NY moves to limit steroids for race horses
New York's horse racing regulator began the process to limit steroids for thoroughbred and harness racing in the state.
Written by:
MICHAEL GORMLEY
10/25/2007
New York's horse racing regulator on Thursday began the process to further limit anabolic steroids for thoroughbred and harness racing in the state.
The New York Racing and Wagering Board has requested public and racing industry comment on the proposal described as still in its "conceptual stages" (http://www.racing.state.ny.us/index.html).
If adopted, the rule would be among the most restrictive in the industry and affect horses running at Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct thoroughbred tracks, as well as at harness tracks such as Yonkers Raceway and Tioga Downs near Binghamton.
The state's proposal would allow one of four types of steroids at a time used on a horse and set different concentration limits for Stanozolol (Winstrol), boldenone (Equipose), nandrolone, and testosterone.
The rules are consistent with standards supported by the Racing Medication Testing Consortium and the Association of Racing Commissioners International.
The measure comes as New York is considering overhauls of the industry to resurrect interest in racing and breeding. Gov. Eliot Spitzer favors allowing the New York Racing Association to continue to run thoroughbred racing as it has since 1955. NYRA has pushed several measures in recent years to better test horses for banned substances.
Competitors for the thoroughbred franchise have also called for tougher limits and enforcement to bolster the integrity of racing.
In February, horses racing in California became subject to out-of-competition testing focusing on performance-enhancing drugs as part of a crackdown on cheaters who administer illegal substances more than 48 hours before a race.
In January, a New Jersey veterinarian pleaded guilty to falsifying records in an alleged plot to fix harness races by injecting horses with banned performance-enhancing drugs.
Bloodhorse magazine said Indiana has adopted the national steroid model while Iowa and Virginia have enacted their own rules. Other mid-Atlantic states are also considering a rule, the industry magazine stated.
