Minnesota Administrative Rules

7891.0110 POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION.

Subpart 1.

Horses that must undergo postmortem examination.

A.

Every horse which suffers a breakdown at a licensed racetrack under the jurisdiction of the commission, in training or in competition, and which is euthanized, and every horse which expires while stabled at a licensed racetrack under the jurisdiction of the commission, shall undergo a postmortem examination to be conducted by a pathologist at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to determine the injury or illness which resulted in euthanasia or natural death.

B.

Mane hairs excepted, the horse must be delivered with all body parts attached and nonmutilated.

C.

Accidental dismemberment for any reason shall be immediately reported to a commission veterinarian, executive director, and deputy director.

D.

A Class B or D license holder is responsible for furnishing transportation, within six hours of death, to deliver a horse to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

Subp. 2.

Test samples to be taken for analysis.

A.

Test samples must be obtained from every horse that dies or is euthanized from a training or race-related injury.

(1)

For Thoroughbreds, the samples are collected according to HISA rules under part 7892.0105 and submitted to Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit.

(2)

For Quarter Horses and Standardbreds, the samples shall be sent for analysis to the official testing laboratory under part 7892.0130 and the commission may direct the laboratory to retain and preserve such samples for future analysis.

B.

Hair samples shall be obtained prior to or after euthanasia. When practical, both blood and urine test samples shall be obtained prior to euthanasia.

Subp. 3.

Owner and trainer responsible.

The owner and attending trainer are responsible for reporting to the commission veterinarian the death of a horse within one hour of its death, and for having the postmortem examination performed in accordance with this part.

Subp. 4.

Report of injury or death.

A.

A report of each deceased horse shall be filed with the commission within 72 hours of the horse's death on a form prepared by the commission.

B.

For Thoroughbreds, notification of death must be submitted to HISA within 24 hours.

C.

For Thoroughbreds, an injury requiring transportation by an ambulance must be reported to HISA within 24 hours. For Thoroughbreds, other injuries not requiring transportation by ambulance must be submitted to HISA within one week.

Subp. 5

Postmortem reports.

A.

For Thoroughbreds, initial and updated postmortem reports must be submitted to HISA within 72 hours of receipt.

B.

For Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, information obtained from each specific post-mortem report is documented in the Jockey Club's equine injury database.

C.

Final postmortem reports are provided to the trainer and trainer's veterinarian and reviewed by the Mortality Review Committee.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 240.03; 240.13; 240.15; 240.16; 240.19; 240.23; 240.24

History:

9 SR 2527; 16 SR 484; 24 SR 1568; 33 SR 2095; 35 SR 627; 40 SR 1393; 46 SR 1210; 49 SR 1123

Published Electronically:

April 16, 2025