Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 462 - OREGON RACING COMMISSION › Division 140 - DUTIES › Section 462-140-0070 - Commission Veterinarian

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
(1) A
			 commission veterinarian is responsible, to the extent possible, for ensuring
			 that horses coming upon the race course do not pose a health or safety problem
			 to themselves or other racing animals. A commission veterinarian is authorized
			 to check all animals coming on to the racecourse and to exclude and/or scratch
			 any animal that may pose a health or safety problem in his/her
			 opinion.
(2) A commission
			 veterinarian shall be granted immediate access to any racing animal on or off
			 the racecourse which has recently run a race or has been entered in a race. A
			 commission veterinarian may examine or cause to be examined any racing animal
			 on the racecourse and may take or cause to be taken blood, urine, saliva or
			 other body fluids or samples for examination.
(3) A commission veterinarian shall observe
			 all racing animals to ensure that all racing animals allowed to participate
			 are, in his/her opinion, in sound racing condition and that its participation
			 in a race is not contrary to the best interest of the racing animal.
(4) A commission veterinarian is authorized
			 to scratch a racing animal from a race if, in the commission veterinarian's
			 opinion, the animal is not in sound racing condition, may pose a health or
			 safety problem to itself or others, or that its participation in a race is
			 contrary to the best interest of the racing animal. The commission veterinarian
			 shall immediately notify the stewards of the scratch.
(5) A commission veterinarian shall maintain
			 a list, to be known as the "Vet's List", of racing animals that the commission
			 veterinarian has reason to believe are uncontrollable, sick, injured, illegally
			 medicated, are a danger to themselves or other racing animals, or are not in
			 sound racing condition. Racing animals may only be removed from the "Vet's
			 List" with the approval of a commission veterinarian.
(6) When necessary, a commission veterinarian
			 is authorized to take immediate steps without approval of a racing animal's
			 owner or trainer to protect the health and safety of the racing animal or other
			 racing animals. This includes administering drugs and/or medications for
			 treatment and/or humane euthanasia. In any other situation in which a
			 commission veterinarian determines that a racing animal should be removed from
			 the racecourse or scratched from a race, a commission veterinarian may order
			 the racing animal removed or scratched.
(7) Except in the case of an emergency, a
			 commission veterinarian, while employed by the commission, may not prescribe
			 any medication for or treat any animal which will race on a racecourse in
			 Oregon, with or without compensation. When emergency treatment is given a
			 commission veterinarian shall make a complete written report to the
			 stewards.
(8) A commission
			 veterinarian or designated assistant shall secure blood, urine or other
			 samples, as specified by the commission, of winning racing animals and of other
			 racing animals designated by the stewards or commission veterinarian. Unused
			 sealed containers furnished by the official laboratory designated by the state
			 must be used for collecting specimens for analysis.
(9) A commission veterinarian will not
			 conduct searches but may be involved in searches conducted by the commission
			 investigators.
(10) A commission
			 veterinarian shall verify the conditions of all horses reported to be nerved
			 prior to the horse's first entry in a race meet or continuous race
			 meet.
(11) A commission
			 veterinarian shall be available, by telephone, radio or in person, to the
			 stewards and racing secretary at scratch time, until the close of entries, and
			 at least one hour prior to the first post. A commission veterinarian shall
			 leave the paddock as the last horse leaves the paddock, or as a commission
			 veterinarian deems practical, for each race and shall observe the horses during
			 the post parade, warm up, and at the starting gate.
Stat. Auth.: ORS
				  462.270(3)
Stats. Implemented: ORS
				  462.270