The Jockey Club today released a statement commending Breeders’ Cup Limited for its decision to eliminate race-day medication in its championship events, and further encouraged the Thoroughbred industry to take steps to reform medication policies and impose stronger penalties on those who violate them.

“The Jockey Club applauds the exemplary leadership that Breeders’ Cup Limited has displayed with its plan to eliminate race-day medications in its championship events over the next two years,” said James L. Gagliano, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Jockey Club. “As we said back in April, the integrity of horse racing and the health and safety of our human and equine athletes requires horses to compete free from the influence of medication.

We hope that other industry stakeholders, and particularly state racing commissions, will see the wisdom of the Breeders’ Cup decision and will reconsider many of the medication policies, drug classifications and penalty structures we currently have in place. Our policies should mirror those in the rest of the racing world and prevent chronic offenders from having a continued place in our sport.

“We urge the members of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium and the Racing Commissioners International at their upcoming meetings to continue the momentum to reform these rules and policies.”