The outgoing chairman of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) said it is "vitally important" racing jurisdictions adopt the National Uniform Medication Program as soon as possible.

Duncan Patterson, chairman of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, outlined the program April 1 during the Racing Officials Accreditation Program conference in Delaware. RCI president Ed Martin also addressed the group via video.

Patterson said the medication program, which includes a penalty system designed to weed out repeat offenders, should be looked at by regulators as an equine health and welfare issue. He mentioned the video recently released by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the group's related allegations of mistreatment and abuse of Thoroughbreds.

"What it has done, in my opinion, has pushed us as commissions and you as stewards to do something," Patterson said. "There is more pressure now to make things better. Most of us know 99% of horses are better taken care of than we take care of ourselves. But the perception is that horses are mistreated and abused with drugs. It's why the National Uniform Medication Program is vitally important