Kentucky Adopts Drug Testing for Horses

The officials of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission have taken a step to equal similar organizations in New York, New Jersey, and Indiana: horses racing in the state of Kentucky will now be tested for drugs. Officials plan on having this policy in place and enforced before this year’s Breeder Cup in November. Horses will be tested at random for performance enhancing drugs, the “most serious problem in racing,” according to Chairman Ned Bonnie.

The new policy has been labeled as an emergency regulation, allowing the guideline to go through the ratification process much more quickly. Kentucky currently has a post-race testing procedure; the new rules will test horses pre-race and will be much more aggressive concerning drugs that are difficult to detect post-race. The new rules give trainers a mere six hours to report for testing once they are notified.