Ill. imposes EPO rules

At its monthly meeting on Aug. 15, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill., the Illinois Racing Board approved emergency rules authorizing the Board’s equine testing laboratory to test for EPO (Erythropoietin or Darbepoietin) antibodies.

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.

Racing Board spokesman Mickey Ezzo told harnessracing.com that as of this time there are no rules in place to penalize the trainer or for loss of purse.

"There will be no trainer penalties until a confirmatory test has been developed," said Ezzo. "We're aware of (the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory developing a confirmation test) and our lab is doing research on confirmatory tests, but for the time being we are still working on it. This is for the near future but long term when they develop a confirmatory test we are comfortable with, then we will look at penalties."

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. (With files from Illinois Racing Board)

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