by Frank Angst

In his address to regulators on Tuesday, Association of Racing Commissioners International Chairman Peter Burnett urged an emphasis on horse safety and welfare.

Speaking at the RCI’s 74th annual convention in Austin, Texas, Burnett said animal welfare issues are especially important as pari-mutuel racing sports attempt to attract new fans.

“Animal welfare issues have become extremely important, especially to the general public which may not be intimately involved,” said Burnett, who also serves as chairman of the Virginia Racing Commission.

Burnett attended the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit on March 17-18 in Lexington and participated in group meetings.

“We have to align the interests of the horse with the financial interests of those who handle the horses when we come up with regulations,” Burnett said, adding that racing medication is an important issue.

“We have to find ways to responsibly use medications in racing,” Burnett said. “We have to be able to show the public that it is responsible use of that medication.”

In general, Burnett said more progress is needed on issues including horse welfare and safety, wagering integrity, and medication.

“We must recognize industry-wide that we will not survive, much less expand, unless we get together on these issues that have been plaguing us for some time,” Burnett said.

Burnett also said states and racetracks that enjoy revenue from added gaming have to continue to work to promote pari-mutuel wagering.

“Racinos give us time to get back on our feet from a wagering side,” Burnett said. “Machines are random gambling. Pari-mutuel wagering requires gray matter. We have to attract people to pari-mutuel wagering.”

Burnett noted steady progress on RCI’s model rule regulating steroid use that was approved at last year’s convention.

“Last year, we could count on one hand the number of states that regulated steroids,” Burnett said. “Now 17 or 18 have adopted rules and more are coming.”

Burnett said uniformity on issues like medication is needed.

“If we don’t reach uniformity, [the federal government] will save us,” Burnett said. “The last thing we need is Congress stepping in.”

Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times