Woodbine experiments with Surveillance/Retention
Beginning with the June 25 Queen's Plate, which is expected to attract California-based, Ontario-bred WANNA RUNNER, Woodbine will implement a surveillance/retention program in which horses shipping in for the race must be declared as starters and on the grounds for the event 48 hours before closing time for the race.
Thus, the Tuesday before the Plate (June 20), all Plate horses will be on the grounds and under surveillance by security in their respective barns.
The following is the release issued by Woodbine:
May 31 - The Woodbine Entertainment Group today announced its new Thoroughbred stakes race surveillance/retention program has been approved by the Ontario Racing Commission.
The program will first apply to the 2006 edition of the Queen's Plate, set for Sunday, June 25. The 147th edition of the race is worth $1 million.
The following is the full text added to the Woodbine Thoroughbred Rule Book:
Stakes Race Surveillance Retention (WEG Thoroughbred Rule Book 3.2)
a) WEG in its sole and absolute discretion may assign specified Stakes races under a surveillance/retention program. This program would commence a minimum of 48 hours PRIOR to the ADVERTISED CLOSING TIME for entering the specified Stake. The affected horse will then be under surveillance/retention until the specified Stake has been run (or the horse is scratched).
b) All horses intended to be entered into such specified Stakes must be identified as such to the Director of Racing and/or the Stakes Manager, by the trainer at least 48 hours prior to the closing time for entries to the specified Stake. The trainer will document particulars of the affected horse including name, tattoo, barn and stall number. At this deadline the surveillance/retention program will commence at the stall in which the identified horse is located.
c) The access to horses in the surveillance/retention program will be restricted to pre approved individuals and this access will be monitored and documented by WEG security. The trainer of the affected horse is responsible for designation of those individuals who would be allowed access to the horse for feeding, grooming, training and race day preparation. The trainer and his/her veterinarian will ensure that any treatments and/or medications administered to the affected horse, within the Rules of Racing and the CPMA Regulations, are documented as required under Rules 27.13 and 27.14 of the Rules of Racing, and will produce such documentation to WEG security upon request.
d) Affected horses, going to and from the track for training, will be accompanied by the assigned security guard.
e) Blood testing may be required at any time during the surveillance/retention period.
f) WEG, in its sole and absolute discretion, may refuse the entry of a horse to the specified Stake race should the conditions of clauses (a),(b),(c),(d) and (e) not be met or if the results of blood tests taken pursuant to paragraph (e) reveal the presence of a prohibited drug or a non-therapeutic substance.
g) Any violation of these regulations may result in the affected horse being scratched from the specified stake.
Last year, the top two Queen's Plate finishers both shipped in from the United States. The winner, Wild Desert, had a skimpy (at best) workout report and yet won the race handily and was well bet.
This new initiative by Woodbine, dubbed the "Baffert rule" by some (Bob Baffert trains Wanna Runner), is at least curious because of its timing close to this year's Plate.
Thus, the Tuesday before the Plate (June 20), all Plate horses will be on the grounds and under surveillance by security in their respective barns.
The following is the release issued by Woodbine:
May 31 - The Woodbine Entertainment Group today announced its new Thoroughbred stakes race surveillance/retention program has been approved by the Ontario Racing Commission.
The program will first apply to the 2006 edition of the Queen's Plate, set for Sunday, June 25. The 147th edition of the race is worth $1 million.
The following is the full text added to the Woodbine Thoroughbred Rule Book:
Stakes Race Surveillance Retention (WEG Thoroughbred Rule Book 3.2)
a) WEG in its sole and absolute discretion may assign specified Stakes races under a surveillance/retention program. This program would commence a minimum of 48 hours PRIOR to the ADVERTISED CLOSING TIME for entering the specified Stake. The affected horse will then be under surveillance/retention until the specified Stake has been run (or the horse is scratched).
b) All horses intended to be entered into such specified Stakes must be identified as such to the Director of Racing and/or the Stakes Manager, by the trainer at least 48 hours prior to the closing time for entries to the specified Stake. The trainer will document particulars of the affected horse including name, tattoo, barn and stall number. At this deadline the surveillance/retention program will commence at the stall in which the identified horse is located.
c) The access to horses in the surveillance/retention program will be restricted to pre approved individuals and this access will be monitored and documented by WEG security. The trainer of the affected horse is responsible for designation of those individuals who would be allowed access to the horse for feeding, grooming, training and race day preparation. The trainer and his/her veterinarian will ensure that any treatments and/or medications administered to the affected horse, within the Rules of Racing and the CPMA Regulations, are documented as required under Rules 27.13 and 27.14 of the Rules of Racing, and will produce such documentation to WEG security upon request.
d) Affected horses, going to and from the track for training, will be accompanied by the assigned security guard.
e) Blood testing may be required at any time during the surveillance/retention period.
f) WEG, in its sole and absolute discretion, may refuse the entry of a horse to the specified Stake race should the conditions of clauses (a),(b),(c),(d) and (e) not be met or if the results of blood tests taken pursuant to paragraph (e) reveal the presence of a prohibited drug or a non-therapeutic substance.
g) Any violation of these regulations may result in the affected horse being scratched from the specified stake.
Last year, the top two Queen's Plate finishers both shipped in from the United States. The winner, Wild Desert, had a skimpy (at best) workout report and yet won the race handily and was well bet.
This new initiative by Woodbine, dubbed the "Baffert rule" by some (Bob Baffert trains Wanna Runner), is at least curious because of its timing close to this year's Plate.
posted by Jen Morrison @ 1:58 PM
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