Tom LaMarra

Delaware Adopts Regulations for Steroids

March 13, 2008

Regulation of anabolic and androgenic steroids in racehorses in Delaware will begin April 19 with an almost three-month "grace period" that will entail penalties.

After a March 11 public hearing on proposed rules, the Delaware Thoroughbred Read More

Pennsylvania Racehorse Test Results: 98.8% Steroid-Free

March 05, 2008

Nearly all of the more than 2,000 samples tested for anabolic steroids in Pennsylvania racehorses during a two-month period came back negative, state officials said March 4.

A model rule for regulation of steroids in Pennsylvania will be Read More

Santa Anita to Host 2008, 2009 Breeders' Cups

February 08, 2008

The Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held in 2009 at Santa Anita Park, the California racetrack that will serve as this year's host. It marks the first time the event will be held at the same host site two years in a row.

The Read More

Regulator: Stop Steroid Use Now

February 03, 2008

A national regulator said uniform implementation of regulations for anabolic steroids in racehorses isn’t practical and suggested horsemen “come clean to the races” voluntarily beginning April 1.

Ed Martin, president of the Association of Read More

Racing Group Endorses Deadline for Steroid Rule Adoption

February 01, 2008

Members of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium haven't backed away from a call for regulation of anabolic steroids in racehorses, but on Jan. 31 they endorsed a Dec. 31, 2008, deadline for nationwide adoption of a model rule.

The move Read More

Model Rule on Steroid Use Blasted

January 26, 2008

The model rule regulating use of anabolic steroids in racehorses is flawed and not based on scientific evidence, and the current state-by-state roll out of the regulations is problematic, horsemen’s representatives said Jan. 25.

The issue, Read More

Cohesive Rules for Racehorse Steroids Sought

January 11, 2008

The head of a major horsemen's group in the United States has proposed a national approach for regulation of anabolic steroids in racehorses with an implementation date of Jan. 1, 2009.

Roughly 10 jurisdictions around the country are preparing Read More

Racing Officials, Legislators Discuss Racehorse Steroids

January 09, 2008

An impending Congressional hearing on steroid use in Major League Baseball--and the possibility the inquiry could expand to other sports--has led the Thoroughbred racing industry to take preemptive action on Capitol Hill. Read More

National Horsemen's Group Setting Racehorse Steroid Policy

December 28, 2007

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association is formulating a position on regulation of anabolic steroids in racehorses.

The National HBPA has affiliates in about 30 jurisdictions, some of which already have adopted rules to Read More

Delaware Park Banning Racehorse Steroid Use

December 14, 2007

Efforts by regulators in the Mid-Atlantic region to ban the use of steroids in racehorses continued Dec. 14 with an announcement by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission that the substances would be outlawed when Delaware Park opens for Read More

'Equine Equity Act' Makes Key Progress

December 13, 2007

The Equine Equity Act, which reduces the capital gains holding period for horses and shortens the depreciation schedule for racehorses, is part of the 2007 Farm Bill and could be approved by the United States Senate in a few days.

The Senate Read More

Ohio Forms Horse Industry Advocacy Group

December 11, 2007

The Ohio horse industry, in an effort to make its voice heard around the Buckeye State, has formed a coalition similar to the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), a horse industry advocacy group in Kentucky.

Early members of the Ohio grou Read More

Mid-Atlantic Racehorse Steroids Ban Official

November 30, 2007

As expected, states in the Mid-Atlantic region have announced they are working to implement a ban on anabolic steroids in racehorses effective April 1, 2008.

The regulations in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Read More

New Jersey Governor Pledges to Support Racing Industry

October 15, 2007

Two weeks before the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Monmouth Park, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine said he would support financial assistance for the state's horse racing and breeding industries.

Corzine publicly discussed the situation Read More

Trainer Suspended in Cobra Venom Case Granted Stay

October 11, 2007

 Trainer Patrick Biancone, suspended for one year for possessing on the grounds of Keeneland three sealed vials of alpha-cobratoxin (cobra venom), a Class A substance under the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority Uniform Drug and Medication Read More

Michigan Budget Crisis Could Halt Horse Racing

September 28, 2007

Michigan's horseracing industry, already reeling from decreases in revenue and the possible closure of Great Lakes Downs after this season, is facing an Oct. 1 shutdown should the state legislature fail to approve a budget.

Michigan Read More

Kentucky Breeder Incentives Could Increase 20%

September 12, 2007

The Kentucky Breeders Incentive Program, which began offering financial awards for various breeds of horses in 2006, is poised to increase by 20%--to about $18 million or $19 million--next year.

The program for Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, Read More

'Polytrack Lab' Turfway Has More Data, Answers

September 04, 2007

Opening night, Sept. 5, will mark the two-year anniversary of the debut of Polytrack at Turfway Park. The surface, save for maintenance and some tweaking of content, is about as even from the inner rail to the outer rail today as it was in 2005. Read More

Kentucky Drug Council Supports Regulation of Steroids

August 23, 2007

The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council supports the regulation of anabolic steroids in horses at racetracks and auctions in the state, but requested further explanation of withdrawal times and other testing-related issues in the model rule Read More

New Mexico Second State to Mandate Racing 'Safety Reins'

August 22, 2007

New Mexico became the second state to adopt a "safety reins" rule when the New Mexico Racing Commission approved the measure Aug. 21. The Ohio State Racing Commission adopted a similar rule in March.

The New Mexico regulation will take Read More

Integrity Called Most Pressing Issue in Thoroughbred Industry

August 21, 2007

Representatives of the horse industry claim integrity issues have never been more important, and the results of soon-to-be-released research could indicate where the betting public stands on the matter.

During the Aug. 19 Jockey Club Round Read More

Language Eliminating Funding for Horse Quarantine, Inspection Nixed from Bill

August 03, 2007

Weeks of lobbying by the horse industry were successful the evening of Aug. 2, when the United States House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to remove from the Agriculture Appropriations Act language that could have stymied transportation of Read More

Science, Public Perception Clash on Drug Testing

July 22, 2007

As the industry continues to grapple with use of medication--legal or illegal--in racehorses, will science or public perception win out?

That debate played out yet again July 20 during the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Read More

Sources: Snake Venom Found in Kentucky Search

July 07, 2007

Word is circulating in Kentucky that cobra venom, a substance used to kill pain, was found by investigators during a June 26 search of trainer Patrick Biancone's barn at Keeneland.

Several sources indicated, and media reports suggested, Read More

Taking the 'Un' Out of Unwanted Horses

June 20, 2007

The Unwanted Horse Coalition hopes to step up awareness and engage the entire horse industry in its "own responsibly" campaign.

The coalition, made up of industry organizations Read More