TUCSON, AZ—JANUARY 23, 2020—Rillito Park racetrack will expand its Equine Wellness Program in the 2020 Season. One of the first programs of its kind in the country, Rillito Race Track implemented the program during 2019 with resounding success with no horse breakdowns during 96 races.

The Rillito Park Equine Wellness Program creates a racing environment where the health and safety of horses and riders is a primary objective. All horses are monitored by University of Arizona interns every time they are on the track – whether training or racing.

With the Rillito Equine Wellness Program, past performance information and available veterinary records are monitored on all horses stabled on the grounds and entered to race. Rillito participates in The Jockey Club Equine Injury Database recording all injuries and incidents requiring regulatory veterinary intervention. Any horse with questionable soundness is subject to veterinary examination.

"This season all third party Lasix will be administered by track veterinarians under the supervision of Dan Fick, former executive director of the Jockey Club and executive director of racing for the American Quarter Horse Association," said Mike Weiss, general manager of the 77-year-old track. Track veterinarian Chuck Hoover, DVM, who administered third party Lasix for over half of the horses at Rillito in 2019, will join with Larry Shamus, DVM, to administer third party Lasix to 100% of the horses entered to race at Rillito this season.

"At Rillito we focus on creating a racing environment with the safety of horse and rider as our primary objective. Administering third party Lasix to race horses by track veterinarians will ensure regulatory oversight and racing integrity," said Fick who oversees the Rillito Equine Wellness Program.

The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and other organizations recognize the therapeutic benefits of the drug furosemide – commonly known as Lasix – to help mitigate the occurrence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in racehorses.

The reason for third party Lasix (where the regulatory veterinarians employed by the track or state racing commission to administer Lasix at four hours prior to the race) is to eliminate the opportunity to add additional medications to the Lasix syringe (identified as a problem in the past by state racing regulatory authorities). Third Party Lasix administration is mandated by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium; is an Association of Racing Commissioners International Model Rule; and is reported to be endorsed by the American Quarter Horse Association, The Jockey Club Safety Committee, the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance.

The 2020 season includes 14 days of racing over seven weekends beginning Feb. 8. Featured this year will be the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales as well as a weekend with Mine That Bird, the 50-1 winner of the Kentucky Derby, including the actual winning trophy. Post times for Saturday and Sunday racing is 1:30 p.m. (MST)

Rillito Race Track will air simulcasts for pari-mutuel wagering from tracks around the country. Bert W. Martin Foundation and Chandler Warden provide major funding of Rillito Park Foundation. For information about the race meet, table reservations and sponsorships, visit rillitoracetrack.com or call 520-RILLITO.

About Rillito Park
Rillito Racing Inc. has an agreement with Pima County to operate the track under the auspices of Rillito Park Foundation through 2021. Rillito Park Foundation has a memorandum of understanding with The University of Arizona College of Agriculture & Life Sciences for an Internship Program at Rillito Park providing students real-world opportunities in a variety of disciplines including racetrack management, veterinary, equine wellness, marketing, hospitality, retailing and more.

The park is on the National Register of Historic Places. The facility is the site of horse racing, the Jelk's Farm Stud House, the largest farmer's market in southern Arizona, athletic fields, special events and festivals and is in the Pima County Park system.