Dr. Dionne Benson told conference attendees that regulatory veterinarians are the only ones that advocate strictly for the horse without having to answer to a trainer or owner. | Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

The two-day conference for regulatory and official racetrack veterinarians—presented by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) and National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Safety & Integrity Alliance—is designed to provide training and discuss and implement best practices directly related to protecting racehorse health and welfare. More than 60 veterinarians from six countries—including those representing almost 50 North American racetracks across 20 states—attended Day 1 of the meeting.

“As regulators, we are often challenged by the feeling of being out there alone,” said Shari Silverman, VMD, of the New Jersey Racing Commission. “Coming together as a national group helps affirm actions we take, gives us new ideas and direction to move in, and incentivizes us to continue to explore more ways to improve the welfare of these horses and ensure the integrity of racing.”

Early sessions focused on pharmacology, with a review from Cindy Cole, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVCP, from the University of Florida’s Racing Laboratory, in Gainesville, and a presentation on regulated substances in the equine environment by Kentucky Horse Racing Commission equine medical director Mary Scollay, DVM