A provision voiding the claim of a horse placed on the veterinarian's list for bleeding was approved for a 45-day public comment period by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), though members expressed their concerns during a meeting Feb. 18 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia.
The proposed amendment on claiming rules states that "bled" is defined as "the official veterinarian observing a horse bleeding from one or both nostrils during or after the race and determines such bleeding is a direct result of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage." Claims in California currently can be voided on horses found to be unsound in post-race examinations conducted by the official track veterinarian.
Multiple CHRB members voiced concerns about "over-regulating" the claiming process, but the board got significant push-back from both equine medical director Rick Arthur, DVM, and California Thoroughbred Trainers president Jim Cassidy.
"I disagree with the premise that horses bleed from the nostril without any previous indication," Arthur said. "It does happen, but in terms of protecting the horse, this is a reasonable step."