SECTION 325:40-1-8. Postmortem examination

(a)   Every horse, which dies or suffers a breakdown on the racetrack in training or in competition within any enclosure licensed by the Commission and is destroyed, shall undergo, at a time and place acceptable to the official veterinarian, a postmortem examination to the extent reasonably necessary to determine the injury or sickness which resulted in euthanasia or natural death. Any other horse which expires within any enclosure may be required by the official veterinarian to undergo a postmortem examination.

(b)   All licensees shall be required to comply with postmortem examination requirements as a condition of licensure.

(c)   In addition to the postmortem examination of the horse, the official veterinarian, stewards or Commission may request veterinary treatment records, training charts, race video, and interviews with personnel charged with the care, handling, and welfare of the horse in question.

(d)   The postmortem examination shall be conducted by a Commission approved program in consultation with the official veterinarian who may be present at such postmortem examination.

(e)   Biological samples may be obtained from the carcass upon which the postmortem examination is conducted and may be sent to a laboratory approved by the Commission for analysis. The detection of a prohibited substance, permitted substance exceeding listed threshholds, naturally occurring substance exceeding listed thresholds or exceeding concentrations that the substance may naturally occur in a postmortem biological sample shall constitute prima facie evidence that a substance violation occurred and may, at the discretion of the Stewards or Commission, result in summary suspension of the responsible trainer, disqualification of the horse, and other penalties authorized by the Act and the rules of the Commission.

[Source: Amended at 30 Ok Reg 510, eff 5-15-13; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 1530, eff 9-14-18]