Ontario Racing Commission March 11, 2007 John Blakney Executive Director Ontario Racing Commission March 11, 2007                      

that good things are happening in Do you believe that good things are happening in Horse racing today?                       Before I begin… here is a question I would like to pose to everyone in this room this morning.. Do you believe that good things are happening in Horse racing today?

We believe the answer is And one of the most significant contributors… In Ontario, We believe the answer is Yes!                       And one of the most significant contributors… Medication Control Well, I can tell you quite frankly… That Ontario’s horse community, we believe the answer is yes…. And it’s due to a number of programs, and one of the most significant is …Medication Control…

Ontario’s Horse Racing Community                       The Regulator, Owners, Trainers, Horse People Organizations, Veterinary, Race Tracks and the Wagering Public Well, I can tell you quite frankly… That Ontario’s horse community, we believe the answer is yes…. And before I get too much into our experience, I’d like to emphasize that all that is taking place in Ontario is more than a pure regulator issue… It is a community issue And that community is made up of the regulator, Owners, Trainers, Horse People Organizations, Veterinary practitioners, Race Tracks and the Wagering Public

What is Medication Control? Our main theme driving all communication: That Medication Control is…. Good for the horse Vital to the industry So what exactly is Medication Control?? The answer is best illustrated by sharing with you Our main theme driving all communication: That Medication Control is…. Good for the horse Vital to the industry

What is Medication Control? A therapeutic value to the horse Unethical to give non-therapeutic drugs at any time Not mask health problem, cause a positive test, or undermine testing I could a more detailed description to those of you that wish later in the meeting, but simply stated it means… Only using medications or products that have a therapeutic value to the horse. Working under the fundamental belief that it is unethical to give non-therapeutic drugs to a horse at any time Not using any medications or products prior to a race that mask an underlying health problem, cause a positive test, or undermine the testing process.

Why Medication Control? Illegal and non-therapeutic drugs (perceived or real are of concern Reputation of horse racing, financial stability of industry on the line Confidence of all participants at stake Action required to break the substance abuse cycle the acquisition and possession of illegal and non-therapeutic drugs (perceived or real) was of concern to Ontario horse people, owners, trainers, bettors, and the general public. the reputation of horse racing in Ontario and the financial stability of the industry were on the line, and that the confidence of racing participants, the wagering public and the public at large was at stake. where action is required to assist in breaking the substance abuse cycle What do I mean by that? – the “substance abuse cycle”?

The Substance Abuse Cycle Users Substances x ABUSE Explain the substance abuse cycle here x Distributors

Ontario experience - then The majority play by the rules - care passionately about the horse “In competition testing” Penalties ranged from days to 5 years The few care nothing - motivated by greed Change performance by illegal means By far the majority play by the rules professionally and care passionately about the horse We had – and still have – system of ‘in competition testing’ much as many of you do The penalties range from a few days suspension to 5 years But we were dealing with a few individuals who flaunt these rules and care nothing about the horse and are motivated by greed Anything to change performance by illegal means

Ontario experience - then Illegal and non-therapeutic drugs Tolerated by the majority Some joined out of need to compete The community felt powerless And then a moment of truth…. So we were faced with these few individuals who were acquiring, possessing and using these illegal equine drugs Ironically, it seems that the practice was tolerated by the majority – believing perhaps that ‘there is nothing we can do… it can’t be stopped” Some may have joined the ranks out of need to compete The community felt powerless… And then something quite extraordinary happened…

recognition The horse racing community in Ontario came to the recognition and admitted that action was required to break the substance abuse cycle…. The community asked us, its regulator for help developing a system that break the cycle And that is what would be required in any jurisdiction for the system to work

Ontario experience - now A system based on: Horse racing community involvement Fairness, responsibility and due process Education and change of practice Proactive research and testing Increased investigations system based on horse racing community involvement – a system not of the regulator but of the community a system where an even greater emphasis would be placed on fairness, responsibility and due process where Education and change of practice would send a message of the seriousness of the issue and the time to change Initial fines and suspensions demonstrated that intention Proactive research and testing procedures Increased investigations

Ontario experience - now Initial fines - $1K - $2K, probation 1 – 2 years Increased education and communication Industry Advisory Group established Blood sample Directive “Out of Competition” testing introduced Latest testing technology utilized Initial fines in April 2006 – fines of $1K - $2K, probation of one – two years Increased education and communication: severe penalties and fines will follow for those who continue to ignore the Medication Control message Industry Advisory Group established in April 2006 In May of 2006 we issued a new Directive requiring trainers to make their horses available for a blood test at any time This was the start of our out of competition testing program The decision to test would be based on ‘change in performance’ concerns or reasonable cause And we would take advantage of the latest testing techologies

Ontario experience - now Fines and penalties increased substantially August- October, 2006 - $100K fines - 10 year suspensions Increased testing and investigations The horse racing community has the power to effect change The out of competition testing resulted in Fines and penalties increased substantially In August- October 2006, $100K fines and 10 year suspensions Increased testing and investigations continues The horse racing community embraces the principles of Medication Control – they realize they now have the power to effect change

Horse Racing experience What are we all faced with?

The Drug Network… … is international Description of far reaching nature of problem: It is a far reaching international problem – with two way activity. … is international

Of concern to racing participants around the world The Substance Abuse Cycle To suppress the cycle, the international horse racing community must experience a moment: Users Substances x ABUSE The substance abuse cycle is not merely an Ontario problem – it is an issue for participants around the globe: To suppress this cycle the international horse racing community must experience a moment: x Distributors

recognition The international horse racing community must come to the recognition the cycle of abuse can be stopped

Together we are the solution                      

Thank you.