A number of rules or amendments, including one providing for Kentucky Derby points races like the Arkansas Derby to be written as Lasix-free races, were passed by the Arkansas Racing Commission at a Thursday meeting and are now headed to a state legislative committee for final adoption. The committee is scheduled to meet Dec. 18, and if the rules clear the committee, they are expected to be in place for the Oaklawn Park meet that opens Jan. 22. 

For more on the topic, see archived article from Daily Racing Form 

 Below are the rules or amendments that were unanimously passed by the commission Thursday. They are now headed to a state legislative committee. The items are from the meeting agenda: 

* This amendment proposes (i) to prohibit shockwave therapy and other similar treatments on horses on the grounds of Oaklawn; (ii) to prohibit equipment for shockwave and other similar treatments in the stable area at Oaklawn; and (iii) to prohibit horses that have received such treatments from racing at Oaklawn for a period of thirty (30) days after the treatment.

 *This amendment prohibits the use of Clenbuterol or any other beta-2 agonist within sixty (60) days of a race.

 *This amendment reduces the permitted dosage of furosemide from 500 to 250 milligrams, unless authorized by the commission veterinarian; and sets the testing threshold for furosemide at 50 nanograms if the dosage is 250 milligrams.

*Uniform Classification Guidelines for Foreign Substances and Recommended Penalties Model Rule

 *This amendment proposes (i) to reduce maximum level of Lasix administration to 250 milligrams unless the official veterinarian approves a dose of up to 500 milligrams; and (ii) to allow Oaklawn to write (A) Lasix-free 3-year old races as necessary for the race participants to be eligible to accumulate Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks points, and (B) Lasix-free stakes races as necessary for such stakes races to remain eligible for graded status.

 *Currently, the Arkansas Racing Commission tests blood, urine and saliva of horses at Oaklawn Park. This amendment authorizes the Commission to collect and test horsehair for drugs and prohibited substances.

 *This amendment governs eligibility of horses testing positive for certain drugs named in this rule; also adds clenbuterol and the beta-2 agonists to the list of drugs tested for prior to a race. Any horse testing positive for clenbuterol and the other listed drugs shall not be eligible to start a race at Oaklawn until it subsequently tests negative for such substance in a form and substance acceptable to the Stewards.

 *This new rule regulates corticosteroid and intra-articular injections and makes a horse ineligible to race for a period of fourteen (14) days following an intra-articular injection. It also requires the trainer to maintain a complete record of all intra-articular joint injections.

 *This amendment requires a horse which has not run for a period of six (6) months or more to be examined and approved for racing by the trainer’s practicing veterinarian; formerly, the Commission veterinarian performed these duties. It also sets out the required number of work outs prior to entering a race for horses that have not raced in six (6) months or more.

 *This new rule requires trainers and veterinarians to keep records of all medical treatments administered to horses. Records of treatments to horses shall be available to the Commission veterinarian upon request.

 *This amendment amends and further defines the permitted use of a riding crop and defines the only permissible riding crops as 360 Gentle Touch (360 GT) riding crop, Pro-Cush riding crop, or other similar riding crops approved by the Stewards. The amendment also adds exercise riders to the list of persons required to wear safety vests when riding horses at Oaklawn.

 * This amendment allows entries coupled because of common ties, i.e., ownership or trainers, to race in the same race if approved by Racing Secretary and Stewards. It also establishes a procedure for a starting preference in races that overfill.

 *This amendment requires horses to be stabled on the grounds of Oaklawn for at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to a race. If a horse has not been stabled on the Oaklawn grounds for seventy-two (72) hours, it cannot start a race unless the owner / trainer gets the permission of the Racing Secretary.

*This amendment allows a horse to enter a race if they are on the official starter’s or veterinarian’s list; horses remain ineligible to start a race if they are on the starter’s or veterinarian’s list at race time. Under the amended rule, a horse can enter a race while on the starter’s or veterinarian’s list but cannot start if the horse is not removed from the list prior to the race.

 *This amendment governs eligibility of horses testing positive for certain drugs named in the rule; adds clenbuterol and the beta-2 agonists to the list of drugs tested for prior to a race. Any horse testing positive for clenbuterol and the other listed drugs shall not be eligible to start a race at Oaklawn until it subsequently tests negative for such substance in a form and substance acceptable to the Stewards.

 *This amendment provides for testing for clenbuterol and beta-2 agonists in claimed horses. If a horse tests positive for clenbuterol or other beta-2 agonists after a claim, the successful claiming owner may void the claim under this amended rule.