Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

New York Proposes ban on Steroids

October 30, 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.