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John Blakney Executive Director Ontario Racing Commission March 11, 2007

John Blakney Executive Director Ontario Racing Commission March 11, 2007. Do you believe that good things are happening in Horse racing today?. In Ontario, We believe the answer is Yes!. And one of the most significant contributors… Medication Control. Ontario’s Horse Racing

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John Blakney Executive Director Ontario Racing Commission March 11, 2007

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  1. John Blakney Executive Director Ontario Racing CommissionMarch 11, 2007

  2. Do you believe that good things are happening in Horse racing today?

  3. In Ontario, We believe the answer is Yes! And one of the most significant contributors… Medication Control

  4. Ontario’s Horse Racing Community The Regulator, Owners, Trainers, Horse People Organizations, Veterinary, Race Tracks and the Wagering Public

  5. What is Medication Control? • Our main theme driving all communication: • That Medication Control is…. Good for the horse Vital to the industry

  6. What is Medication Control? • A therapeutic value to the horse • Unethical to give non-therapeutic drugs at any time • Not mask health problem, cause a positive test, or undermine testing

  7. Why Medication Control? • Illegal and non-therapeutic drugs (perceived or real are of concern • Reputation of horse racing, financial stability of industry on the line • Confidence of all participants at stake • Action required to break the substance abuse cycle

  8. The Substance Abuse Cycle Users Substances x ABUSE x Distributors

  9. Ontario experience - then • The majority play by the rules - care passionately about the horse • “In competition testing” • Penalties ranged from days to 5 years • The few care nothing - motivated by greed • Change performance by illegal means

  10. Ontario experience - then • Illegal and non-therapeutic drugs • Tolerated by the majority • Some joined out of need to compete • The community felt powerless • And then a moment of truth….

  11. recognition

  12. Ontario experience - now A system based on: • Horse racing community involvement • Fairness, responsibility and due process • Education and change of practice • Proactive research and testing • Increased investigations

  13. Ontario experience - now • Initial fines - $1K - $2K, probation 1 – 2 years • Increased education and communication • Industry Advisory Group established • Blood sample Directive • “Out of Competition” testing introduced • Latest testing technology utilized

  14. Ontario experience - now • Fines and penalties increased substantially • August- October, 2006 - $100K fines - 10 year suspensions • Increased testing and investigations • The horse racing community has the power to effect change

  15. Horse Racing experience What are we all faced with?

  16. The Drug Network… … is international

  17. Of concern to racing participants around the world The Substance Abuse Cycle To suppress the cycle, the international horse racing community must experience a moment: Users Substances x ABUSE x Distributors

  18. recognition

  19. Together we are the solution

  20. Thank you.

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