Out of Competition Testing

[rosewood]

Commentary: Out of Competition Testing

[miff]

All horses pre entered in the BC races are now subject to random testing no matter where they presently are stabled, Belmont, Santa Anita, Kee or wherever.The idea of course is to check for guys who are possibly using illegal stuff to build up their horse leading up to race day.

Nice idea, except it\'s not catching anyone who may be using illegal designer stuff for which there is no test.


Mike

[richiebee]

Rosewood:

In a recent post I suggested that all animals currently nominated for a graded
stake or who have run in a graded stake in the past three months should be
subject to random testing.

Yes Miff I know that the testers haven\'t caught up with the cheaters. I just
think that more testing of a random nature could possibly serve to clean things
up slightly and would at least give the impression that Racing really cares
about its drug problem.

Also Miff-- good point about PB. Nice man, good horseman, but far from a first
time offender.

[miff]

Bee,

Appearance does count.Unlike years back, there are many extremely wealthy people in the game with large mouths to match their egos. They are being heard more by track managers than the smaller outfits and voiceless bettors.

Zillionaires will not stand for their horse getting dusted by some obscure nickle bred that has been supercharged by illegal stuff.


Mike

[miff]

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Commentary: Out of Competition Testing

 
 
If a drug existed that enhanced performance yet was undetectable by traditional testing methods would it pose a clear and present danger to the integrity of our sport?

Would some trainers succumb to the lure of success and easy money knowing they could cheat with impunity?

The answers seem obvious.

The drug does exist. It is Epogen.  Epogen is also known as EPO. EPO and its closely related cousins are blood doping agents. EPO is manufactured for the purpose of increasing red blood cell production. It is used in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and those suffering from severe anemia. EPO saves lives. Human lives.

Administered to a horse, EPO is reported to enhance performance by producing additional red blood cells and thereby increasing the animal's ability to transport oxygen.

After years of costly research, the University of Pennsylvania announced in August 2006 its discovery of a detection method for EPO in horses. This widely hailed breakthrough has finally provided the industry with a tool to detect and punish blood dopers. There are, however, obstacles to overcome. While the test can confirm EPO for approximately 72 hours after administration, the performance enhancing effects of EPO can last for weeks. As a consequence, the test is not effective in the usual post race sample testing environment.

However, there is a solution. Detecting EPO is possible by the utilization of out of competition testing. Out of competition testing is a fact of life for all major league and Olympic athletes. These athletes are subject to testing at anytime, anywhere, without notice. The uncertain nature of the time and date of securing blood samples promises to make detection (that was not possible in the past) possible and also to serve as an effective deterrent. Racing must act now to institute the out of competition model.

How widespread is blood doping in horse racing?

EPO is the drug that has ruined the sport of cycling—trashed the Tour de France. Cyclists inject EPO in their bodies knowing they are subject to out of competition testing. How naïve are we to believe that some trainers are not doing the same thing to animals they know are not subject to out of competition testing? We all lament the unexplained phenomenon of the "super trainer" or when meteoric rise in performance belies precedence and established norms. We live in an era where the terms "super trainer" and "juice" have become a part of every horseplayer's vernacular. EPO or its blood doping relatives in the hands a few "ethically challenged" horsemen can make a mockery of any track's racing program.

There is good news. Some racing commissions have stepped forward and have initiated active out of competition testing programs. Ontario, California, and Delaware have led the way. Indiana and Michigan have followed. Kentucky has performed limited testing of Kentucky Derby - Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) starters. New Jersey will likely begin its out of competition testing program later this month on the Breeders' Cup World Championship participants. While this is an admirable beginning, so much more remains to be done.

The bad news is that there appears to be no sense of industry urgency to combat blood doping. What should give rise to a call for action is met with a response that can be best described as underwhelming. Industry stakeholders certainly favor the integrity of racing in the abstract. Implementing the necessary safeguards is another matter. Racing has to change. We all know that "racing" and "change" are typically not on friendly terms. In reality, they're practically strangers.

Would some track owners prefer not to endure the inevitable publicity of a successful trainer charged with blood doping? Would some horsemen prefer to not be inconvenienced by the thought of testing anytime, anywhere, without notice? Are some racing commissions paralyzed by institutional inertia?

As we look forward to funding research to develop methods of detecting new illicit drugs, let's take a backward glance to see what we have left on the table.

[richiebee]

Thanks once again for informative material.

The part of the equation which goes unmentioned is whether or not the various
blood doping methods have a negative effect on the health of the performance
equine. My strong belief here is that if doping allows a runner to ignore pain,
there is a great potential for harm to the individual runner, the breed and
eventually the sport.

If blood doping can, when properly managed, improve equine health and
performance, legalize it and monitor it.

The Amsterdam Solution would be an inexpensive way to level the playing field,
and quickly.

This is not a call to legalize all medication in racing. A new Class A list of
banned meds would be produced and the minimum penalty for use/possession of
banned meds should be 1 year, second offense 5 years, after that impose the
lifetime ban. To eliminate grey areas, do not ban drugs for which no current
testing is available.

Out of competition testing-- thumbs up. If resources are limited, start with
graded runners as I have suggested. A few more random barn searches would also
tend to tighten things up a bit.

Shameful: That the powers that be in Kentucky and United States racing would
allow \"L\'Affaire Biancobra\" to be unspooling before a large audience, an
audience which includes the casual but important 2 time a year racing fan.
Bad job of timing, as has been mentioned, having all this Biancrap floating
around at an almost sacred time of the year. Can only wonder cynically if the
timing would have been different if BC was being held at Churchill.

[fkach]

>Would some track owners prefer not to endure the inevitable publicity of a successful trainer charged with blood doping? Would some horsemen prefer to not be inconvenienced by the thought of testing anytime, anywhere, without notice? Are some racing commissions paralyzed by institutional inertia? <

How much of the problem is related to curruption?

In politics, we know that some politicians understand the problems well, but are essentially handcuffed because their power is bought and paid for by corrupt individuals, corporations, financial interests, groups etc.... looking to profit or expand their own power at the expense of others. Buck that power and you are out and some other dirtbag is brought in soon after.

We are at the stage where everyone knows that drugs are huge problem for the industry, yet the changes remain cosmetic. This all smells very dirty to me.

[miff]

There is also the question of the very substantial increase in expenses(to the track owners/managers)to introduce \"super/random testing\" which is now generally available at a high price.The economics of owning/operating race tracks is generally poor and goes forward without apparent substantial future growth.A tough investment, to say the least.


All of the bidders for the NYRA Franchise(except NYRA)were mainly interested in gaining a foothold in the lucrative casino gaming industry in New York with the racing franchise a necessary evil. All feasabilty studies on racing in the USA came up fairly negative for capital investments purposes.

Since most racing consists of claiming and allowance level it makes little sense to  random/super test just the graded runners imo. Most of the cheating and illegal stuff that has been detected is at the lower end of racing, so far.

The solution to racings problems require intra state close cooperation on many  issues, fugedaboutit!

Mike

[richiebee]

Miff--

By at least beginning at the graded level you would get the added benefit of
(allegedly) seeing \"cleaner\" horses in the breeding ranks at the higher levels.