The Arkansas Racing Commission Sept. 11 adopted all portions of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium's (RMTC) National Uniform Medication Program.

Included in the four-prong program is recognition of RMTC's controlled therapeutic medication list, a multiple medication violation penalty program, an agreement to work with a RMTC-accredited testing laboratory, and implementation of third-party administration of furosemide. Arkansas regulators are currently working with Truesdail Laboratories, in Tustin, California, for its testing. Commission officials say they are confident that third-party administration of furosemide will be in effect by Jan. 9, 2015, when the 2015 Oaklawn Park race meet begins.

The Uniform Medication Program has been endorsed by more than 60 industry stakeholders. Once fully adopted, Arkansas will join Delaware, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Dakota, and Virginia as the sixth state to fully implement the program, with many other states undergoing some part of the process.

"The Arkansas Racing Commission is pleased to join the growing number of states adopting the Model Rules on uniform medications and multiple violation penalties," said Mark Lambert, Arkansas commissioner and chairman-elect for the Association of Racing Commissioners International.

Alex Waldrop, RMTC chairman, said he applauded Arkansas's support of the safety and integrity initiatives that are supported by every major industry organization.

"I urge all racing jurisdictions in the United States to follow the lead of Arkansas and others and uniformly adopt these reforms," Waldrop said.

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