dont bring any towels if racing up North

[ADJMK]

In order to maintain an effective equine drug control program, the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) has revised the list of items allowed into the retention area. Please note that all items permitted into the retention area must leave with the horse.

The new list of items is as follows:

• Tack and equipment horse is wearing upon entry
• Halter and leadshank
• Empty bucket
• Sponge, scraper
• Horse blanket (cooler)
• Equipment needed for sample collection, such as a twitch or blinkers
• Dry leg wrap
• Bandage cutters

The revised list will have a full implementation date of October 1, 2016.

This new list balances the need for horsepersons to properly care for their horse with the responsibility to ensure a safe and controlled environment for the collection of equine samples. Consideration is also given to the fact that the horses are in the retention area for a short period of time, at most one hour.

There are three main changes to the list of permitted items. Bandage cutters and leg wraps are now allowed. Leg wraps must be dry and clean upon entry; horsepersons are free to wet them in the retention area to apply “cold water” bandages. The type of leg wrap/bandage that is allowed has not been restricted.

Towels will no longer be allowed in the retention area. Towels are tools that serve many purposes in a barn and consequently have the potential to be exposed to a variety of drugs and products, whether applied directly, or indirectly (e.g., through horse saliva). Horsepersons will continue to have access to a scraper to dry their horse, a cooler of any weight (from fly sheet to wool cooler) to keep their horse’s muscles from getting chilled and a sponge to clean their horse’s head and nostrils.

We understand that the revised list will require some adaptation by horsepersons. We would like to thank you for your ongoing cooperation to ensure that the equine drug control program remains effective and up to date.