Research commissioned by The Jockey Club shows that, though the Thoroughbred industry has made progress in the area of uniform medication and testing standards, a state-by-state approach is at best problematic.

The Jockey Club Oct. 14 held a media briefing via Skype in Lexington and New York City. On hand were representatives of McKinsey and Co., which touched on the issue of medication uniformity during the Jockey Club Round Table Conference in August.

"We're deeply interested in reform on various pillars of the regulatory process," said Jim Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club. "Testing is a real cornerstone of any regulatory process. We've got a real mixed bag. It may be that the status quo needs to be rethought."

The research, derived from a survey of 18 horse racing jurisdictions and interaction with up to 30, dealt with the processes and financial expenditure regarding test sample collection, actual drug testing procedures, and research into emerging drugs or other substances