Transcript Veterinary Input to the Control of Horse Racing in Hong Kong

New Veterinary Import Conditions for All
Racehorses Permanently Imported into
Hong Kong
Veterinary Department
Hong Kong Jockey Club
Objective
The Stewards of the Hong Kong Jockey Club have
decided , from 1 July 2002, to enforce compulsory
veterinary screening to attempt to identify actual or
potential problems in horses prior to import into
Hong Kong; and therefore protect owners from
receiving horses with pre-existing problems.
Pre-export veterinary examination
1. to be organised by the Hong Kong Jockey Club's
appointed shipping agents and conducted by veterinary
surgeons in the country of export who should be suitably
qualified and not connected with the horse in any way.
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2. to be performed during the month prior to the horse's
entry into Hong Kong pre-export quarantine.
Part I - 5 stage vetting
A standard 5-stage examination:
l Preliminary examination (at rest)
l Trot-up (in-hand)
l Strenuous exercise (ridden)
l Rest period
l Second trot-up and examination
-The horse MUST undergo the ridden strenuous exercise examination
for proper evaluation of its wind, heart and action.
Conditions NOT ACCEPTABLE for import into Hong
Kong
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g.
Blind in one eye
Cryptorchid (“rig”)
Wobbler syndrome/ Neurological problem e.g. EPM
Persistent lameness
Previous history of epistaxis (EIPH)
Previous history of heart irregularity
Previous history of any neurectomy (“denerving”)
Conditions NOT RECOMMENDED for import into Hong Kong
a. Vices- crib biting, weavers, box walker, wind sucker, etc
b. Hoof quarter crack, chronic hoof distortion and poor foot
conformation
Part II- Radiographic examination
l
42 X-ray images of stifles, hocks, knees, fetlocks
and front feet.
Conditions NOT ACCEPTABLE for import into Hong Kong
Sesamoid Fractures
Articular bone fragment(s) causing lameness
Laminitis
Advanced degenerative joint disease
Bone cyst depending on location and severity
Conditions NOT RECOMMENDED for import into Hong Kong
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OCD lesion depending on location and severity
Fractures depending on location and severity
Ring bone
Part III- Endoscopic Examination
Part III- Endoscopic examination
Conditions NOT ACCEPTABLE for import into Hong Kong:
l Complete laryngeal paralysis (“Roarer”)
l Ethmoid haematoma
l Persistent dorsal displacement of soft palate
l Pharyngeal/ laryngeal developmental anomalies e.g. deformed
palato-pharyngeal arch, hypoplastic epiglottis, etc
l Epistaxis (EIPH)
Conditions NOT RECOMMENDED for import into Hong
Kong:
l Entrapped epiglottis
Part IV- Ultrasonographic Examination
l
Both foreleg tendons and suspensory ligament with branches to be
examined by ultrasound scan.
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Conditions NOT ACCEPTABLE for import into Hong Kong:
pre-existing tendon or suspensory injury with core lesion or fibre
disruption or enlargement
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Blood Test for Analgesic Drug
l
A blood sample will be taken after the 5
stage vetting to test for Non- Steroidal Antiinflammatory Drug (NSAID).
l This is to ensure that the horse has not been
under “pain relief” drug during the
veterinary examination.
PASS/ FAIL
– Should a difference of opinion occur between
the primary examining veterinary surgeon and
the Club's appointed second opinion veterinary
surgeon, then all findings MUST be forwarded
to the Club. The findings will be evaluated by
the Club's Veterinary Surgeons who will discuss
them with the (intended) owner and the
(intended) trainer, following which a decision
will be made on whether or not to import the
horse.
Tendon Injury
Stifle Bone Cyst
Fractured Sesamoid
Suspensory Ligament Injury
Roarer