Virginia Law

A. Examination of bleeders. A horse that is alleged to have bled in Virginia must be physically examined by the commission veterinarian or a practicing veterinarian who is a permit holder in order to confirm the horse's inclusion on the bleeder list. The veterinarian may conclude a horse is a bleeder under the following circumstances:

1. If the examination takes place immediately following the race or exercise and before the horse leaves the racing surface or test barn, a veterinarian may conclude the horse is a bleeder and an endoscopic examination is not required for inclusion on the bleeder list; or

2. If the examination takes place after the horse leaves the racing surface but within 90 minutes following the finish of a race or exercise in which the horse participated, a veterinarian shall require an endoscopic examination for inclusion on the bleeder list.

B. Confirmation of a bleeder. The commission veterinarian or practicing veterinarian who is a permit holder shall decide, based upon the standard of care a reasonable veterinarian should exercise in similar circumstances, whether the horse suffers from exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage and should be placed on the bleeder list. The confirmation of a bleeder shall be certified in writing by the commission veterinarian or practicing veterinarian, and the horse shall be placed on the bleeder list. The confirmation of a bleeder shall be filed with the commission within three days of the confirmation. Upon request, a copy of the certification shall be provided to the owner of the horse or his agent.

C. Posting of bleeder list. The bleeder list shall be maintained by the stewards, with the assistance of the commission veterinarian, and shall be made available upon request. No horse shall be removed from the bleeder list without the approval of the stewards.

D. Recovery period. If it is determined that a horse has bled as determined by this chapter, the horse shall be placed on the bleeders list and may not be permitted to race for at least 14 days. If a horse is determined to have bled within 365 days of the first occurrence, or if the horse bleeds externally on the track or in the test barn while on furosemide, the horse may not race for the following periods of time:

1. 30 days after the first reoccurrence;

2. 90 days after the second reoccurrence; and

3. The horse shall be barred from racing forever at the race meetings licensed by the commission after the third reoccurrence.

For the purpose of counting the number of days a horse is not permitted to race in meetings licensed by the commission, the day the horse bled is the first day of the recovery period, and the horse shall be permitted to race in meetings licensed by the commission when the last day of the recovery period under this chapter expired.

E. Bleeders from other jurisdictions. The commission veterinarian may designate a horse as a bleeder from another jurisdiction based upon information received from that jurisdiction confirming that the horse is a bleeder and that the requirements for inclusion on the bleeder list in Virginia have been satisfied.