THE SIDELINES : State Assembly OKs Bill Banning Drugging of Horses Before Races
The California Assembly decided today that race horses should just say neigh to drugs.
The lower house approved a bill that would prohibit giving most drugs or medications to horses for 48 hours before race time. The bill, AB216 by Assemblyman Dick Floyd (D-Carson), was sent to the Senate by a 67-3 vote.
Floyd said a test by an independent laboratory of 1,024 urine samples taken from horses racing at California tracks showed 109 positive for 21 different illegal substances.
The bill would allow oral doses and topical applications of antibiotics, electrolytes, vitamins, tetanus antitoxin, dimethyl sulfoxide and antiseptic ointments to be used 24 hours or more before race time. It would allow the diuretic drug Lasix to be used more than 12 hours before race time and other drugs, such as antihistamines and worming medications, to be used more than 72 hours before race time. Drugs not listed in the bill would be prohibited within one week of race time.
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