16 Tex. Admin. Code § 319.4 - Veterinarians

(a) A greyhound racetrack shall employ at least one association veterinarian to perform the duties described by this section.

(b) The commission shall employ at least one veterinarian at each greyhound racetrack and at least two veterinarians at each horse racetrack.

(c) The commission veterinarians shall oversee the association veterinarian and all veterinarians practicing at a racetrack and may:

(1) observe any of a veterinarian's practices at the racetrack; and

(2) require a veterinarian to report at any time regarding the veterinarian's practices at the racetrack.

(d) The commission and association veterinarians shall report to the stewards or racing judges an alleged violation of the Act or a rule of the commission by a veterinarian.

(e) The association veterinarians must be licensed by the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

(f) The commission veterinarians shall advise the stewards or racing judges on all veterinary matters and shall:

(1) maintain the veterinarian's list as required by these rules;

(2) conduct pre-race examinations as required by these rules;

(3) attend to the race animals in the paddock, on the track, at the starting gate, and during the running of the race at a horse racetrack;

(4) supervise the operation of the test barn or test area and the collection of specimens for testing;

(5) maintain the list of permissible trace levels of drugs which are therapeutic and necessary for the treatment of illness or injury in race animals;

(6) conduct stable area and kennel inspections to ensure that race animals are housed in a safe, humane, and sanitary environment;

(7) maintain a database of all racing-related injuries incurred at the track; and

(8) perform any other duties imposed on the commission veterinarian by these rules, or the commission, or the executive secretary.

(g) An association veterinarian shall:

(1) be present at each official schooling and each official race performance;

(2) provide emergency care to greyhounds acutely injured or stressed while at the racetrack; and

(3) perform any other duties imposed on the association veterinarian by these rules, the commission, or the executive secretary.

(h) During the term of an association veterinarian's employment, it is not a conflict of interest for the veterinarian to:

(1) dispense or administer medications or biologicals sold only by veterinary suppliers to licensed veterinarians;

(2) provide emergency medical treatment to injured greyhounds at no cost; or

(3) charge a fee for veterinary services performed, other than emergency services.

Notes

16 Tex. Admin. Code § 319.4

The provisions of this §319.4 adopted to be effective August 14, 1989, 14 TexReg 3802; amended to be effective January 10, 1990, 15 TexReg 28; amended to be effective November 29, 1990, 15 TexReg 6590; amended to be effective November 1, 1998, 23 TexReg 10637.