World Trotting Conference reports from Wednesday

Harness racing’s World Trotting Conference continued on Wednesday, August 16 in Berlin, Germany with the focus on breeding and drug testing.

Dr. Alexandra Görgens, of the Clinik for reproductive medicine for horses in Mühlen, Germany, covered the topic of Modern Breeding Methods, speaking more specifically on the practices of ovum pick up (OPU) and frozen embryo transfer.

Dr. Natascha Hamilton, Chairman of IFHA’s Gene Doping Control Sub-committee, spoke on Gene Therapy and Doping. The focus was on genetic and cellular practices, especially those that are considered to have no place in horse racing and breeding.

Hamilton discussed the new understanding of DNA and gene doping, how it continues to be a challenge for the horse racing industry, and strategies that the industry must quickly learn to better deal with the problems.

Dr. Mark Machnik of the Biochemical Institute University of Cologne detailed Germany’s approach to Drug Testing.

Discussion among attendees focused on what different countries around the world are doing to deal with these subjects, and new approaches to the challenges.

In the afternoon, delegates met in Committee sessions on the topics of Marketing and Business Development and Breeding. Delegates will be finalizing recommendations to bring to the General Assembly on Friday afternoon for a vote among all countries.

From Standardbred Canada