Code of Massachusetts Regulations
205 CMR - MASSACHUSETTS GAMING COMMISSION
Title 205 CMR 4.00 - Rules of Horse Racing
Section 4.49 - Racing Veterinarian

Universal Citation: 205 MA Code of Regs 205.4

Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024

(1) The racing veterinarian(s) shall be employed by the Association.

(2) The racing veterinarian shall:

(a) be directly responsible to the official veterinarian;

(b) be a graduate veterinarian and be licensed to practice in the jurisdiction;

(c) be available to the racing secretary and/or the stewards prior to scratch time each racing day, at a time designated by the stewards, to inspect any horses and report on their condition as may be requested by the stewards;

(d) inspect any horse when there is a question as to the physical condition of such horse;

(e) conduct soundness inspections on horses participating in races at the meeting;

(f) recommend scratching a horse to the stewards if, in the opinion of the racing veterinarian, the horse is physically incapable of exerting its best effort to win;

(g) be present in the paddock during saddling, on the racetrack during the post parade and at the starting gate until the horses are dispatched from the gate for the race;

(h) inspect any horse which appears in physical distress during the race or at the finish of the race; and shall report such horse together with his or her opinion as to the cause of the distress to the Stewards and to the official veterinarian;

(i) provide emergency medical care to horses injured racing and effect case transfer to the practicing veterinarian;

(j) be authorized to humanely destroy any horse deemed to be so seriously injured that it is in the best interests of the horse to so act;

(k) refuse employment or payment, directly or indirectly, from any horse owner or trainer of a horse racing or intending to race in this jurisdiction while employed as the racing veterinarian;

(l) refrain from directly treating or prescribing for any horse scheduled to participate during his or her term of appointment at any recognized meeting except in cases of emergency, accident or injury; and

(m) with approval of the official veterinarian, place horses on the Bleeder List.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Massachusetts may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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