Core Responsibilities

Measures for Core Responsibilities

1. Welfare Reporting & Collaboration
- Immediately report any observed instances of horse abuse or neglect to the stewards and supervising vet.
- Coordinate with practicing vets to address welfare concerns.

- Documented reports to stewards and supervising veterinarian without delay; minimal incidents of unreported welfare issues.
- Positive feedback from stewards and the Chief Racing Veterinarian on clarity/accuracy of welfare notifications.
- Practicing vets and track officials confirm that concerns are resolved promptly.

2. Prerace & Final Fitness Examinations
- Perform prerace exams; recommend withdrawal of unfit horses.
- Conduct final fitness checks as directed by stewards or scratch time requests.

- Thorough, standardized assessments completed for each horse; few discrepancies or re-exams required.
- Sound professional judgment leading to accurate calls on unfit horses (backed up by clinical notes).
- Timely updates to stewards and the Chief Racing Veterinarian on fitness decisions, with minimal recordkeeping gaps.

3. Emergency Care & On-Track Injury Response
- Provide immediate care for injured horses during workouts or races.
- Follow established protocols for humane euthanasia if needed.

- Prompt arrival and appropriate triage for racing-related injuries (tracked via incident logs).
- Correct use of euthanasia guidelines; minimal controversies or delays in critical decisions.
- All emergency treatments, including euthanasia events, are documented and filed with the Commission in writing.

4. Bleeder Identification & Management
- Determine if horses suffer from EIPH and place them on the bleeder list if warranted.
- Submit proper certification to the Commission.

- Few or no contested decisions regarding EIPH status; verification aligns with clinical best practices.
- Bleeder list changes filed promptly and clearly, with complete supporting documentation.
- Positive feedback on communication regarding bleeder status and track management protocols.

5. Drug Testing Support & Sample Collection
- Assist with supervision and collection of samples in the test barn.
- Ensure compliance with chain-of-custody protocols.

- Standard sample collection procedures maintained; minimal chain-of-custody breaks or mishandled samples.
- Samples labeled accurately, delivered to testing labs on schedule.
- Positive feedback from internal/external audits on compliance with testing standards.

6. Veterinarian’s List Maintenance
- Place horses on list due to illness/injury; evaluate workouts for removal from the list.

- Up-to-date veterinarian’s list entries; justification for placements or removals clearly documented.
- Timely and thorough evaluations leading to safe/appropriate removals; minimal incidents of re-injury post-clearance.
- Well-organized notes accessible to trainers, stewards, and Commission staff.

7. Track Presence & Race-Day Coverage
- Be present at paddock, starting gate, track, finish line as scheduled.
- Observe horses for signs of distress or lameness.

- Minimal or no missed assignments or delays at designated locations on race day.
- Early detection of potential horse distress; timely intervention or communication with stewards and licensee’s veterinarian.
- Positive assessments of veterinarian’s visibility, availability, and responsiveness.

8. Postmortem Examinations & Fatality Reporting
- Facilitate postmortem exams for horses that die on the grounds.
- Provide necessary records or assistance to Chief Racing Veterinarian.

- All deceased horses undergo the proper postmortem exam procedures; no significant delays or missing samples.
- Reports align with Commission requirements, ensuring thorough investigations of cause of death.
- Minimal omissions or incorrect data in final documentation for the Chief Racing Veterinarian or Commission records.

9. Communication & Reporting
- Alert the supervising regulatory veterinarian to significant equine health or welfare concerns.
- Provide necessary updates on euthanized horses, injuries, or regulatory queries.

- Detailed status updates or incident reports submitted quickly, with relevant clinical information.
- Adherence to lines of authority, operating cooperatively within the chain of command.
- Commission veterinarian and stewards confirm that all essential details are available to support final decisions, disciplinary actions, or policy updates.

10. Coordination with Practicing Veterinarians
- Work with licensee’s veterinarians to ensure consistent standards of care, drug testing, and emergency responses.

- Positive or minimal conflicts with practicing vets; any disagreements handled via professional, evidence-based discussions.
- Practicing vets report alignment in prerace, emergency, or bleeder list procedures.
- Observers note cohesive and harmonious working relationships on race days.