The California Horse Racing Board’s (CHRB) Medication and Track Safety Committee has endorsed a proposal to have the anti-bleeder medication furosemide administered on race days by official veterinarians, association veterinarians, or non-practicing third-party veterinarians rather than a trainer’s private practitioner.

According to a CHRB release, the committee that met for two hours Aug. 24 also discussed alternate versions of the regulation dealing with the voiding of claims. One version discussed would place greater responsibility on the official and association veterinarians to determine whether an injured horse is likely to ever race again, the CHRB said, with the second version broadening the impact of the regulation by including all horses that are placed on the veterinarian’s list for being lame or unsound.

Rick Arthur, DVM, CHRB equine medical director, told the committee there is a national movement to tighten the procedure for race-day administration of furosemide (marketed as Salix) and the resulting CHRB committee recommendation is based on model rules governing race-day bleeder medications recently adopted by the Association of Racing Commissioners International.

According to the proposed regulation, furosemide would be the only authorized anti-bleeder medication, and veterinarians with a private practice at the track would no longer be allowed to administer any medication on race day. During the public meeting held by committee chair Bo Derek and commissioner Chuck Winner, Arthur said the change in veterinary administration of Salix would result in savings to owners