AGCO UPDATE

HBPA
Jun 23
2 min read

Enhanced Thoroughbred Equine Welfare Rules Now in Effect

In line with our commitment to safeguarding Ontario’s racehorses, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) reminds horse racing licensees that several updated Rules of Thoroughbred Racing aimed at enhancing equine welfare are now in effect.

Effective Date: June 23, 2025

The updates introduce several key protections for racehorses while reinforcing the integrity of the sport.

What is changing?

Expanded medical history requirement – Horse medical records must now include drug names and dosage information for added transparency for new owners. Owners and trainers may now request horse medical records of intra-articular injections when a horse transfers ownership. (TB 15.09.04 (iii))

Expansion and clarity of current process for removal from the Veterinarians’ List – Horses working to come off the Veterinarians’ List are required to be examined by the Official Veterinarian prior to an official workout. A trainer mustschedule an appointment with an Official Veterinarian for removal at least 24 hours in advance of the official workout. Before the appointment, the trainer and private veterinarian must declare the horse is fit to work and co-sign a Veterinarian Statement of Fitness and submit a Regulatory Submission in iAGCO. If the Commission or Official Veterinarian identifies a horse as lame when it is presented to work off the Veterinarians’ List, it may be placed on the Veterinarians’ List for an additional 28 days and may require further diagnostics. (TB 27.09)

Faster communication – After examining a horse, Official Veterinarians must inform trainers/owners, as soon as reasonably possible, whether a horse must remain on the Veterinarians’ List or when it can be removed from the List and resume racing. (TB 27.11)

Mandatory reporting – Private veterinarians must report all intra-articular injections of the fetlock joint using the Veterinarian Medical Record Regulatory Submission in iAGCO within 24 hours of the injection. (TB 27.16.01(f))

Temporary workout restriction – Horses scratched or placed on the Veterinarians’ List by a veterinarian must wait two days before participating in an official workout. (TB 27.09.01)

Expanded examination authority – A Commission or Official Veterinarian can now examine any horse at the racetrack and inform the trainer/owner of findings as soon as reasonably possible. (TB 27.12)

Mandatory rest period after fetlock injections – Horses receiving intra-articular fetlock injections must remain on the Veterinarians’ List for 14 days before competing (TB 27.03); and cannot perform an official work to come off the Veterinarians’ List for 14 days following the injection. (TB 27.09)

Mandatory rest period for horses (Thoroughbred) – Two-year-old horses cannot race more than twice within 28 calendar days, and three-year-old and older horses cannot race more than twice within 21 calendar days. (TB 6.01.01)

Clarified race entry regulations – A horse may be entered in a race as long as it is eligible to come off the Veterinarians’ List by post time. (TB 27.08)