A major veterinary change in Kentucky was revealed during the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation's June 9 meeting. The modification allows for horses placed on the veterinarians' list for unsoundness to become eligible to work off the list after seven days instead of 14.
The rule change was announced by KHRGC equine medical director Dr. George Mundy while giving the KHRGC board updates on the Veterinary Procedures and Data Review Committee. Mundy said the new rule will go into effect immediately.
"This means horses placed on the vets' list for unsoundness will be eligible to work off the list on the eighth day if approved by their attending veterinarian and following the completion of any diagnostics required by the regulatory veterinarian," Mundy told the KHRGC. "We believe this is a positive for our horsemen and women and racetracks, while also protecting the health and safety of the horses. The horses that are ready to race will be able to get off the vets' list and return to the races faster."
To be removed from the vets' list for unsoundness, the horse must perform a satisfactory work for a regulatory veterinarian. Although now able to perform the work necessary to be removed from the vets' list earlier, they will still need to remain on the vets' list for a total of 14 days, a Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority spokesperson confirmed to BloodHorse June 10.
"They can't be removed from the vets' list for a minimum of 14 days, even if the blood from that vets' list workout has cleared prior to the 14-day date," the HISA spokesperson said.
However, this still allows for a quicker return to the races. Horses will typically record a final timed workout roughly a week before a planned race. Assuming the horse was immediately in racing condition when they completed the work to meet the 14-day requirement, it would be around 21 days after being placed on the vets' list before the horse could be seen back for a race.
With the new seven-day rule, it allows trainers the opportunity to know they have cleared the vets' list before the horse is removed and start searching for race options. The HISA spokesperson said that once cleared from their work, trainers can enter horses for races prior to the 14th day, provided the race is on the 15th day or later.
