Horseracing safety and integrity act to set national standard

Sen. Tom Udall is preparing to take a needed run at cleaning up the horse racing industry by creating a national standard for the use of performance-enhancing drugs in races with interstate simulcast wagering.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act would set up a basic framework and then turn over drafting the rules and enforcing them to the United States Anti Doping Agency, an independent organization that polices U.S. Olympic athletes and promotes clean sports competition.

The racing industry would bear the costs of policing and enforcement.

Horse doping is a chronic problem in the industry. Drugs such as Dermorphin, or "frog juice," can mask an injured horse's pain. But using it risks a catastrophic breakdown that can injure or kill the horse and its rider.

For years, the industry has promised reform and, until recently, those promises have largely been empty.

That is, until a New York Times investigation published last spring — which made New Mexico the national poster child for abuse. Its five racinos collectively had the worst record in the nation for doping.

On the heels of the report, the New Mexico Racing Commission adopted stricter regulations and penalties for doping. This year, the Legislature approved funding for expanded drug testing of racehorses.

Udall's bill would provide uniformity and give an independent organization some rein to impose penalties.

The Association of Racing Commissioners International has expressed concerns about the doping agency's regulation of human competition, which it says allows a therapeutic-use loophole. But a Udall spokeswoman said the agency would develop rules in consultation with state racing commissions and stakeholders.

The industry should embrace the opportunity to provide meaningful input in an effort to fix problems that have plagued what once was called the sport of kings.

— Albuquerque Journal