JC / Railbird

Medication/Drug Policies Archive

Noted: March 17

– Former California associate steward Gina Powell testified “under penalty of perjury” that she gave information about the late Salix shot the mare Intercontinental received before running in a stakes race at Del Mar last summer to the head of security, who said he forwarded that information to the board of stewards and CHRB director Ingrid Fermin. Intercontinental won the race. Fermin has claimed that neither she nor the stewards knew of the late shot. Tote Board Brad has been covering this story since it broke. Visit his site for more details.
– Once, as many as 10 racetracks dotted Cape Cod. “While the competitive spirit of sea captains with their vessels has been well documented, they didn’t lose this spirit when they came back home. It was only natural that racetracks would be established throughout the upper and mid-Cape region.”
– Bill Finley would like to rename a few stakes races.

Posted in Medication/Drug Policies, News on March 17, 2006

This Sounds Bad

“According to Gallagher, the positive test results were relayed from the testing laboratory at Iowa State University to personnel at the racing commission. The commission, Gallagher said, then changed its regulations so that the concentrations of drugs found in the sample would fall below the state’s acceptable threshold levels, negating the need to call them positives” (Daily Racing Form).
More: “Drug positives weren’t called, Kentucky officials say” (Blood-Horse), “Horse racing official: Drug offenses not investigated” (Courier-Journal).

Posted in Medication/Drug Policies on July 12, 2005

Kentucky Considers Tightening Rules Further

“The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority’s decision last week to tighten drug rules for thoroughbreds may be just the first effort to clamp down harder on state medication practices. A state drug panel is also looking into revamping testing procedures, sanctions for drug violations, security at racetracks and medication research.” The panel is considering increased backstretch security and detention barns, among other things. (Courier-Journal)
A thought: I’ve been impressed by the quick movement of racing authorities in states such as New York, Kentucky, and California to implement stricter medication rules and drug-testing policies, but I’ve been wondering — what’s Massachusetts doing? Current rules allow for bleeder medications and one anti-inflammatory drug to be used on racedays. Is the state racing commission considering adopting the rules developed by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, which allow for bleeder meds only? Is there any kind of milkshake testing program in development? What kind of security measures will there be Suffolk Down’s big race, the Massachusetts Handicap? I’ve tried to contact the commission with these questions and haven’t received a response. I’ll be curious to see if there are any changes when the meet opens in April.
Related: Sherry Ross says Kentucky isn’t going far enough to ensure racing’s integrity. “You would think that Kentucky would be at the head of the line to outlaw illegal drug use or other performance-enhancing substances in thoroughbred racing. You would be wrong.” (New York Daily News)

Posted in Medication/Drug Policies on February 28, 2005