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

2. 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?

3. 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…

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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”?

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

9. 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

10. 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…

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Ontario experience - now
Fines and penalties increased substantially
August- October, $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

15. Horse Racing experience
What are we all faced with?

16. 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

17. 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

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

19. Together we are the solution
                     

20. Thank you.