Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024
A. Test
barn. Test samples shall be collected in the test barn under the supervision of
the commission veterinarian or his designee. The commission veterinarian may,
at his discretion, permit test samples to be collected in the horse's stall or
any other location the commission veterinarian deems appropriate. Under these
circumstances, the commission veterinarian shall maintain a written record of
his decision.
B. Horses to be
tested. The stewards or commission veterinarian may, at any time, order the
taking of test samples from any horse stabled within the enclosure of the horse
racing facility, prior to racing or after racing including qualifying races and
official timed workouts for the stewards or commission veterinarian. However,
the stewards shall designate at least one horse from each race for the
collection of test samples.
C.
Collection procedure.
1. The trainer or a
permit holder designated by the trainer shall accompany the horse to the test
barn and witness the collection and splitting of the samples. The trainer or
permit holder designated by the trainer shall cooperate with the commission
veterinarian and the commission's veterinary technicians in the performance of
their duties. The trainer or permit holder designated by the trainer must
remain with the horse until the horse is released from the test barn.
2. Horses from which samples are to be
collected shall be escorted following the race directly to the test barn by the
commission's veterinary technicians, and the horses shall remain in the test
barn until released by the commission veterinarian, his designee, or the test
barn supervisor.
3. Stable
equipment, other than common necessities for washing and cooling out a horse,
is prohibited in the test barn. A practicing veterinarian may attend a horse in
the test barn only in the presence of the commission veterinarian or the
commission's veterinary technicians.
4. During the collection of test samples, the
owner or trainer, or an assistant designated by the owner or trainer, shall be
present and witness the collection of the test sample, the splitting of the
sample, and sealing of containers. In the case of a claimed horse, the owner or
trainer, or an assistant designated by the owner or trainer in whose name the
horse started, shall be present to witness the collection of the test
samples.
5. The test and split
samples collected from a horse shall have identification tags affixed. One
portion of the tag, bearing a printed identification number, shall remain with
the sealed test and split samples, and the other portion of the tag bearing the
same printed identification numbers shall be detached in the presence of the
witness. The commission veterinarian or his designee shall on the detached
portion of the tags identify the horse from which the test and split samples
were collected, the race and date, and other information deemed appropriate.
The detached portion of the tag shall be witnessed by the trainer or a permit
holder designated by the trainer and shall be retained by the commission
veterinarian for safekeeping.
6. A
horse's identity shall be confirmed by examining its lip-tattoo, digital
tattoo, microchip, or freeze brand number. A horse that has not been properly
identified using any of these methods shall be reported immediately to the
stewards.
7. If, after a horse
remains for a reasonable time in the test barn, a test sample of urine cannot
be collected from the horse, the commission veterinarian may, at his
discretion, collect a test sample of blood or permit the horse to be returned
to its barn where a test sample may be collected under the supervision of the
commission veterinarian or the commission's veterinary technicians.
Statutory Authority: §
59.1-369
of the Code of Virginia.
