Physical Inspection of Horses

(1) Assessment of Racing Condition. (a) Every horse entered to participate in an official race shall be subjected to a veterinary inspection prior to starting in the race for which it is entered. (b) The inspection shall be conducted by the official veterinarian or the racing veterinarian. (c) The agency or the association employing the examining veterinarian(s) should provide a staffing level of not less than two veterinarians. (d) The trainer of each horse or a representative of the trainer must present the horse for inspection as required by the examining veterinarian. Horses presented for examination must have bandages removed; the legs must be clean. Prior to examination, horses may not be placed in ice nor shall any device or substance be applied that impedes veterinary clinical assessment. (e) The assessment of a horse's racing condition shall include: 1. Proper identification of each horse inspected; 2. Observation of each horse in motion; 3. Manual palpation and passive flexion of both forelimbs; 4. Visual inspection of the entire horse and assessment of overall condition; 5. Clinical observation in the paddock and saddling area, during the parade to post and at the starting gate, during the running of the race, and following the race until the horse has exited the race track; and, 6. Any other inspection deemed necessary by the official veterinarian and/or the racing veterinarian. (f) The official veterinarian and/or the racing veterinarian shall maintain a permanent continuing health and racing soundness record of each horse inspected. (g) The official veterinarian and/or the racing veterinarian are authorized access to any and all horses housed on association grounds regardless of entry status. (h) If, prior to starting, a horse is determined to be unfit for competition, or if the veterinarian is unable to make a determination of racing soundness, the veterinarian will recommend to the Stewards the horse be scratched. (i) Horses scratched upon the recommendation of the official veterinarian and/or the racing veterinarian are to be placed on the Veterinarian's List. (2) Veterinarian's List. (a) The official veterinarian shall maintain the Veterinarian's List of all horses which are determined to be unfit to compete in a race due to illness, physical distress, unsoundness, infirmity or any other medical condition. Horses so listed are ineligible to enter to race in any jurisdiction until released by an official veterinarian or racing veterinarian. (b) A horse may be removed from the Veterinarian's List when, in the opinion of the official veterinarian, the condition which caused the horse to be placed on the Veterinarian's List is resolved and the horse's status is returned to that of racing soundness. (c) Horses working to be released from the Veterinarian's List are to be in compliance with 205 CMR 4.00 and are to be subjected to post-work biologic sample collection for laboratory confirmation or compliance. Violations may result in penalties consistent with 205 CMR 4.52(1). (d) Horses may be released from the Veterinarian's List only by authorization of the official veterinarian. (e) Horses having generated a "positive" post race test for an RCI Class I or II substance shall be required to generate a negative test at the expense of the current owner prior to being entered for the first start following the positive test