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Commission approves labs, issues default on hearing and opens rule-change process
Summary
At its Jan. 9 meeting the Washington Horse Racing Commission approved a list of accredited split-sample laboratories, directed staff to prepare an order of default in a contested hearing, and heard public comment on proposed rule changes related to jockey conduct and penalties for unlicensed personnel; commissioners also approved attendance at the ARCI meeting on condition of no state funding.
The Washington Horse Racing Commission on Jan. 9 took several administrative steps including approving accredited split-sample drug-testing laboratories, authorizing an order of default in an absent licensee's hearing, and opening a public-comment period on proposed rule changes.
Executive Secretary Amanda Benton presented proposed rule language and said the current draft reflected requests from the Jockey's Guild and class A and B facilities to remove the option of fining a jockey for failing to maintain a straight course or for careless riding in some contexts. Benton also summarized HBPA suggestions, including raising fines for trainers who knowingly hire unlicensed personnel and aligning penalties at Class C tracks with those at Class A and B facilities for Labor & Industries compliance and back-payment of premiums.
"The only changes that we have in the current proposed language were requested by the Jockey's Guild or the class a and b licensed facilities," Benton said, and commissioners encouraged staff to work with stakeholders to refine the list for a February vote.
On testing, commissioners approved the RMTC-accredited split-sample laboratories that would be used for pari-mutuel horse-racing testing. Approved facilities named in the packet include the Ohio Department of Agriculture Analytical Toxicology Laboratory, industrial laboratories in Denver, the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at UC Davis, the New York Equine Drug Testing and Research Program, Morrisville Auxiliary, the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory, and the University of Kentucky Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory in Lexington.
Commissioners also confirmed that Mary Tate had been properly served for an administrative hearing. After discussion the commission moved and approved an order of default on her request for hearing and asked staff to prepare the formal order.
Other procedural items included approval of the meeting minutes and a motion permitting commissioners to attend the ARCI annual meeting in April if attendance imposes no cost to the state. There were no contested votes recorded opposing the motions.
The commission left the proposed rule changes open for additional stakeholder work over the next month and scheduled possible action at the February meeting.
