The California Assembly approved a bill that...
The California Assembly approved a bill that would prohibit giving most drugs or medications to horses for 48 hours before race time.
The bill by Assemblyman Dick Floyd 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. Also, the bill would allow 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.
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 illegal substances.
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