Industry Notice (Horse Racing): Reminder that AGCO can inspect racetracks, training centres, and your barn. All medications must be in labeled containers.

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Horse Racing

Industry Notice

Reminder – AGCO can inspect racetracks, training centres, and your barn. All medications must be in labeled containers.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) would like to remind the horse racing industry that under the provincial legislation that governs horse racing, AGCO Compliance Officials have the authority to inspect for equine medications at racetracks and training centres, and any place where racehorses are stabled.

This includes, but is not limited to, all barns and stabling areas on your property, or, any place where your racehorse is stabled.

Under the Rules of Racing, all medication that could result in a positive test (including prescription medication) in these locations must be properly labelled. This means the name of the medication, the manufacturer, and the name of the AGCO-licensed prescribing veterinarian.

These measures are in place to protect the health and welfare of the horse, minimize the likelihood of a positive test, and to ensure that medication is used in accordance with professional veterinary advice.

Horse Racing Licence Act

This legislation came into effect when the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) merged with the AGCO. Among other changes, s. 26 of HRLA states that an Inspector under this Act “may enter any place or conveyance used in the business of horse racing at any reasonable time, and for that purpose may stop and detain any conveyance.”

The Rules of Racing

Trainers are reminded that under the Rules of Racing (TB 15.09.01(f); SB 3.09.01 (f)) they “shall maintain records relating to the particulars of any medications administered to horses in their care.”

Veterinarians also have an important role to play in effective medication control. TB 27.20.01 and 27.20.02 and SB 8.14 require veterinarians to list specific information on the label of any drug or medication they are dispensing - such as their name and address, the name and strength of the drug, identity of the horse for which it is prescribed, and name of the trainer of the horse. These rules require that a separate container be used for each horse, regardless of the number of horses being treated with the same drug or medication, unless the container has been marked “BARN USE” and the necessary logs kept, in accordance with the Rules.

Further Information:

Regulation and Rules

SO 2015, c 38, Sch 9 | Horse Racing Licence Act, 2015 | CanLII

TB 15.09.01(f)

SB 3.09.01 (f) A trainer shall maintain records relating to the particulars of any medications administered to horses in their care. For the purposes of this Rule, the term medication shall mean a medication that could result in a positive test.

SB 8.10.04  A veterinarian shall only examine or treat a horse, or prescribe or administer a drug, substance or medication if he or she is in compliance with the requirements of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario including, but not limited to, the Minimum Standards for Veterinary Facilities in Ontario, as amended from time to time. 

TB 27.20.01  A veterinarian who dispenses a drug or medication shall label the container in which the drug or medication is dispensed with the following information: 

  1. Name and strength of the drug or medication; 
  2. Date and quantity prescribed; 
  3. Name and address of the dispensing veterinarian; 
  4. Name of the horse for which it is prescribed; 
  5. Name of the trainer of the horse; 
  6. Directions for use; and 
  7. Detection limit determined in accordance with Rule 27.16. 

TB 27.20.02  In the event that a drug or medication is to be dispensed to multiple horses from a single container, such container shall be marked “BARN USE”, and will be exempt from items (ii) and (iv) above and replaced by a log, to include the following information: 

  1. Name of the horse for which it is prescribed; and 
  2. Date and quantity prescribed. 

SB 8.14 A veterinarian who dispenses a drug or medication shall label the container in which the drug or medication is dispensed with the following information:

  1. Name and strength of the drug or medication;
  2. Date and quantity prescribed;
  3. Name and address of the dispensing veterinarian;
  4. Name of the horse for which it is prescribed;
  5. Name of the trainer of the horse;
  6. The directions for use; and
  7. Detection limit determined in accordance with Rule 8.10.01.

In the event that a drug or medication is to be dispensed to multiple horses from a single container, such container shall be marked “BARN USE”, and will be exempt from items (ii) and (iv) above and replaced by a log, to include the following information:

  1.  Name of the horse for which it is prescribed; and
  2. Date and quantity prescribed.

TB 27.16.04     A veterinarian shall only examine or treat a horse, or prescribe or administer a drug, substance or medication if he or she is in compliance with the requirements of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario including, but not limited to, the Minimum Standards for Veterinary Facilities in Ontario, as amended from time to time.

For more information, please contact Tyler.Durand@agco.ca or a Racing Official from the Race Day Contact List.