Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association

Coggins Reminder

June 17, 2010

This memo is to clarify the Racing Commission’s rules on equine infectious anemia (EIA) and coggins tests.

Rule 3769-15-32(C) states in part that “No horse shall be admitted to any race track facilities in Ohio without having had a negative official test for equine infectious anemia within twelve months.

It shall be the responsibility of the trainer to see that each horse’s test results are current, and the racing secretary’s office will record such in the United States Trotting Association computer after the trainer’s [sic] present the negative coggins test papers to the racing office upon arrival in the barn area.”

Rule 3769-14-41(A)(4) states in part that “…no horse infected with equine infectious anemia , or a carrier thereof, shall race.”

In order to ensure that no horse races with EIA, no entries shall be taken unless the trainer has negative coggins test papers.

Any trainer who enters a horse without current negative coggins test papers may be fined, with the recommended fine starting at $100.00.

Any Racing Secretary who allows a horse to enter without current negative coggins test papers may be fined, with the recommended fine starting at $100.00.

The Judges shall scratch any horse which does not present proof of negative coggins test papers and fine the trainer and Racing Secretary accordingly.

This rule is in effect due to state and federal laws enforced by the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture. The USDA mandates that all positive EIA tests be forwarded to them for review.

Ohio law requires that all horses with EIA either be sold for immediate slaughter, euthanized by the owner at the owner’s expense, or held in continuous isolation at least two hundred yards from all non-quarantined horses and related animals.

EIA can be transmitted by biting and bloodsucking flies, blood, saliva, milk, and body secretions. A horse may also not appear to have any symptoms of the disease, yet may still test positive for EIA antibodies and pass on the disease.

Please contact Deputy Director John Izzo at 614-466-2757 should you have any questions.

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Coggins Reminder