TRAINERS can expect news next week on whether the ban on having Regumate in a licensed yard will remain in place.

Regumate Equine is a hormonal treatment for fillies and mares which helps regulate their cycle. While it is mainly used on breeding stock, trainers have been known to use it on fillies in training to stop them from coming in season near racetime. The product contains altrenogest, a synthetic progestogen, and tests carried out late last year returned positive for the steroid trendione or trenbolone.

In September the British Horseracing Authority ruled that “the possession, use or attempted use, and administration or attempted administration of these products could amount to breaches of the Rules of Racing” and “may result in a 14 month suspension from racing and a 12 month mandatory stand down from racing for the horse in addition to other penalties.”

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board quickly followed suit though its chief veterinary officer Lynn Hillyer said at the time she hoped it would be “a temporary measure”. The ban was of great concern to the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association whose chief executive Michael Grassick noted that a lot of small trainers are also breeders and could have Regumate on their premises.

This week the BHA and the Thoroughbred Breeders Association in Britain issued a reminder to “trainers and other industry participants to remove altrenogest-containing products … from all licensed premises, and not to administer any product containing altrenogest to a thoroughbred from birth until permanent retirement from racing.”

Asked for an update on the Irish situation, Dr Hillyer said: “This matter is going before the IHRB board on Tuesday. We mirrored the BHA advice in September and we then waited for the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities meeting in Hong Kong in December, where the use of altrenogest in racing was a major discussion point. However, there was a difference of opinion internationally.

“At European level we had planned to revisit the issue in February at a meeting of the European Horserace Scientific Liaison Committee but the scientific evidence we had been hoping for had not been completed. So our position remains as it was in September. I have been actively reviewing it and have put my position to the IHRB board for consideration. Next Tuesday’s meeting should clarify matters.”

Regumate can be used legitimately on fillies in training in France as long as trainers observe the detection time. The product is not allowed to be used on colts and geldings at any time.