SECTION 325:20-1-22. Duties of the Racing Veterinarian

  The Racing Veterinarian must be a graduate veterinarian and licensed to practice in the State of Oklahoma. The Racing Veterinarian shall be present in the paddock on the racing course, and at the starting gate during the saddling, the parade, and until the horses are dispatched from the gate for the race; shall examine any horse when there is a question as to the physical condition of such a horse; and, as the Stewards or the Official Veterinarian require, shall conduct pre-race examinations of entered horses. He or she shall report any horse, which in their opinion is incapable of physically exerting its best effort to win, to the Stewards, who may scratch such horse from the race. The Racing Veterinarian shall examine any horse which appears in physical distress during the race, at the finish of the race; and s/he shall report such horse together with their opinion as to the cause of the distress to the Stewards and to the Official Veterinarian. No Racing Veterinarian shall directly treat or prescribe for any horse scheduled to participate during their term of appointment at any recognized meeting except in an emergency. The Racing Veterinarian has the authority to treat any horse in the event of an emergency, accident or injury; and s/he is authorized to humanely destroy any horse which in their opinion is so seriously injured that it is in the best interests of racing to so act; and every horse owner and Trainer participating in Commission- licensed racing does consent to the humane destruction of such animal. In the case of a horse which has suffered a catastrophic injury, the Racing Veterinarian may obtain a blood sample from the injured horse prior to taking any humane actions necessary. If the trainer is immediately available, he or she may witness the collection process. If the trainer is not immediately available to witness the collection process, any other Commission-licensed individual shall act as the witness to the collection process.

[Source: Amended at 29 Ok Reg 1221, eff 6-25-12]