Caribbean Equine Advocacy submitted formal suggestions June 8 to Puerto Rico’s Gaming Fee urging amendments to a brand new mandate that requires veterinary lameness exams of imported racehorses previous to registration.
The mandate, accepted Might 11 and to take impact 30 days later, requires a lameness examination on each horse of racing age imported for coaching or competitors. The mandate was drafted with the cooperation of householders associations, impartial house owners, and the manager working Camarero Racetrack, based on an administrative order authorizing the exams.
Recognizing the significance of imported inventory, the Gaming Fee had beforehand approved funds from an “Extra Dividend Fund” to help with house owners shopping for 2-year-olds in coaching, horses of racing age, or yearlings primarily in the USA.
“The importation of horses from different jurisdictions carries the duty of guaranteeing that such horses are in bodily situation appropriate for coaching and competitors, with out this representing a danger to their bodily integrity, the protection of jockeys, or the integrity of the races,” the executive order states. “The participation of horses with undiagnosed musculoskeletal situations or lameness may considerably enhance the danger of great or catastrophic accidents, which compromises the well-being of racehorses, monitor security, and the integrity of the game.”
Whereas Chrissy Laughlin, founding father of CEA, stated the lameness exams are a significant step for equine welfare and racing integrity, she additionally recognized 5 areas the place the mandate as written could possibly be circumvented. She submitted these modifications to Juan C. Santaella Marchan, the fee’s govt director, hoping they might be addressed earlier than the mandate takes impact.
 The proposed modifications embody:
1. Addressing undefined phrases. The order applies to horses of “racing age” which are “acquired” exterior Puerto Rico, however neither time period is outlined, which creates ambiguity that could possibly be exploited to keep away from the examination requirement.
2. No pre-transport examination is required. The order mandates examination “previous to registration,” not previous to departure. A horse could possibly be transported to Puerto Rico in compromised situation and solely then be denied registration, which defeats the preventive goal of the regulation.
3. Implementing enforceable examination requirements. The order states the examination “ordinarily consists of” sure parts, with out mandating a particular protocol, validity window, or veterinarian {qualifications} for the examiner,Â
4. Consists of no anti-masking provisions. The order accommodates no requirement stopping the administration of anti-inflammatory medicine, corticosteroids, or native anesthetics earlier than the examination. This hole may enable a lame horse to move inspection and be registered, and is largest deficiency recognized by CEA within the new mandate, and
5. Wants to incorporate a ample enforcement mechanisms. The order doesn’t prescribe a standardized documentation format, set up a disposition protocol for horses that fail inspection, or present penalties ample to discourage non-compliance.Â
“The Fee deserves credit score for this motion,” Laughlin stated. “A pre-registration lameness requirement is precisely the type of structural safeguard that protects horses, protects sincere horsemen, and protects the integrity of the wagering product. We need to see it work.”
CEA is a nonprofit group targeted on Thoroughbred welfare and racing integrity in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The group maintains a dataset of over 30,000 data protecting Thoroughbred registration, racing historical past, and welfare outcomes at Camarero. The group is Kentucky-based and has pending 501(c)(3) standing.
