With the large concentration of graded stakes races scheduled for spring and summer, The Jockey Club is reminding regulatory authorities and racetracks that it has budgeted another $250,000 in grants for out-of-competition testing to supplement the efforts of racetracks that will be hosting graded stakes races in 2015.

The funding is designed to encourage more out-of-competition testing for the presence of blood doping agents as well as RCI Class 1 substances.

Racetracks in California, Florida, Kentucky and New York as well the province of Ontario (Woodbine) participated in the program in 2014.

Gulfstream Park was the first racetrack to use the Graded Stakes Out-of-Competition Testing Grant Fund, which was announced at The Jockey Club’s Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing in August 2013. At that time, The Jockey Club committed to out-of-competition funding of $250,000 for both 2014 and 2015.

“Out-of-competition testing has become standard operating procedure for a growing number of amateur and professional sports, and we can further ensure the integrity of Thoroughbred racing by following their example,” said James L. Gagliano, president and COO of The Jockey Club. “We were pleased to see several groups use The Jockey Club funding to enhance their respective drug-testing programs last year, and we expect more of them to do so in 2015.”

A Thoroughbred racetrack’s participation in the Graded Stakes Out-of-Competition Testing Grant Fund is voluntary. Thoroughbred racetracks that elect to participate in the fund may receive reimbursement to defray some of the costs associated with out-of-competition testing subject to certain criteria.

Racetracks interested in participating in the Graded Stakes Out-of-Competition Testing Grant Fund in 2015 should contact The Jockey Club for more information.

To be eligible for reimbursement from the grant fund:

1. Tests should be conducted on samples collected from nominees to graded stakes races no closer than seven days before the race.
2. Racetracks may apply for reimbursement upon written request to The Jockey Club that includes invoices and other supporting documentation for the charges.
3. In addition, all requests for reimbursement must include the following information:
1. The graded stakes race that the grant fund was used to test
2. The number of horses sampled
3. The number of horses sampled that started in the graded stakes race

The graded stakes that are available for out-of-competition funding from The Jockey Club are those scheduled for March 28, 2015, or later.

The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club, directly or through subsidiaries, provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives, and it serves the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans and farms. It is the sole funding source for America’s Best Racing, the broad-based fan development initiative for Thoroughbred racing. You can follow America’s Best Racing at americasbestracing.net. Additional information is available at jockeyclub.com.