61D-6.009. Veterinarians

(1) The Division shall employ a veterinarian (the Division or state veterinarian) who is licensed and in good standing with the Florida State Board of Veterinary Medicine pursuant to Chapter 474, F.S. The Division veterinarian is authorized to:

(a) Maintain and operate a detention enclosure for the securing of urine, blood, or other samples in accordance with this chapter;

(b) Collect other specimens and samples for analysis in accordance with this chapter;

(c) Monitor the conduct and practice of veterinarians licensed by the Division in accordance with this chapter;

(d) Recommend the scratching of any racing animal the veterinarian considers to be unsound or unfit to race;

(e) Inquire into any violation concerning a practicing veterinarian, and counsel the stewards, judges, or Division investigators concerning such violations of rules;

(f) Investigate any illness of racing animals exhibiting symptoms suggestive of any infectious, contagious or epizootic disease;

(g) Inspect stables and greyhound compound areas for general health and safety requirements;

(h) Recommend to the stewards or judges that a special urine or blood sample be collected from any racing animal that he/she suspects is not performing according to form; and

(i) Perform such other duties as the Division may from time to time require.

(2) Each racing animal permitholder shall employ a veterinarian (the track or permitholder veterinarian) who is licensed by and in good standing with the Florida State Board of Veterinary Medicine pursuant to Chapter 474, F.S. It is the duty of the general manager to ensure that the requirements of rules pertaining to the track veterinarian are strictly complied with.

(a) Every racing animal entered to race shall be given a pre-race examination on the day of the race to determine the entry’s fitness to race. The pre-race examination shall be made by the track veterinarian.

1. Horses shall be examined prior to racing. All bandages shall be removed by the groom and the entry exercised outside the stall so the track veterinarian can determine the physical condition of the entry.

2. Racing greyhounds shall be examined by the track veterinarian at the first weighing-in time, before entry into the lock-out kennel (Jenny pit).

(b) The track veterinarian shall observe the condition of all racing animals immediately prior to, during, and after the race. Any racing animal which has been entered to race that the track veterinarian or division veterinarian considers to be unsound for racing shall be promptly reported to the stewards or judges and said animal shall be scratched.

(c) The track veterinarian shall maintain a list to be known as the “Veterinarian’s List” upon which the veterinarian shall enter the name of any racing animal which the veterinarian considers unfit, unsound or not ready for racing. Any racing animal placed on the Veterinarian’s List shall be refused entry until the track veterinarian removes its name from the list. A trainer or kennel owner may appeal any decision to place a racing animal on the Veterinarian’s List to the stewards or judges.

(d) The track veterinarian shall perform such other reasonable duties pertaining to the health and welfare of the racing animals as shall be directed by the stewards, judges, or the Division.

(3) Any veterinarian duly licensed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida and desiring to practice on the grounds of a permitholder (practicing veterinarian) must be licensed by the Division.

(a) Practicing veterinarians shall not furnish, sell or loan any hypodermic syringe, hypodermic needle or other device which could be used for injection, infusion or other administration into a racing animal of any medication, drug or compound (natural or synthetic). Only one-time disposable syringes and infusion tubes are authorized for use in the treatment of racing animals by veterinarians practicing on the grounds of a permitholder and said syringes must be properly disposed of following their use.

(b) Practicing veterinarians who prescribe or use any drug, medication, compound (natural or synthetic) or treatment which contains a legend or proprietary drug, medication, or medicinal compound (natural or synthetic) which may restrict the racing ability of a racing animal for a period of time, shall at the time of prescribing or use deliver to the racing animal’s trainer of record or their designee when witnessed to, a written statement setting forth the date, the name of the animal, and the name of said drug, medication or compound (natural or synthetic), the effect and reason so prescribed and used. A copy of this statement shall be available upon the request of the Division veterinarian, track veterinarian or stewards/judges. Any illness with unusual symptoms shall immediately be reported by the trainer, kennel owner/operator or attending veterinarian to the Division veterinarian, track veterinarian or steward/judge.

(4)(a) Practicing veterinarians shall maintain records of all racing animals treated and of all medications sold or dispensed. These records shall include the names of the racing animals, their trainer or kennel owner of record, the date, time, amount and type of medication, drug or compound (natural or synthetic), method of administration, and diagnosis. These records shall be retained for at least 24 months and shall be available for inspection by Division personnel.

(b) Practicing veterinarians shall not possess or possess with intent to sell, dispense, deliver or cause to be on the grounds of any pari-mutuel facility, any legend or proprietary drugs, medications or medicinal compounds (natural or synthetic) that are not in compliance with the provisions of Chapters 465, 474, 499, and 893, F.S.

(5) The track veterinarian, the Division veterinarian and any practicing veterinarian who furnishes professional services at a race meeting are prohibited:

(a) From possessing any ownership, directly or indirectly, in any racing animal racing during the meeting at which the veterinarian is employed or practicing; and,

(b) From placing any wager for any thing of value on the outcome of any race conducted at the meeting at which the veterinarian is employed or practicing.

(6)(a) No veterinarian employed by a permitholder or by the Division shall be permitted, during the period of employment (30 days prior to the meet, until the completion of the meet), to treat or prescribe for any racing animal participating in a pari-mutuel meeting for compensation or otherwise, except in cases of emergency, or as otherwise authorized by the Division. In all cases where emergency treatment is rendered, a full and complete report of such treatment shall be made to the Division. No owner or trainer shall employ or pay compensation to any such veterinarian, either directly or indirectly, during the period for which he/she is so employed by the Division or a permitholder unless otherwise authorized by the Division.

(b) As an exception to this section, greyhound permitholders may direct their track veterinarians to adopt a schedule for and perform the administration of testosterone for the control of estrus to female racing greyhounds, and required inoculations for all racing greyhounds. The costs of such administrations shall be determined by contractual agreement.

(7) No horse shall be allowed to enter, start, or be stabled on the grounds of a pari-mutuel facility unless a copy of a valid negative original Coggin’s Test certificate, within one year of the date on which the sample was drawn, is presented and on file with the permitholder.

(8)(a) All racing animals shall be inoculated for infectious, contagious, and epizootic diseases including the following, and given boosters as recommended by veterinarians:

1. Canine: Each of the following, once per year: Distemper, Adenovirus (Hepatitis), Leptospirosis, Para-Influenza, Parvo, Bordetella bronchiseptica and Rabies.

2. Equine: Mandatory (unless the attending veterinarian, based upon the veterinarian’s professional judgement, as indicated in the animal’s veterinary records, determines that inoculation is contraindicated) at least as often as recommended by the vaccine manufacturer unless additional inoculations are required by the attending veterinarian: Influenza, Equine Encephalitis, and Rhinopneumonitis. Any other inoculation shall occur as recommended by the attending veterinarian.

(b) Proof of vaccination for each active or inactive racing greyhound must be kept on file by the kennel owner/operator, trainer of record and be subject to inspection by the Division, provided, however, that failure to possess such proof shall not be the basis for disciplinary action if proof of inoculation can be secured through the treating veterinarian. Proof of vaccination and a Coggin’s Test certificate for racing horses must be kept on file with the trainer of record and be subject to inspection by the division, provided, however, that failure to possess such proof shall not be the basis for disciplinary action if proof of inoculation and/or Coggin’s Test can be secured through the treating veterinarian or the Florida race track where the horse is stabled.

(9) Any veterinarians practicing on the grounds of a permitholder shall promptly report to the Division veterinarian, track veterinarian or in their absence, the stewards/judges, any inhumane, illegal, or improper treatment of a racing animal that comes to their attention. The failure to do so will be considered a violation of these rules.

(10) Any veterinarian who euthanizes a greyhound shall:

(a) Use only one-time disposable syringes in compliance with paragraph (3)(a) of this rule; and,

(b) Maintain all records required by paragraph (4)(a) of this rule.

Rulemaking Authority 120.80(4)(a), 550.0251(3), (11), 550.2415(6)(b), (12) FS. Law Implemented 550.0251, 550.2415(6)(b) FS. History–New 10-20-96, Amended 12-15-97, 4-12-06, 7-20-10, 1-10-16.