Page 19 - January 2005 The Game

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
The Game, January 2005 19
HBPA Update
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
5.5/ Blood Testing: Stability of Available Standards:
Parent drugs/medications found in blood tend to be relatively stable molecules, since as a practical matter drugs, such drugs/medications must have a useful shelf-life to be marketable.
Even if urinary metabolite standards are available their uncertain stability may be a limiting factor.
(Note: This lack of authentic standards for urinary metabolites has largely prevented quantification of drug/medication metabolites in equine urine. As a result, the data that we tend to get from classic administration experiments is qualitative and therefore to some extent local. This type of information has been compiled in the CMPA handbook (5), and also in the Australian Equine Veterinary Association handbook (6) and now, more recently in the EHSLC handbook (7). However, these handbooks are just local solutions to a worldwide problem.
5.6/ Blood Testing: Generally Easier to develop a Parent Drug Detection Method compared with a Urinary Metabolite Detection.
When developing a blood test, you immediately know the identity of the analyte you are seeking and have the standard available.
Working up a detection method in urine can be a slow and cumbersome process; first the metabolite has to be identified, characterized and then synthesized (4).
5.7/ Role of Urine Testing:
We are not suggesting that urine testing be de-empha- sized: What we are suggesting is that the role of quantitative blood testing be increased, and with reference to therapeutic medications, that regulatory thresholds be set in blood, corresponding to the current urinary thresholds.
In particular, we would like to suggest that before an identification of a therapeutic substance is reported out for administrative action, that the amount present be accurately quantified so as to guide the kind of in-house expert veterinary review set forth in the ARCI resolutions and to prevent the initiation of regulatory action on ineffective traces of such substances.
We also note and acknowledge that Canada has long had in place the kind of in-house expert veterinary review that the ARCI resolutions specifically recommends to US authorities; our recommendations in effect ask that this office be given the tools to perform the type of review set forth in the ARCI resolutions.
6/ The California Clenbuterol Study:
Let us briefly visit the California clenbuterol study. At the RMTC, a national 10 pg/ml blood threshold for clenbuterol was proposed, based on unpublished work. To validate this proposed threshold, UC Davis carried out a study in Richard Mandella's horses in training in LA (8). The dose was the manufacturers recommended dose, BID, for 10 days. The number of horses, n=19, is a larger number. A validated analytical method was used with d9 clenbuterol as the internal standard (9). The data suggest that a regulatory limit in serum of 25 pg/ml would be much more satisfactory that the 10 pg/ml result obtained in non-exercised horses and the much lower "theoretical" threshold of 0.38 pg/ml based on the Toutain pharmacokinetic model.
7/ For a complete list of the Literature Cited contact the HBPA Administrative Office at 416-747-5252.
Report from the Executive Director
The University of Arizona’s thirty-first annual symposium on racing this winter was well attend- ed with another strong Canadian contingent. Almost 19% of the attendees were Canadians. The HBPA was well represented with four directors, including first time attendees Michael Barkowski and Lynne Hindmarsh.
Both Ontario thoroughbred
racetrack operators were well
represented at the symposium to
hear the several important topics
covered over the three day event.
Such topics as 1) knowing where
are, 2) betting exchanges, 3) ROI from your player tracking investment, and 4) Sponsorships, advertising and branding were well covered by a panel of experts.
If there was anything for us to take home from this event, it was the constant reminder that we as an industry must focus on the CUSTOMER. As current day discussions focus abound on Betting Exchanges (such as Bet Fair) and illegal off-shore wagering shops, the conclusion that can be reached for not only their existence, but their extraordinary success is a direct function of what the “customer wants”. As a complete whole (racetrack operators,
horsemen, breeders, and regulators), the problem that has been created is due to the fact that we do not spend enough time worrying about the CUSTOMER. Unquestionably we need to change our thought process completely and start thinking young. We can no longer survive strictly on tradition. The days of “How it use to be” are over. Let’s find out what the customer wants, and let’s start competing with those who are competing with us unfairly.
The issue of Sponsorships, advertising, and branding was of interest to our group. Along with the benefits of increased visibility and revenue streams provided by sponsorship and advertising comes the issue of conflict of interest when riders, horse owners and racetrack purse opportunities or endorsement come from competing interests. This of course re-raises the whole issue of intellectual property rights as it relates to the horse racing industry. The question to address, as horsemen, riders, and track operators, is who owns the rights to the images we simulcast? I think we can safely conclude the position that the horsemen will take.
your players
Executive Director Nick Coukos
Attention Pension Plan Holders
Do You Turn 65 This Year and Want to Start Receiving Pension Benefits?
Then this is what you must do:
The HBPA Pension Plan is designed to provide you with a life income at retirement, which is in addition to any benefits payable under the Canadian Pension Plan, Quebec Pension Plan, or Old Age Security Act (Canada).
Should you be turning 65 during the year, your pension benefits will begin on the next January 1 date following your 65 birthday.
However you must contact the HBPA Backstretch offices at either Woodbine 416-675-3802 or Fort Erie 905-871-3200, ext.3249 or the HBPA Administrative Office at 416-747-5252. You will be required to fill
out a request for calculation form to start your retirement proceedings. Your benefits will not auto- matically start, you must contact the HBPA to let them know of your plans to retire.
(Example: If you turn 65 on September 5, 2005, after contacting the HBPA to let them know that you wish to retire, your pension benefits will begin being paid on January 1, 2006. You can continue to work if so desired.)
There is a provision in the Pension Plan for early retirees who can start collecting reduced benefits after age 55.
As with any other pension plans, you need to inform the HBPA and apply to start receiving your pension benefits.
Important Information for Pension Plan Members
The Annual Record of Employment form for 2004 will be sent out to all HBPA Pension Plan members in the coming weeks. This form must be completed and returned to the HBPA by March 1, 2005.
For those member who have still not returned their Record of Employment forms for 2003 you would have been sent an Annual Pension Statement from Aon Consulting Inc. in the first week of June which would have shown your “Credited Service during the plan year” as 0.0000 Year.
To remedy this you need to send a completed Record of Employment to the HBPA administration
offices at 370-135 Queens Plate Drive, Rexdale, Ontario M9W 6V1.
If you have sent your Record Of Employment after March 31, 2004 your file will be updated and will not show until you receive your Annual Pension Statement for 2004.
If you require any additional information you can contact the HBPA Woodbine Backstretch office at 416-675-3802 /1-800-268-9967 Ext 2249 or the HBPA Fort Erie Backstretch Office at 1-800-295-3770 Ext 3249/908-871-3200 Ext 3249.
HBPA Winter Office Hours
The HBPA Backstretch Office at Woodbine will be open from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday to Friday until Friday, April 8 and it will be open during those same hours 7 days a week starting Monday, April 11. The office can be reached at 1-800-268-9967 ext 2249 or 416-675-3802.
The HBPA Administration Offices are open from 8:30 am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. The office can be reached at 416-747-5252.
The HBPA Backstretch Office at Fort Erie is closed until March. Call the Woodbine Backstretch Office or the Administrative Office for assistance.
Visit the HBPA on-line at www.hbpa.on.ca