8.22.3202    PERMISSIBLE MEDICATION

(1) No horse participating in a race shall carry in its body any substance foreign to the natural horse except as hereinafter provided.

(2) No foreign substance shall be administered to a horse entered to race by injection, oral administration, rectal infusion or suppository or by inhalation within 24 hours prior to the scheduled post time for the first race, except as hereinafter provided.

(3) The only substances permitted to be administered to a horse by this rule is phenylbutazone (Butazoladin) or derivatives thereof and furosemide (Lasix).

(4) Phenylbutazone shall be administered in a dosage amount such that concentrations shall not exceed 2 micrograms per milliliter of post-race serum or plasma.

(5) Race day medication is allowed in treatment of EIPH (exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage). Up to 250 mg (5cc or 50 md/ml) furosemide (Lasix) IV is permitted up to four hours before race time. A horse racing with furosemide must show a detectable concentration of the drug in the post-race serum or plasma, not to exceed 100 nanograms per milliliter.

(6) A horse which, during a race or following a race, or which, during exercise or following exercise, is found to be hemorrhaging from one or both nostrils or is found to have bled into its trachea as determined by endoscopic examination is eligible to be placed on the Lasix list and treated on race day to prevent bleeding during its race.  

(7) In order to obtain authorization for race day treatment of the bleeder, the horse's trainer must:

(a) provide evidence that the horse was certified as a bleeder by another state; or

(b) provide an affidavit signed by a veterinarian stating that the horse had bled; or

(c) have had the affected horse bleed as witnessed by the official veterinarian on the track or in the test barn.

(8) When confirmed by the official veterinarian, the horse may be placed on the Lasix list which is maintained by the official veterinarian and the stewards. Being on the Lasix list will enable the horse to be entered to race on furosemide (Lasix). Once on the Lasix list, a horse may be removed from the Lasix list by the trainer after 30 days. A horse removed from the Lasix list cannot be put back on the list for a period of 30 days, and only then after being determined to bleed after a race or work as witnessed by the official veterinarian or a practicing veterinarian. Lasix lists will apply to horses listed at all tracks on a statewide basis. Lasix approval will expire each year on December 31. Horses on the current year's Lasix list leaving Montana to race in another jurisdiction which does not allow the use of furosemide (Lasix) will assume their place back on the Lasix list upon returning to Montana.

(a) No horse may be entered in a race under the influence of furosemide unless the trainer and veterinarian of the horse submit to the official veterinarian a drug request form and obtain written approval from the official veterinarian. The board shall supply the drug request form. The drug request form shall include provision for the following:

(i) the name, age, sex and breed of the horse;

(ii) the names of the licensed trainer and licensed veterinarian;

(iii) the nature of the horse's injury or disease as determined the veterinarian;

(iv) a place for a request by the trainer to discontinue medication; and

(v) a place for the signatures of the trainer and veterinarian attending the horse and the board approved official veterinarian.

(9) Horses observed or certified to have bled during or after racing or exercise will be automatically put on a "bleeder's list." This list will be maintained by the official veterinarian and steward, and will require that a horse bleeding for the first time will be ineligible to enter a race for a period of 10 days after the bleeding incident. Horses which are placed on the bleeder's list following a second incident of bleeding will be ineligible to enter a race for a period of 20 days after the second incident. Horses which are placed on the bleeder's list following a third or greater incident of bleeding will be ineligible to enter a race for a period of 60 days after the third or greater incident. After the 60-day ineligibility period, a horse may become eligible to enter only after consultation with the official veterinarian and authorization by the official veterinarian.

(10) A horse on medication the Lasix list cannot be treated less than four hours prior to post time with furosemide (Lasix). No other medication may be administered for bleeder treatment. Lasix must be administered in the manner approved by the official veterinarian. Oral administration of furosemide (Lasix) is not permitted. Permitted bleeder medication shall be administered by a licensed veterinarian. Such administration may be performed at the trainer's barn.

(a) Trainers are required to have Lasix forms completed by the veterinarian at the time of administration of Lasix, not less than four hours prior to post time. The form shall include date, time and amount of Lasix administered. After signature by the veterinarian, the Lasix form must be returned to the test barn personnel within ten minutes of the time of administration of Lasix.

(b) Test barn personnel, upon receipt of the Lasix form, shall log in the date and time of receipt. If the time of receipt exceeds the ten minute grace period, the test barn personnel shall notify the stewards, and the horse will be scratched by the stewards for that day's racing.

(11) Horses are allowed to compete in races with phenylbutazone in their system as long as the trainer has declared phenylbutazone at time of entry.

(12) Systemic therapy of phenylbutazone consistent with accepted standards of veterinary practice is allowed up to 24 hours before race time. Systemic therapy means the administration of phenylbutazone given at dosage of two grams IV or the oral equivalent thereof at 24 hour intervals on a daily basis, with the final dosage given by injection or the oral equivalent thereof 24 hours prior to post time.

(13) The first violation of this rule by the trainer may result in a fine imposed upon the horse's trainer, loss of purse and such other penalty deemed appropriate.

(14) A second violation, and each succeeding violation of this rule, by the same trainer, shall result in imposition of a fine, loss of purse and such other penalty deemed appropriate.

(15) If furosemide (Lasix) is not detected in the urine or in any other specimen taken from a horse authorized to be on Lasix, then the trainer of record shall be subject to such penalties deemed appropriate by the stewards as to protect the integrity of the racing industry.

(16) If phenylbutazone or furosemide is detected in the urine or in any other specimen taken from a horse not authorized to use the drugs as specified at time of entry, the horse's trainer is subject to such penalties deemed appropriate as provided elsewhere in these rules.

(17) The horse's veterinarian shall be responsible for any medication he administers, prescribes or causes to be administered to a horse. If the veterinarian is found to have made an error in type or quantity of medication administered, or in causing a trainer to be in violation of these rules, then such veterinarian shall be subject to disciplinary action.

(18) Horses that are being treated with phenylbutazone or furosemide must be indicated on the daily racing programs.

 

History: 23-4-104, 23-4-202, MCA; IMP, 23-4-104, MCA; NEW, 1989 MAR p. 968, Eff. 7/28/89; AMD, 1990 MAR p. 1891, Eff. 10/12/90; AMD, 1994 MAR p. 1282, Eff. 5/13/94; AMD, 1994 MAR p. 2128, Eff. 8/12/94; AMD, 1994 MAR p. 3184, Eff. 12/23/94; AMD, 1997 MAR p. 889, Eff. 5/20/97; TRANS & AMD, from Dept. of Commerce, 2002 MAR p. 1500, Eff. 5/17/02; AMD, 2008 MAR p 1591, Eff. 8/1/08; TRANS, from 32.28.1402, 2015 MAR p. 2252, Eff. 12/25/15; AMD, 2017 MAR p. 132 Eff. 1/21/17.