The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium was established in the year 2000, with their main objective being to take on the serious issues within the racing industry, and any form of horse racing, and find solutions for them. May it be live horse racing, cart races or steeple racing, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium is involved to ensure that guidelines in regard to medication are adhered to for the safety of the horses and their jockeys.

The mission statement of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, or RMTC, is stated as follows on their website: ‘The mission of the Consortium shall be to develop, promote and coordinate, at the national level, policies, research, and educational programs which seek to ensure the fairness and integrity of racing and the health and welfare of racehorses and participants, and protect the interests of the betting public.’

In horse racing, as in many other sports, participants will try to improve the speed and endurance of their racehorses by administering drugs. This conduct is not only unfair to other racehorses, the owners and fans, but can be detrimental to the health of the horse. The RMTC was therefore established to create policies, rules and accurate tests, to detect the use of prohibited substances and eliminate their use. The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium also address the use of medications while training horses, while racing and even when it comes to selling horses. Racing commissions and regulatory establishments work closely with the RMTC to ensure that tests are unbiased and the rules and procedures that are put forward by the consortium are followed.

Racehorses are like human athletes. They can suffer injuries and illnesses, and the consortium does take all these factors in consideration. For instance, medication or drugs are not permitted on race day, with the exception of furosemide. If a therapeutic drug needs to be administered, there are strict rules in regard to this. The drug given must show scientific proof that it is beneficial to the horse, that it will not affect the performance of the horse in any way, that it does not pose a danger to the horse or rider and that it will not affect any test results that look for illegal substances. The RMTC also restricts the use of illegal practices and laboratories work very thoroughly to ensure that all detection standards are met.

Researching medication, their effect on horses and regulation their usage is vital to the horse racing industry. It protects horses and jockeys and ensures that all races are conducted in a fair manner. Live horse racing, steeplechase racing or any other form of racing is a sport, and the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium ensures that it is safe and enjoyed by all.