Settlemoir on Tioga/Vernon Drug Testing

May 10th 2008

 2 comments
Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs issued a press release Friday announcing that the tracks had initiated "random out-of-competition" testing. "Dr. Dan Eggleton," the release announced, "took eight blood samples from as many horses trained by Tracy Brainerd and Lonny Hale. The horses are in to go Saturday night at both facilities." They tested negative, in other words. I asked Jason Settlemoir, regional vice president for the tracks, to explain a little more about what that means. Here is a text of our email exchange:
 
Andrew: What was your "integrity program" before?
 
Jason: We began TC02 testing last year at Tioga, our contract with the horsemen at Vernon prohibits us from TC02 testing there. We also use our first right of exclusion where deemed necessary.
 
Andrew: Why did you expand it now?
Jason: We have added out of competition testing, we believe it was the necessary next step.
 
Andrew: Who is Art Gray and when did this new program begin?
Jason: Art Gray is a consultant, a former NYSRWB Presiding Judge, and horseman. He started consulting on integrity when we first opened.
 
Andrew: How much more are you spending now than you were before on testing? Do you have a budget for out-of-competition testing?
Jason: We have spent roughly $ 35,000 on TC02 testing and will continue to do the same this year, although the $ 35,000 does include buying the testing machine and we will expand the program as deemed necessary.

Andrew: Why were Brainerd and Hale horses singled out?
Jason: They were randomly selected and the same procedure will be used in the future at random.
 
Andrew: Are horsemen required to consent to the searches as a condition of their ability to race there?
Jason: Yes, each trainer, driver and groom participating should have an application on file with us to participate and equine and human testing is one of the conditions.

 

Comments

Andrew Cohen said...

From Joe Faraldo this morning on this topic:

"Also, I read your blog this am and need to ask if therapeutic medicines like bute can be used up to 48 hours and it is. Then what does testing Lonnie Hales horses tell us if bute were to have been detected when the Friday test was taken on his horses in to go Saturday evening. If bute were found does it mean he violated rules or was following the rules of permissive medication? What relevancy is a Friday finding for a horse who on Saturday is clean and the bute is beyond any pharmacological effect?"

posted at 9:45 AM on May 11th 2008

Paul Siegel said...

Out of competition testing for what? Inquiring minds want to know. (Of course they are not going to say.)

Guaranteed they are not testing for EPO...it would break their budget.

By the way, what is with the horseman's group at Vernon not permitting TCO2 testing? That makes it open season for cheating.

From Andrew: Hey, Paul. Thanks again for the post. I will ask Jason about the first issue and Faraldo and Company about the second. In fact, I already emailed Joe about that issue and will post a response here when I get it.

posted at 8:52 PM on May 10th 2008

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