EMERGENCY RULES
Purpose: To adopt, on an emergency basis, a new section in chapter 260-70 WAC to prevent persons from administering to race horses any bicarbonate or alkalizing substance that effectively alters the serum or plasma pH or concentration of bicarbonates or total carbon dioxide in a race horse on race day.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 67.16.020 and 67.16.040.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: This new section addresses substances that can be administered to a racehorse on race day, and is needed on an emergency basis to preserve the health and safety of the horse and rider and to protect the general welfare of the betting public, until the permanent rule can be adopted.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: August 11, 2005.
R. M. Leichner
Executive Secretary
The official veterinarian, the board of stewards or the executive secretary acting on behalf of the commission may at their discretion and at any time order the collection of test samples from any horses present either in the horse's stall or within the receiving or test barn to determine the serum or plasma pH or concentration of bicarbonate, total carbon dioxide, or electrolytes.
Test samples shall not exceed 37.0 millimoles of total carbon dioxide concentration per liter of serum or plasma. A serum or plasma total carbon dioxide level exceeding this value shall constitute a violation of this rule. Penalties shall be assessed as a Class 4 violation as provided in WAC 260-84-110.
Split samples will be taken from all horses entered to run in race when bicarbonate testing is to be done. When split samples are taken, they shall be shipped as soon as practical to the commission-approved laboritories for total carbon dioxide split sample testing. The commission shall be responsible for the cost of shipping and testing of split samples taken under this section.
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Reviser's note: The spelling error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.