Controversial 'Blood Rule' Revised After Criticism

The controversial 'blood rule' has been a hot topic recently. Now, the federation has decided to amend the regulations. "If a horse is withdrawn due to confirmed blood before a race, it does not automatically mean a start ban," reads the statement on Svensk Travsport's website.

The rule has been debated, with the most notable example being when Fredrik Wallin-trained Global Etalon won a qualifying race for the Elitloppet on May 17.

After the victory, blood was found in the horse's mouth, which automatically led to a ten-day start ban. As a result, Global Etalon was not allowed to compete in the Elitloppet.

However, from July 1, the federation, Svensk Travsport, will amend its regulations.

"If a horse is withdrawn due to confirmed blood before a race, it does not automatically mean a start ban. However, a horse with confirmed blood must always be checked in the stable after the race, and a decision on a possible start ban will be made," they state on their website.

Regarding the procedures for bleeding close to the start of a race, the federation has also chosen to adjust the regulations.

The previous routine stated: "If blood is discovered so close to the start that it poses an unnecessary safety risk for other horses and participants to interrupt the start preparations (after the clear command or when the start car begins to accelerate), the horse can participate in the race," they further write.

The handling routine is now adjusted to define the time as "after the command Start in 1 minute." This clarification makes it easier to ensure equal treatment at all tracks and also reduces the potentially stressful situation of interrupting a race too close to the start.