The Alcohol and Gaming Commission’s implementation of a race-day medication ban for Ontario racehorses will be one of the strictest in North America.

While most tracks already have a similar race-day medication ban, the AGCO’s directive states that a vet can’t enter a horse’s stall that is entered to race within 24 hours of the post time of the first race the previous day. As a day of racing can last seven hours, some horses may not be able to receive medication for up to 30 hours. Other tracks with similar ‘race-day’ bans limit access to vets from 12:00 midnight the night before race day.

Vets in Ontario are hoping to work with the AGCO to refine the new policy. In addition to the timing, they are concerned that horses will not have access to the few therapeutic measures that many top trainers ask their vets to provide. Common treatments include vitamins, settling agents such as calcium, and other non-medicinal items such as ulcer medication and electrolytes. These therapeutic additives are often given to horses by vets through nasal tubes, or injected for maximum absorption and utility.

Advertisement