Page 16 - Speedhorse, February 2019

AQHA RACING UPDATE
“We’re making things happen – and since many of you are the members who reached out to me crying for this change, I thought you would be happy to hear the news.”
Janet VanBebber
Last summer, we were all bombarded with talk about how many misguided horse- men on the backsides of racetracks were
abusing albuterol in an effort to gain the same performance-enhancing effects as when they were administering gross overages of clenbuterol. At the Racing Committee meeting conducted at Los Alamitos in November, the committee gave me
a mandate to seek change in the Association of Racing Commissioners International Model Rules. Although the ARCI meeting was a mere two
weeks later, Executive Director Ed Martin worked with me to put the topic on the agenda and I successfully lobbied for the change. The Model Rules Controlled Therapeutic Medication chart now includes a footnote next to albuterol, noting that there is no level of detection permissible for Quarter Horses, and both clenbuterol and alb- uterol now carry the more stringent recommended penalty class that we requested. Now, the penalty is more in line with the prohibited status of the offense. (see this issue page 172)
It required a big effort to get this done in such a short time frame, and I sincerely appreciate the
ongoing relationship I have with Ed Martin and the Board of Directors at ARCI to afford us this opportunity. We’re making things happen – and since many of you are the members who reached out to me crying for this change, I thought you would be happy to hear the news.
Now we are moving forward and, among other things, preparing for the AQHA Convention. This year’s event will be conducted in Fort Worth at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel, March 8-11 (For more information, visit www.aqha.com/convention). Know that our meetings are not closed, and I again implore you to be involved.
If you want to have an impact on the industry you are so passionate about, this is your chance! Come to our Racing Committee meeting and allow your voice to be heard. If you missed Committee Chairman Mark Brown’s comments on this topic, please read them here: www.aqha.com/racing/ industry-news/2019/january/011619-qracing-blog.
We are an Association of members. As your Chief Racing Officer, my actions are dictated by the decisions made in these meetings. I look forward to seeing you there.
FEBRUARY 2019
AQHA Racing Update • Making Change Happen
Janet VanBebber, AQHA Chief Racing Officer
12 SPEEDHORSE, February 2019