Louisiana Racing Commission voted unanimously to strip nearly all conditions from its current voided claim rule, according to commission executive director Stephen Landry.
The proposed rule change will now be sent for public comment in the state register. The formal adoption process could take up to six months, Landry added.
If adopted, the new rule will be reduced to a single line: “A claim shall be voided if a horse is entered into a race but fails to be declared a starter.”
The proposed changes would eliminate several current conditions that void (or potentially void) a claim, including:
- If the horse is vanned off the track by an official
- If an official veterinarian observes the horse to be lame while on the track for that race
- If the horse bleeds through the nose (epistaxis) while on the track
- If the horse fails a subsequent test for infectious anemia, recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) and/or darbepoietin
- If the horse dies on the track or is euthanized by an official due to injury
Ed Fenasci, executive director of the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), said his board voted to support the proposed changes due to existing veterinary protocols.
“My board voted to support that, and that was their reasoning,” said Fenasci. “Horses are examined multiple times, and if it turns up something, they’re not allowed to run, which would then have the same effect of the voided claim.”
When questioned about removing language that allows claimants to test for infectious anemia, EPO and/or darbepoietin, Fenasci noted “that was not discussed at our board meeting” and declined to offer a personal opinion on the matter.
Louisiana remains one of the few states operating outside the legal purview of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA).
Research indicates voided claim rules significantly impact race-day equine fatality rates. A comprehensive study published in March — analyzing 14 years of North American data — found that stricter voided claim rules correlate with lower rates of catastrophic injuries compared to weaker regulations.
The commission sparked industry controversy nearly a year ago when it passed emergency rules increasing permissible dosages and reducing withdrawal times for several medications, most notably the bronchodilator Clenbuterol and corticosteroid Depo-Medrol. These medication changes were later rescinded.
When asked to address potential industry criticism of the proposed changes, Fenasci reiterated his position on pre-race examinations.
“We feel that horses are examined three times — more than they used to be examined — and that’s when you’re supposed to determine whether the horse is sound and able to run,” Fenasci said.
