Some effects of drugs in the “doping” of racehorses

Abstract

Extract

At the request of the New Zealand Racing and Trotting Conferences the writer has carried out tests on racehorses using some of the drugs found in positive samples by the analyst. Most of these tests were carried out in close co-operation with the analysts to the two Conferences and were undertaken because reliable data on the excretion patterns and effects of the various drugs could not be obtained. It is often important to know how and when the particular drug was administered, and these tests have proved a valuable guide. Some of their results have been surprising and it is hoped that the findings will be of general interest since any veterinary surgeon might find himself involved in an inquiry and it is important that he should be as sure as possible of all relevant factors before entering the witness box. It is easy to make sweeping statements at an inquiry but whoever makes them must surely be prepared to verify them. Any of these doping cases, however simple their early stages may appear, might proceed to the Supreme Court where rash statements could be legally challenged. In the writer's dealings with the New Zealand Racing and Trotting Conference he has found them to be scrupulously fair and only interested in finding out the truth. Their aim is to keep racing clean; we, as veterinary surgeons, should share that aim.