Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

IRB Meeting Results

August 15, 2006

The Illinois Racing Board met on Tuesday, August 15 at the Illinois Department of Agriculture Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds at Springfield. The board authorized the Board's Equine Testing Laboratory to test for human EPO antibodies in horses effective immediately. In the event of a positive test for EPO the horse will be placed on the steward’s list and excluded from racing until a clean test demonstrates the horse is free of antibodies. Adoption of this rule is important in addressing the abuse of EPO, a human drug that has been used to improve equine performance, despite potentially dangerous health consequences for the horse.

At the request of Balmoral Park, Maywood Park and Hawthorne Racecourse, the Board also approved the initiation of rulemaking for the licensing of Standardbred off-track stabling facilities. The proposed rules authorize the licensing of off-track stabling and training facilities and establishes regulations for inspections of all licensed facilities. Board rules currently provide for the licensing of Thoroughbred off-track stabling facilities. This proposal will amend the current Thoroughbred rule to include Standardbreds.