Members of Congress April 30 heard of problems in the Thoroughbred racing industry–most of them related to equine medication–but stopped short of a full endorsement of federal intervention.

Eight individuals, including three prominent owners, testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health during a two and a half hour hearing at Unionville High School near Kennett Square, Pa. The witnesses all said they don’t believe race-day medication has a place in Thoroughbred racing.

"It’s one thing to use drugs therapeutically after a race, but another thing to use them to mask (other drugs) during a race," said Gretchen Jackson, who with her husband, Roy, owned Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Barbaro.

"If there is no race-day medication, it would solve a lot of problems in racing," said retired jockey Gary Stevens, now a racing broadcaster