Out of Competition Testing Q&As for Licensees

1. Why are you restricting the use of certain medications and substances for horses participating in Workouts or Qualifiers as of January 1, 2024?

The AGCO is implementing rules restricting certain medications during Workouts and Qualifiers as part of its continued commitment to protect Ontario’s racehorses and enhance the integrity of racing.

Starting January 1, 2024, TB Rule 15.40.02 and SB Rule 6.54.02 will be in effect.

This change is aligned with a continued focus on equine welfare, ensuring that only healthy, unmedicated horses are fit to qualify and work out.

The restricted medications can mask pain associated with injuries and/or have been tied to an increased risk of injuries and fatalities. The restrictions are aimed at protecting horses and ensure they are only training at high speeds when they are well enough to do so.

More information about the restricted medications and substances is available here: Information Bulletin No 93. – New Rules Restricting Certain Medications for Horses Participating in Workouts or Qualifiers in Effect on January 1, 2024.

Licensees can submit specific questions about the new rule requirements using our iAGCO portal.

2. How will you decide which horses to test? 

The AGCO will primarily focus on horses coming off the Veterinarians’ List. Any horse working or qualifying to come off the Veterinarians’ List should expect to be tested.

Starting January 1, 2024, this welfare initiative will extend beyond the Veterinarians’ List, and any horse participating in an Official Workout or Qualifier may be selected for testing.

If a horse is selected for testing following an Official Workout or Qualifier, an AGCO or an official representative (ie. Official Veterinarian) will notify the licensee (trainer, assistant trainer, exercise rider, jockey, driver, groom) before the horse returns to their stall in the paddock or barn.

• Standardbred horses selected for testing will be notified by the starter after the qualifying race before their return to the paddock.
• Thoroughbred or Quarter horses selected for testing will be notified before the horse returns to the stable. In most circumstances, this notification will occur through two methods, such as notification at the gap and by overhead announcement.

If the horse selected for testing after a Workout or Qualifier experiences a medical emergency, the horse may be examined and treated by a Licensed Veterinarian.   

• For Standardbred horses, the Licensed Veterinarian or trainer must contact the AGCO Race Officials immediately afterward.
• For Thoroughbred or Quarter horses, the Licensed Veterinarian or trainer must contact the AGCO immediately afterward via the person who informed them of the selection or email vetclerks@agco.ca.

For more information about the selection process, please see: Your Responsibility to be Familiar with CPMA Elimination Guidelines and Medications Regulated in Official Workout and Qualifier Testing

3. What will be tested for in out-of-competition drug testing?

No horses participating in Workouts or Qualifiers shall test positive for any substance that is a corticosteroid, analgesic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, or local anaesthetic (anesthetic), as outlined in the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) Elimination Guidelines.

Additionally, certain medications and substances not included in the CPMA Elimination Guidelines but falling under the restricted categories are also restricted.

These substances are therapeutic drugs that may mask symptoms of injury and illness.

For more information on these substances, please refer to: Your Responsibility to be Familiar with CPMA Elimination Guidelines and Medications Regulated in Official Workout and Qualifier Testing

It is recommended that licensees consult with an AGCO Licensed Veterinarian when considering the administration of any medications before Official Qualifiers or Workouts (as well as Races). AGCO Licensed Veterinarians can provide guidance on proper and CPMA Elimination Guidelines.

4. How do I check medications in the CPMA Elimination Guidelines?

The CPMA Elimination Guidelines provide industry guidance for some approved medications.

No horses participating in Workouts or Qualifiers shall test positive for any substance that is a corticosteroid, analgesic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, or local anaesthetic (anesthetic), as outlined in the CPMA Elimination Guidelines. Licensees should refer to the “Type of Drug” and “EG” sections under each medication.

For more details about how to use the Elimination Guidelines, please see: Your Responsibility to be Familiar with CPMA Elimination Guidelines and Medications Regulated in Official Workout and Qualifier Testing

It is recommended that licensees consult with an AGCO licensed veterinarian when considering the administration of any medications before Official Qualifiers or Workouts (as well as Races). AGCO Licensed Veterinarians can provide guidance on proper usage and CPMA Elimination Guidelines. 

5. What are these restricted medications and what do they do?

The following categories of medications that have a CPMA Elimination Guideline will be restricted to be used in Workouts and Qualifiers as of January 1, 2024: 

• Analgesic: A drug that relieves pain
• Anti-inflammatory: A drug that relieves local swelling, redness and pain caused by an injury or infection  
• LocalAnaesthetic (Anesthetic): A drug producing reduced sensations (e.g., touch, pain) in a restricted area of the body
• Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory (NSAID): Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
• Corticosteroid: A drug producing an action similar to that of a steroid hormone of the adrenal cortex, but which is chemically distinguishable from natural hormones

These medications can mask pain associated with injuries and/or have been tied to an increased risk of injuries and fatalities. The restrictions on these medications are aimed at protecting horses and ensure they are only training at high speeds when they are well enough to do so.

Also restricted are certain medications and substances not included in the CPMA Elimination Guidelines that fall under the restricted categories.
For more information on these substances, please see: Your Responsibility to be Familiar with CPMA Elimination Guidelines and Medications Regulated in Official Workout and Qualifier Testing

6. Will Furosemide (Lasix) and Acepromazine still be allowed to be used?

Acepromazine (tranquilizer) and Furosemide (diuretic) are not included in rules TB Rule 15.40.02 and SB Rule 6.54.02.

For the purposes of these rules related to Workouts and Qualifiers, these medications do not fall into the restricted categories of corticosteroid, analgesic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, or local anaesthetic (anesthetic), as outlined in the CPMA Elimination Guidelines.

7. How will these new testing policies affect racing?

To minimize disruption to racing, horses will be eligible to be entered and to race unless or until adverse test results are received.

Testing turnaround time will be carefully monitored to ensure the least amount of disruption.  

8. How will you deal with positive drug test results? 

As outlined in rules TB 15.40.01, TB 15.40.02, and SB 6.54.01, SB 6.54.02, a horse that tests positive for a restricted substance following a Workout will have its Workout removed and would require another Official Workout; and following a Qualifier, will be disqualified and would need to re-qualify. 

Trainers and/or licensed veterinarians may be subject to a minimum $500 monetary penalty at the discretion of Race Officials.  

9. What if a horse that was not intended to have a timed Workout runs and it is recorded as an Official Workout?

It is the trainer’s responsibility to ensure that there is proper communication with the clocker.

If a horse tests positive as a result of an Official Workout, the Race Officials will make a determination of penalty based on the results of an inspection, the results of which may reveal mitigating or aggravating factors.  

10. What happens if a positive test for a prohibited substance is not received until after the horse races?

In most cases, the AGCO receives test results prior to a horse racing in a pari-mutuel start.

In the rare occurrence that a horse tests positive for a restricted substance following a Workout or Qualifier and the test results come in after a race, that horse will be disqualified. The purse money would be returned and claiming rules TB Rule 12.32.01(b) and SB Rule 15.20.01(b) would apply.

11. Why has the implementation of the Out of Competition rules been paused until January 1, 2024?

The AGCO has heard industry feedback and paused implementation of TB 15.40.01 and SB 6.54.01 until January 1, 2024 to provide further clarity on the new requirements.

During this additional time, the AGCO is providing guidance to support licensees with understanding what is expected of them under the new rules.

These guidance materials will be shared directly with licensees and are available on our website: Your Responsibility to be Familiar with CPMA Elimination Guidelines and Medications Regulated in Official Workout and Qualifier Testing

12. With the implementation of these rules, is the AGCO preventing trainers from treating horses with minor conditions that their own veterinarians have diagnosed/prescribed treatments for?

The restricted categories of medications have been associated with an increased risk of injuries and fatalities or can mask pain associated with injuries.

The new rules are aimed at protecting horses, ensuring they are only training at high speeds when they are well enough to do so.

The AGCO is not prohibiting trainers from treating horses with the medications they require, we are ensuring that medications given do not mask underlying issues in horses participating in Workouts, Qualifiers or Racing.

13. Are throat washes and heel creams included in these restrictions? What other medications are prohibited?

Horses participating in Official Workouts and Qualifiers must not test positive for the following categories of medications that have a CPMA Elimination Guideline: analgesic, anti-inflammatory, local anaesthetic (anesthetic), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), and corticosteroid.

Also restricted are medications with properties of the restricted categories above that are not currently listed in the CPMA Elimination Guidelines. These include:

• Restricted: Products with even one medication or substance that falls into the above restricted categories.
• Restricted: Topical preparations (including heel creams) and throat washes containing substances that fall into the above restricted categories.

For more information on these substances, please see: Your Responsibility to be Familiar with CPMA Elimination Guidelines and Medications Regulated in Official Workout and Qualifier Testing

14. Are these rules consistent with other jurisdictions in North America?

The AGCO continues to explore initiatives that will help ensure the highest standards of equine health and safety, and accountability across the Ontario horse racing industry.

This includes an examination of international standards to determine industry best practices in other jurisdictions to inform future rule changes, education opportunities for licensees, and a holistic look at rider and horse health throughout their racing careers.

We note the U.S. Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) has similar restrictions in place regarding restricted medications in timed Workouts. This testing is also not limited to the Veterinarians’ List and restricts corticosteroids, analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and local anaesthetics (anesthetics).

15. I have additional questions about out of competition testing that is not listed here.

Licensees can submit specific questions about the new rule requirements using our iAGCO portal