Presenters and attendees discussed out-of-competition drug testing strategies, scientific threshold level development, U.S. and international medication regulations, and more. | Photo: iStock

The conference took place March 4-5 at Gulfstream Park, in Hallandale Beach, Florida, and was presented by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) and National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Safety & Integrity Alliance.

The morning sessions featured a panel on U.S. and international out-of-competition testing strategies. Panelists Rick Arthur, DVM, of the California Horse Racing Board; Tessa Muir, BVSc, Cert. AVP, MRCVS, of the British Horseracing Authority; and Izzy Trejo of the New Mexico Racing Commission covered subjects such as hair testing and the scope of substances that should be included in out-of-competition testing.

Then, Ashley Hill, PhD, of the University of California, Davis, spoke on scientific threshold level development and the 95/95 threshold interval. She also presented on a later panel focused on laboratory issues, including sample turnaround logistics and unknown substances. That panel also featured moderator Lynn Hovda, RPh, DVM, MS, Dipl