http://bluebook.state.or.us/kids/symbols/seal.jpg

 

OREGON RACING COMMISSION    

800 N.E. Oregon Street, Suite 310

Portland, Oregon 97232

971-673-0207; 971-673-0213 fax

http://racing.oregon.gov

 

Fiscal Advisory Committee Meeting – Rule Amendment OAR 462-140-0320 (6)(h)(ii) Immunization

 

  Wednesday, March 18, 2026

 

The Advisory Committee will meet Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will be held via videoconference  Meeting ID: 277 838 674 234 79 Passcode: xC7D6my9

Dial in by phone +1 503-446-4951,,614841529# United States, Portland Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 614 841 529#

 

AGENDA ITEMS

 

1.       Call to order

2.       Review of rule amendment and recommendations

3.       Discuss impact and provide recommendations

4.       Closing remarks

5.       Meeting adjourned

 

 

 

 

OAR 462-140-0320 (6) (j) Proposed Amendment

Trainer

1) The trainer shall be responsible for and shall be the absolute insurer of the condition of horses entered in an official workout or race, regardless of the acts of third persons.

 

(a) The trainer is responsible for the presence of any prohibited drug, medication or other substance, including permitted medication in excess of the maximum allowable level, in such horses. A positive test for a prohibited drug, medication or substance, including permitted medication in excess of the maximum allowable level, as reported by a commission approved laboratory, is prima facie evidence of a violation of this rule.

 

(b) If any of the trainer's duties are delegated to other personnel, the trainer remains responsible if those jobs are not properly done.

 

(c) The trainer shall be responsible for the condition and contents of stalls, tack rooms, and other areas which have been assigned to the trainer by the association.

 

(2) No trainer shall practice his/her profession except under the trainer's real and true name.

 

(3) A trainer is responsible for insuring that all employees and owners under his/her supervision, and any other person who assists the trainer in the performance of his/her duties, are properly licensed with the commission and shall report to the commission within 24 hours the discharge or change of any permanent employee.

 

(4) When a trainer is unable to perform the duties required of the trainer for a period of more than 24 hours, the trainer shall promptly notify the stewards and shall recommend another qualified person to assume the responsibilities of the trainer, subject to approval of the stewards. The trainer shall immediately advise the stewards when the regular trainer resumes his/her duties.

 

(5) The trainer shall ensure that all horses under his/her care are in sound racing condition and are eligible under the conditions of the race before entering a horse in any race. If a trainer discovers that an entered horse is ineligible or no longer meets all entry requirements and conditions of the race, or is not in sound racing condition, the trainer shall immediately notify the racing secretary and submit any required form. A horse is not in sound racing condition if it is ill, lame, injured, not properly plated, is blind, or its vision is seriously impaired in both eyes.

 

(6) It shall be the responsibility of the trainer to:

 

(a) Attend their horse in the paddock, saddle and/or supervise the saddling of the horse, unless the permission of the stewards has been given to send another licensed trainer as a substitute.

 

(b) Maintain the assigned stable area in a clean, neat and sanitary condition at all times:

 

(c) Ensure that fire prevention rules are strictly observed in the assigned stable area.

 

(d) Ensure the proper identity, custody, care, health, condition and safety of horses in his/her charge.

 

(e) Disclose the true and entire ownership of each horse in his/her care, custody or control. Any change in ownership shall be reported immediately to, and approved by, the stewards and recorded by the racing secretary.

 

(f) Train all horses owned wholly or in part by him/her which are participating at the meeting.

 

(g) Register with the racing secretary each horse in his/her charge within 24 hours of the arrival on association grounds.

 

(h) Ensure that, at the discretion of the Oregon Racing Commission, upon arrival at a licensed racetrack, each horse in his/her care is accompanied by a valid health certificate which shall be filed with the racing secretary.

 

(i) All equines must have a negative Official Test for equine infectious anemia (EIA) conducted within six months prior to entry onto any racetrack or training track under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Racing Commission. The negative EIA test shall be filed as evidence with the racing secretary.

 

(j) All equines must have proof of Influenza and Rhinopneumonitis vaccinations within the prior 180 days to enter of any racetrack or training track under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Racing Commission. The date of vaccination, name of vaccine and serial number shall be filed as evidence with the racing secretary.

 

 

(kj) Use the services of those veterinarians licensed by the Commission to attend horses that are on association grounds.

 

(lk) Promptly report the death of any horse in his/her care on association grounds to the commission veterinarian and to maintain compliance with the rules in governing post-mortem examinations.

 

(ml) Maintain knowledge of medication record and status of all horses in his/her care.

 

(nm) Immediately report to the stewards and the official veterinarian if he/she knows, or has cause to believe, that a horse in his/her custody, care or control has received any prohibited drug or medication.

 

(on) Represent an owner in making entries and scratches.

 

(po) Ensure the fitness of a horse to perform creditably at the distance entered.

 

(qp) Ensure that his/her horses are properly shod, bandaged and equipped.

 

(rq) Attend the collection of urine or blood sample from the horse in his/her charge or delegate a licensed representative or the owner of the horse to do so.

 

(sr) Notify horse owners upon the revocation or suspension of his/her trainer’s license. Upon application by the owner, the stewards may approve the transfer of such horses to the care of another licensed trainer, and upon such approved transfer, such horses may be entered to race.

 

(7) No trainer shall remove or permit to be removed from the racecourse any horse under his or her care without written permission of the racing secretary.

 

(8) The trainer shall see to it that the foal certificate of any horse in his/her care shows if a horse has been nerved, and shall verify that the horse's name is on the list of nerved horses posted by the racing secretary, and shall inform the commission veterinarian of any nerved horses.

 

(9) No trainer shall employ a jockey for the purpose of preventing the jockey from riding in any race.

 

(10) Any trainer that accepts the responsibility, either whole or in part, for the care or racing of another trainer’s horse or horses may be held equally responsible for any violation of the Oregon rules of racing that occur while in his/her care.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Reason for the rule: Requires proof of immunization for all horses entering the racetrack grounds. Increase safety to the equines on site.

 

Fiscal impact: None

 

Reference material:

https://aaep.org/resource/equine-herpesvirus-rhinopneumonitis-vaccination-guidelines/

https://aaep.org/resource/equine-influenza-vaccination-guidelines/

https://aaep.org/resource/rabies-vaccination-guidelines/

 

 

Hearing required: Yes

 

Advisory Committee Meeting: Yes

 

Statutory authority:

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 462.270(3)

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 462.270

 

 

 

Oregon Racing Commission
Immunization Rule Advisory Committee Charter

1. Purpose and Scope

The Immunization Rule Advisory Committee is convened by the Oregon Racing Commission (ORC) to provide input on proposed amendments to OAR 462-140-0320 (6) (j) requiring proof of up-to-date immunizations for equines entering licensed racetrack facilities. The committee will offer feedback on rule clarity, implementation considerations, and industry impacts.

2. Rulemaking Overview

The proposed amendments to OAR 462-140-0320 (6) (j) require that all equines entering a racetrack or training track under ORC jurisdiction provide documentation of influenza and rhinopneumonitis vaccinations within the previous 180 days. Trainers must submit the date of vaccination, vaccine name, and serial number to the Racing Secretary.

3. Advisory Committee Roles

3.1 ORC Facilitator

The facilitator encourages constructive discussion, ensures agenda alignment, and maintains meeting flow. The facilitator also identifies when discussions move outside the scope and guides the committee back to the rule under review.

3.2 Committee Members

Committee members are expected to attend meetings, review materials in advance, participate respectfully, and provide insights from their represented stakeholder groups. Members are responsible for sharing relevant information and collaborating in good faith.

3.3 ORC Staff Support

ORC staff will provide logistical support, distribute meeting materials, prepare summaries of discussions, and supply all relevant rulemaking documentation.

4. Meetings and Procedures

Meetings of this advisory committee are open to the public. Meeting dates and materials will be posted on the ORC website and distributed to the email list. The committee is expected to meet at least once, with additional meetings scheduled as needed.

5. Decision-Making

Committee discussions will inform ORC in drafting the proposed immunization rule. The committee does not vote formally; instead, ORC will consider the full range of perspectives when shaping the draft rule. A public comment period and hearing will follow the advisory committee process.

6. Public Records and Confidentiality

All committee documents, communications, and meetings are public records. Proprietary information submitted must be identified by the provider. ORC does not assume responsibility for protecting confidential business information unless explicitly exempt under Oregon law.

7. Public Involvement

All committee meetings are open to public observation. ORC may, at its discretion, allocate time for public comments. After the committee process concludes, ORC will conduct a public rulemaking process including a hearing and written comment period.



Authorized By:

_____________________________

Connie Winn, Executive Director

Oregon Racing Commission


Date: 3/3/2026

Committee Members

Name

Title

Company/Organization

Randy Boden

Executive Director

OHBPA

Ben Root

Secretary/Treasurer

OHBPA

Rob Keene, DVM

SR Professional Service Vet, Equine

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.

Steve Smith

Director of Tillamook County Fairgrounds

Tillamook County Fair

Rod Lowe

President

Southern Oregon Horse Racing Association

Rod Lowe

CEO

Horse Racing Association (Grants Pass Downs)

Connie Erickson

President

Oregon Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association

Doug Smith

President

Crooked River Roundup

Chris Philbrook

President

Oregon Quarter Horse Racing Association

Patti Harris

Board Member

Oregon Quarter Horse Racing Association

Nate Jacobs

President

Eastern Oregon Livestock Show

Lawanda Bronson

Member

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian

Raymond Huesties

Board of Trustees Treasurer

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian


ORC Staff

Name

Title

email

Dr. Carly Ross, DVM

Senior Veterinarian

Carly.Ross@orc.oregon.gov

Mike Twiggs

Presiding Steward

Mike.Twiggs@orc.oregon.gov

Chris Montecino

Chief Investigator

Chris.Montecino@orc.oregon.gov

Connie Winn

Executive Director

Connie.Winn@orc.oregon.gov

Karen Parkman

Director of Administration

Karen.Parkman@orc.oregon.gov

Maleah Thom

Administrative Specialist

Maleah.Thom@orc.oregon.gov