International Race Day Medication Summit on June 13-14 to be Held at Belmont Park

The first “International Summit on Race Day Medication, EIPH and the Racehorse” will take place at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., on June 13-14, 2011. The event is jointly sponsored by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), and the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC).

Day 1 of the Summit on Monday, June 13 will be open to anyone who registers to attend. The program for the first day will include presentations on the current status of medication issues in racing; an overview of exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) and its impact upon horse health; management and treatment alternatives for EIPH; and testing issues surrounding treatment for EIPH. These topics will be followed by international panel discussions on regulatory issues surrounding race day medication; veterinary viewpoints on the management of EIPH; and the management of EIPH from a trainer’s perspective.

Among those scheduled to participate in the summit panel discussions are trainers Kiaran McLaughlin (U.S./Dubai), H. Graham Motion (U.S.), John Size (Hong Kong/Australia) and John Gosden (U.K., via prerecorded videotape). Participating veterinarians include John McVeigh (U.K., South Africa, France), Foster Northrop (U.S.), Rod Daniel (U.S./Dubai), Treve Williams (Australia) and Rob Pilsworth (U.K., via prerecorded videotape). Participating regulators include Denis Egan (Ireland), Bill Nader (Hong Kong), Brian Stewart (Hong Kong) and Anthony Stirk (U.K.). An overview of the day’s discussions will be presented at the conclusion of the panel discussions.

The cost to attend the first day of the summit is $40 per person, with admission including lunch at Belmont Park. There is no charge on Monday for credentialed media. To register for Day 1 of the Summit or to apply for a media credential, please contact Wyndee Eastham of the NTRA at (859) 422-2603. All attendees must register in advance, and the deadline to register is Thursday, May 26.

Day 2 of the Summit, which will feature a facilitated discussion among RMTC members and invited guests, is closed to the public and media. There will be media availability following the conclusion of Day 2.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse.  Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 10,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.

The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading Thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers, horseplayers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic conditions for industry participants. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and Rye Brook, N.Y. NTRA press releases appear on the NTRA web site, NTRA.com.

The RMTC consists of 25 racing industry stakeholders and organizations that represent Thoroughbred, Standardbred, American Quarter Horse and Arabian racing. The organization works to develop and promote uniform rules, policies and testing standards at the national level; coordinate research and educational programs that seek to ensure the integrity of racing and the health and welfare of racehorses and participants; and protect the interests of the racing public.