http://www.racingnsw.com.au/page.asp?parm=vet.main

Check out the following topics in the column on the left:

Bicarbonate Warning
Drug Testing
EPO Warning

Wouldn't it be nice to have such a complete description of the medication testing - including references to other possible sources of obtaining the prohibited substance such as feed contamination (wild poppies and morphine) and alkalinising substances (TCO2 concentration) - on the New York, California and Florida racetrack websites.

Just trying to find out the current status of what is being tested and the prohibited levels at California racetracks is not an easy task, let alone the other 32 racing jusisdictions in this country. I still can't believe that the Drug and Racing Consortium or the Jockey Club did not put one out as part of their research - but they claim not to have a compendium...at least available to the public!

I am not hanging my hat on Dr. Barker - and I did read the case history and testimony to insure that he was not someone who would throw fruit and paint at fur coats. I have also researched national and international veterinary findings and opinions regarding EPO, milkshakes and other substances.

I am also familiar with the continuing work being done at UCLA (from the Olympics testing group)on both human and animal effects of substances that do not even have names yet - let alone ways to detect them.

That is why I am so disillusioned with the state of racing in America - and our failure to adequately monitor and grow the sport. It's one thing to have discussions and various opinions about speed, pace and "wide" trips...quite another to have sliding scales for drug positives...or not scale at all.

The fact that other entities (Australia, Hong Kong and even France to some extent) have made the leap of faith gives me hope for us - but losing people like Barry Schwartz to Frank Stronach or Tim Smith is not a good thing.



Delmar Deb