commission deserves credit for this action," Laughlin said. "A pre-registration lameness requirement is exactly the kind of structural safeguard that protects horses, protects honest horsemen, and protects the integrity of the wagering product. We want to see it work."
CEA is a nonprofit organization focused on Thoroughbred welfare and racing integrity in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization maintains a dataset of over 30,000 records covering Thoroughbred registration, racing history, and welfare outcomes at Camarero. The organization is Kentucky-based and has pending 501(c)(3) status.
