Introduction
A fundamental principle of Australian racing is that horses must race free of the pharmacological (or
toxicological) effect of drugs or other substances.
To assist in maintaining the this principle, it is not permitted to administer any treatment to a horse on race day prior to it running in a race [AR 178 E (1)]
Medication and treatment are considered equivalent under the Rules and AR 178 F (2) defines
‘treatments’ for the purposes of the Rule.
The following advice is provided to assist trainers and veterinary surgeons in interpreting some of the potential ‘grey areas’ associated with the definition of a race day treatment.
Defining a Medication
As a general principle, it may be assumed that any substance administered with the intent or hope of achieving a pharmacological effect / therapeutic effect will be defined as treatment / medication under the Rules.
Routes of Administration
Any substance administered by injection, by stomach tube, by paste, by dose syringe, by topical
application or by inhalation will be considered to be a treatment.
Only normal feeding and supplementation that can be achieved by the horse voluntarily eating or
drinking the feedstuff can be considered to be acceptable on the day of racing.
Products that claim to provide Pharmacological Effects and to be Undetectable
There are numerous products, often herbal or homeopathic preparations, that claim to provide
significant pharmacological effects such as a diuretic action, analgesia, anti-inflammatory actions or
bronchodilator actions and also claim to be undetectable by laboratory testing.
These types of products are specifically prohibited by AR 178 F (2).
If the product claims a therapeutic effect, it will be assumed that the product was administered to the horse with the intent of achieving that effect and it isa treatment, regardless of whether it is claimed to be safe, non-detectable and ‘all natural’.
Current non-detectability of the active ingredientof herbal or other product does not mean that the
substance is legal.
Testing for the active ingredient of such products may be introduced without warning and it may be
defined as a prohibited substance under AR 178 B
The Application of Hoof Oils / Dressings
The application of routine hoof oils / dressing is permitted on the day of racing with the exception that
products that contain medications or herbs that claim therapeutic effects such as analgesia or anti-inflammatory actions must be considered to be treatments under the Rules.
Shampoos
Routine, non-medicated shampoos are permitted.
Topical Applications
While topical applications are considered to be treatments, circumstances may arise when a horse may suffer a minor injury that does not affect its suitability to race but would benefit from the prophylactic application of a topical antibiotic or antiseptic treatment.
In such circumstances, a trainer may apply to the Stewards for permission to apply the treatment.
Horses having received such permission for the application of a topical medication must be inspected by an official veterinary surgeon on arrival at the racecourse.
Physical Therapy as Treatment
RV considers that certain physical and complementary therapies to be treatments which should not be administered on the day of racing.
Treatments prohibited on race day include Acupuncture (including Laser treatment), Chiropractic
manipulations, Magnetic Field Therapy, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and any
other form of electrical stimulation.
Vibratory massage systems may be used in the stable on the morning of the raceday but are not
permitted on the racecourse.
Extra-Corporeal Shock Wave Treatment (ESWT)
Shock wave treatment of racehorses is prohibited for seven clear days prior to racing (AR 64H)
The Application of Ice / Cold Water to Musculoskeletal Structures
The application of ice or chilled water, whirlpool boots or systems such as “Game Ready”, to
musculoskeletal structures on the morning of the race day are permitted but are not permitted on the racecourse prior to a horse running in a race.
Further information
Please contact the Racing Victoria Department of Equine Welfare and Veterinary Services for further
information.
 
Dr Brian Stewart
Head of Equine Welfare and Veterinary Services

I've posted the above rules so that members are fully informed of the intricacies or otherwise, when posting on the subject & it saves having to go off site to locate them 

Testaguy scratched at Mornington after alleged race day treatment | theage.com.au

by Patrick Bartley - 28/01/13, 3:53 PM
A dramatic raid by Racing Victoria stewards on Monday morning has resulted in another horse being scratched for alleged illegal race day treatment.

Pre-post favourite for the Mitavite Summer Challenge Heat Six at Mornington, Testaguy, was allegedly discovered to have been treated illegally on race day following the raid by the Racing Victoria Race Day Compliance Assurance team.

Fairfax Media understands that as the Compliance Assurance Team entered the property of trainer Nathan McPherson, the horse Testaguy was allegedly being injected in the neck. A syringe was confiscated and sent for testing and after the incident stewards at Mornington were alerted to the raid.

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Chief steward Brett Wright confirmed that the information from the Compliance Assurance Team was accurate, and Testaguy was withdrawn as a late scratching from race six at Mornington, in which the horse was one of the leading chances. Wright said that blood and urine samples were taken from Testaguy and that McPherson had also been interviewed by stewards.

It is the second incident this long weekend after Caulfield trainer Tony Vasil had his stables raided prior to Friday night's Moonee Valley meeting, which resulted in the scratching of his runner Classic Elle.

Chief Steward Terry Bailey said on Friday: "After receiving a report from the Compliance Assurance Team stewards interviewed Mr Tony Vasil prior to race one . . . on the evidence before the stewards Classic Elle was a late scratching."

An inquiry into that matter has been adjourned to a date yet to be fixed.

The Compliance Assurance team has also been associated with five other high profile cases since early spring that have lead to hefty fines and one disqualification. Racing Victoria Integrity Services have made it clear recently that they will not tolerate treatment of any type on race day and that they will come down heavily on those that breach the rules.

Whoops forget that rant, I read it wrong!!! Testaguy has McPherson as trainer........throw the book at him, he's a no-name. No doubt Vasil will get off!!!

This p*sses me off. Anyone caught treating horses on raceday should be banned for life. Cheating is Cheating. What happened to the same punishment for everyone? No-name trainers get banned whilst the high-profile trainers get a fine. This is getting way out of hand now. Time for the stewards to toughen up and start banning people left right and centre until these cheaters get the message.. I'm putting money on that McPherson will probably go for a year or so whilst Vasil will probably get a $10,000 fine. This makes my blood boil. Ban them both!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wangaratta today

Morphine and the Wild Poppy

Racing Victoria stewards scratched four horses from the stables of Kim Talent from Saturday's Mildura meeting due to possible race-day treatment offences.

RV's Compliance Assurance Team reported the possible illegal treatments after a stable inspection at Talent's Mildura stables and the matter remains ongoing with investigations to continue.

At 12:11pm on Saturday, stewards withdrew Deejay Bobo (Race 1), Anticipate (Race 2), Whitsunday (Race 3) and Penny Ella (Race 4).

Talent has only been licensed since last year and has won four races from 30 runners.