by Frank Angst

National Thoroughbred Racing Association President Alex Waldrop told racing regulators Tuesday that uniform rules will help horse racing gain favor in Washington.

“The single most important thing our sport needs is uniformity,” Waldrop said. “As we lobby Congress for changes, it is difficult when those lawmakers see differences from state to state. For instance, seven states still have not signed the model rules on racing medication and even more are not on board with the model rules on penalties.

“States that are not adopting these model rules are holding us back,” Waldrop said. “Gone are the days where a state can be isolated.”

In speaking at the RCI annual convention Tuesday in Austin, Texas, Waldrop joined RCI Chairman Peter Burnett in calling for an emphasis on horse welfare and safety issues. Waldrop urged regulators to require tracks to participate in reporting injuries to a database like the one started by Mary Scollay, association veterinarian at Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park.

“Focus on this issue intensified after Barbaro’s injury,” Waldrop said.

In meeting with regulators at the 74th Association of Racing Commissioners International annual convention, Waldrop said Thoroughbred racing would benefit from uniform rules on pre- and post-race drug testing, across-the-board adoption of the model rules on medication, and adoption of model rules that target past posting problems.

“We have to have integrity for this sport to work,” Waldrop said.

Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times