§ 403.15. Furosemide (Lasix—Standardbred).
(a) The Commission recognizes that the diuretic Furosemide (Lasix) is helpful in the management of Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) in the Standardbred horse. Accordingly, 2-year-old harness horses or older shall be eligible for bleeder medication as set forth below. In regulating the race-day use of Furosemide (Lasix), the Commission has placed strict controls on the dose, route and time the medication is administered. All of these measures are designed to provide a thorough regulation of Furosemide (Lasix) and prevent the misuse of the drug.
(b) A horse is eligible to race with Furosemide (Lasix) if at least one of the following occurs:
(1) The horse is on the Commission’s bleeder’s list and the Judge’s list in accordance with the following provisions;
(2) The trainer provides the Commission Veterinarian or the designee with evidence that the horse in on the Furosemide (Lasix) list or the bleeder list in another jurisdiction. Acceptable evidence shall be a Furosemide (Lasix) or bleeder certificate approved by that jurisdiction’s official veterinarian.
(3) The trainer provides the Commission Veterinarian or the designee with evidence that the horse has been running consistently, up to the last start, with Furosemide (Lasix) in other racing jurisdictions as shown on official past performance records from the USTA, Equibase or the Racing Form.
(c) A horse shall be placed on the bleeder’s list by either method:
(1) Blood visualized or noted in one of the nostrils (no endoscopic exam required), if:
(i) During a race or qualifier;
(ii) Immediate post-race or post exercise on track;
(iii) Post-race or post exercise in paddock or stable area, or both, within a reasonable time;
(iv) After training at a horse facility and confirmed by a licensed veterinarian within this Commonwealth.
(2) Endoscopic examination may be requested by the owner or trainer who believes his or her horse is a bleeder. The endoscopic examination must be done by a licensed veterinarian within this Commonwealth and at the owner’s/trainer’s expense. This examination shall take place within a reasonable length of time at:
(i) Post race in paddock.
(ii) Post training exercise in paddock.
(iii) Post training at a horse facility.
(d) Any owner or trainer that intends to race a horse within the Furosemide (Lasix) Program (Program) is required to submit the proper certificate completed by a licensed veterinarian within this Commonwealth no later than the time of entry to the Judges. This information shall be entered into the USTA database.
(e) Once a horse is certified as a ‘‘bleeder’’ that horse may not race for a period of 6 days beginning the day after the examination was performed.
(f) Test results must show a detectable concentration of the drug in the post-race serum, plasma or urine sample or it will be considered a positive.
(g) Once on the Program the horse must stay on the Program for a minimum on 45 days within this Commonwealth.
(h) If after the 45 days the owner/trainer want to remove said horse from the Program, a licensed veterinarian, must perform an endoscopic examination after a qualifying race to confirm no evidence of bleeding and a blood sample must be pulled and tested to confirm Furosemide (Lasix) was not administered. The owner/trainer must then submit the proper forms to the Judges prior to entry to remove the said horse from the Program.
(i) If a horse bleeds through regardless of Furosemide (Lasix) administration, then the horse shall be placed on the Judges’ List:
(1) First time 30 days;
(2) Second time 60 days;
(3) Third time barred for life.
(j) Out-of-State entries. At the time of entry of a horse, it is the sole responsibility of the horse’s owner/trainer to provide the racing secretary, the Judges and Commission Veterinarian with the horse’s bleeder medication status on the entry form, including the first time bleeder certificate when coming from out of this Commonwealth.
(k) Furosemide (Lasix) shall be administered by a licensed veterinarian under the supervision of the Commission representative no less than 2cc’s (100mg) nor more than 10cc’s (500mg). Horses must arrive in the paddock no less than 4 hours prior to their scheduled post time to receive their Furosemide (Lasix) medication. A 30-minute grace period will be granted but the trainer may be subject to a fine. No horse shall receive Furosemide (Lasix) medication after the 30-minute grace period.
(l) All associations shall provide a secure retention facility for the administration of the Program. The trainer, or his/her authorized representative with a valid license, shall remain with the horse from the time of its arrival in the retention facility until the horse is removed after receiving Furosemide (Lasix) or scratched. During the horse’s time in the retention facility the trainer or authorized person shall provide assistance when required by the licensed veterinarian who is administering the Furosemide (Lasix) medication.
(m) Late for Furosemide (Lasix): Trainers not presenting horses who are on the Program within the required time frame shall be subject to a fine of $250 and having their horse scratched from the race.
(n) Test results must show a detectable concentration of the drug in the post-race serum, plasma or urine sample.
(1) The specific gravity of post-race urine samples may be measured to ensure that samples are sufficiently concentrated for proper chemical analysis. The specific gravity shall not be below 1.010. If the specific gravity of the urine is found to be below 1.010 or if a urine sample is unavailable for testing, quantitation of Furosemide (Lasix) in serum or plasma shall be performed;
(2) Quantitation of Furosemide (Lasix) in serum or plasma shall be performed when the specific gravity of the corresponding urine sample is not measured or if measured below 1.010. Concentrations may not exceed 100 nanograms of Furosemide per milliliter of serum or plasma.
(o) The practicing veterinarian shall be responsible for administering the proper Furosemide (Lasix) medication and dose at the proper time to the proper horse and providing the Commission or its staff, upon request, with any necessary documentation related to the horses under the veterinarian’s care relating to Furosemide (Lasix).
Cross References This section cited in 7 Pa. Code § 401.4 (relating to substances of therapeutic value).
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