Racing at Santa Anita Park.

© Racing Post

The most stringent medication rules in North America will greet participants at Santa Anita in California when the controversial track reopens for racing on March 29

The track had been closed since March 5 following the deaths of 22 racehorses over a 10-week period with new regulations on race day medication to come into force to address the issue.

The announcement comes following the agreement with the course owners the Stronach Group and Thoroughbred Owners of California that the raceday administration of the anti-bleeding medication Lasix will not be permitted beginning with foals born in 2018.

The track, along with Golden Gate Fields in Northern California, will soon boast the most stringent medication rules in North America.

All horses born in or after 2018 will race at Santa Anita and Golden Gate with no raceday medication, including Lasix. That means all two-year-old horses starting in 2020 and after will race medication-free.

All horses born before 2018 will race at the two tracks owned by The Stronach Group under the same guidelines, but Lasix will still be permitted only at 50 per cent of current levels.

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This article first appeared on Racing.com and is reprinted here with their kind permission. To find out more about Racing Victoria's Off the Track program, visit rv.racing.com/the-horse/off-the-track.

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