Horses participating in upcoming races are required to pass all outstanding tests and/or veterinary examinations, imposed by the Stipendiary Steward or Veterinary Surgeon, prior to declaration. These tests and examinations are carried out to ensure that they are fit
“Bleeder” is a term given to a horse that has blood present from one or both sides of its nose after strenuous exercise such as racing or galloping during training. To be classified as a bleeder the blood must come from the horse’s lung (hence the name Exercise Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage or EIPH) and not just from a nose bleed. To confirm that a horse is a bleeder, its upper airway (throat and windpipe) are examined with a camera called an endoscope. If the horse is confirmed as a bleeder, the rules of racing stipulate a compulsory period of recovery time in which the horse cannot race.