IN BRIEF : Charles’ Horse Flunks Drug Test

A steeplechase horse owned by Britain’s Prince Charles failed a dope test, showing traces of three banned substances, the Jockey Club said today.

Devil’s Elbow, a 4-year-old gelding and the only horse the prince has in training, tested positive for caffeine, theobromine and theophylline after winning a novice hurdles race at Worcester on Dec. 5.

There was no indication that the prince, the heir to the British throne, had any involvement in the doping.

“The test showed that caffeine was present and some feed stuffs have been taken away for analysis,” said Nick Gaselee, the horse’s trainer.

“Our security department is continuing its investigation but at the moment the source of the prohibited substances is not known,” Jockey Club spokesman David Pipe said. “In the past, these substances have sometimes appeared in contaminated feed, but it is too early to speculate in this case.”