LEXINGTON, Ky. — Racing officials in Kentucky are preparing new rules that would allow them to randomly drug test racehorses at virtually any time, even those stabled out of state, and those not entered in competition.
A draft of the proposal discussed Tuesday requires owners of any horse eligible to race in Kentucky — even those not entered in a race — to make their animals available for random testing for a variety of illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Jerry Yon, chairman of the equine drug panel of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, says testing procedures to be in place by November, when Churchill Downs hosts the Breeders’ Cup.
The drug panel had a lively discussion on the concept, which is modeled on similar programs in New York and Indiana. The committee was unable to agree on some of the details, so it will take at least one more meeting next month before the full commission can approve it.
Refusal to submit for testing in a timely manner makes the horse ineligible to race in Kentucky for six months, and Yon said most other states would likely honor that suspension. If a horse tests positive for some of the worst drug violations, the penalties for its handlers are stiff — a 10-year suspension and $50,000 fine. Read More…
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