Commission veterinarian

1. The commission may employ or contract with a veterinarian or veterinarians who are authorized to: a. Maintain and operate a barn for the detention and testing of horses after each race; b. Collect specimens for analysis to determine the presence of prohibited substances in any entered horse; c. Examine any horse entered in any race and, upon a determination of unfitness to run, may recommend to the stewards that they scratch the horse; and d. Delegate the veterinarian's duties to the veterinarian appointed by the licensed association subject to the supervision of the commission veterinarian and the approval of the commission. 2. Every horse entered to race may be subjected to a veterinary examination for racing soundness and health on a race day, not later than two hours prior to official post time for the first race. 3. Testing of horses entering a race will occur as follows: a. After each race, the winner of each race and any other horse designated by the stewards must be taken directly to the enclosure for such testing as the commission representative may require. Blood samples may be taken only by a veterinarian. All other body fluid samples must be taken by a veterinarian or under a veterinarian's supervision. b. Each horse to be tested must be accompanied by its owner, trainer, or the representative of either who shall remain during the testing and sign as a witness on the sample marking tag which will be detached and safeguarded by the commission representative before the sample is forwarded to the laboratory. c. Samples taken must be marked for identification by a two-part tag initialed by the commission representative that includes on both parts an identical number, and the date of the sample, and on the commission part the name of the horse and its owners or trainer. The numbered part must be delivered under the seal of the commission to the testing laboratory. The identified part must be retained by the commission veterinarian until the results are obtained from the laboratory at which time the sample tag must be filed with the commission. d. The laboratory shall ensure the integrity of samples and sample containers. e. The commission has the authority to direct the official laboratory to retain and preserve by freezing, samples for future analysis. f. Every horse which suffers a breakdown on the racetrack, in training, or in competition, and is destroyed, and every other horse which expires while stabled on association grounds under the jurisdiction of the commission, shall undergo a post mortem examination at a time and place acceptable to the commission veterinarian to determine the injury or sickness which resulted in euthanasia or natural death. The cost of such examination shall be assessed to the owner of the horse. 4. A track security guard shall monitor access to the test barn area during and immediately following each racing performance. All persons who wish to enter the test barn area must be a minimum of eighteen years old, be currently licensed by the commission, display their commission identification badge, and have a legitimate reason for being in the test barn area.