New York State Racing & Wagering Board sets steroid rules

In a major step aimed at strengthening the integrity of horse racing, New York Racing and Wagering Board Chairman John D. Sabini announced Tuesday that the Board is moving to enact tough new rules restricting the administration of anabolic steroids to both Thoroughbred and Standardbred race horses.

“For the sake of the betting public, we want to do everything in our power to ensure that racing runs on a level playing field,” Sabini said. “By imposing rigid new limits on four steroids and banning all others, New York is taking a leadership role in promoting integrity in racing. The message to owners and trainers should be clear: If you flaunt our steroid rules, you will be held accountable.”

 Racing Board Member Daniel D. Hogan stated: “Today we are taking a very important step in ensuring the integrity of racing in New York. The only drugs that should be allowed in horse racing are those that are therapeutic in nature.”

Racing Board Member John B. Simoni also endorsed the new rules, saying, “My hope is this is the beginning of no steroids in racing. A diet of hay, oats and water should be our goal as we move towards a racing industry that is drug-free.”

The new rules set testing thresholds for each of the four steroids that are permitted and allow only one of the four to be found in a horse at any given time.

The restricted steroids and the concentrations that are allowed are as follows:  stanozolol (Winstrol), one nanogram per milliliter of urine; boldenone (Equipose), for male horses other than geldings; 15 ng/ml; nandrolone (Durabolin), one ng/ml; and testosterone, 20 ng/ml in geldings and 55 ng/ml in fillies and mares.

Sabini stressed that veterinarians are in agreement that the  permitted small concentrations of the four specific steroids would not be enough to affect a horse’s performance.

The new rules govern racing at all Thoroughbred and harness tracks in New York. They mirror standards supported by the Racing Medication Testing Consortium and the Association of Racing Commissioners International.

Sabini said the new rules are expected to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2009, after they are published in the State Register on Dec. 31.

 “New York is one of the world’s greatest venues for racing, hosting the Belmont Stakes, the oldest of the Triple Crown races, and a host of other major stakes contests in both the harness and Thoroughbred categories,” Sabini said. “A prosperous industry is good for the communities that host the tracks as well as for the entire state. That is why Governor David A. Paterson and I are fully committed to working closely with all the stakeholders involved with racing and taking the steps needed to help this storied “Sport of Kings” grow and build on its base of fans.”

The complete rules relating to steroids and other medications can be accessed at the Racing and Wagering Board Web site: www.racing.state.ny.us. (New York State Racing & Wagering Board)

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