A CHRB steroid question-and-answer section follows.

     The California Horse Racing Board acted Tuesday to reclassify anabolic steroids, so that penalties will be far more severe for anyone using steroids on horses under racing conditions, in a move that CHRB Chairman Richard B. Shapiro said adds to a growing list of efforts by the State of California to protect horses, riders, and the integrity of horse racing.
     “This is an easy one,” the chairman later added. “Anabolic steroids have no place in competition sports, including horse racing. Period! End!”
     The steroids reclassifications, which will be immediately posted for 45-day public notice prior to a July 17 public hearing at Del Mar, go hand-in-hand with a larger regulatory package of penalties and classification changes. That larger package has been slowly moving through the regulatory process and is expected to be fully in place before the Breeders’ Cup, which will be hosted by the Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita Park this October 24-25.
     Both the chairman and Dr. Rick Arthur, the CHRB equine medical director, listed the new anabolic steroids regulations among the steps being taken to protect the integrity of the game and provide for the safest possible racing environment for horses and riders. Towards that end, they enumerated some of the steps that have been taken and continue in practice in California:
More extensive pre-race examinations of all horses entered to run. Each horse is examined at a jog and palpated by an official veterinarian, who has an examination history from previous pre-race inspections and post-race evaluations on each horse. These examination cards could be replaced in the near future by a more comprehensive computerized system that eventually could include the entire medical history of each horse. A version of the program was tested during the recent Bay Meadows meet.
Increased scrutiny of horses as they make their way to the race. All horses are examined again at the receiving barn and they are observed as they warm up on the track. The stewards, outriders, jockeys, and other racing officials are encouraged to notify the on-site track veterinarian if they observe or suspect any problems with any horse warming up for the race.
Improved racing surfaces. The CHRB mandate for synthetic surfaces at all major thoroughbred racetracks in the state clearly demonstrates the Board’s commitment to protecting racing participants. Preliminary data shows that racing fatalities have declined by 50 percent in the state for horses racing on synthetic surfaces when compared to the same ovals when they were dirt tracks. A data base is being developed to track the effectiveness of these tracks for racing and training purposes.
State-of-the-art drug testing at the Board’s primary laboratory. The Ken Maddy Equine Analytical Laboratory at UC Davis uses the most sensitive and precise instrumental screening available, which can identify more than 800 compounds. The CHRB testing programs are as demanding and sensitive as any in horse racing. All horses also are pre-race tested for carbon dioxide levels to insure a level playing field. The Maddy Lab uses the most advanced methodology for detecting steroid levels above those naturally occurring in the horse, and with the adoption of new regulations, the CHRB is well positioned to monitor the use of steroids.
A necropsy program that generates information used to prevent catastrophic injuries in horses. California has the most comprehensive necropsy program in the United States. Early findings by this program at UC Davis led to the installation of nuclear scintigraphy equipment at California racetracks, which is a powerful tool to identify problems at earlier stages. The program also identified horseshoe “toe grabs” as a contributing factor to injuries, which led to the CHRB prohibition of long “toe grabs” in thoroughbred racing. Additional research studies are being undertaken in an effort to prevent injuries to racehorses.
     “California has been a shining light for the racing industry,” said Dr. Arthur, while indicating the efforts would continue as the Board identifies additional ways to further protect horses and riders, including probable improvements to veterinarian’s list procedures.
     Vice Chairman John Harris agreed, “California has a very level playing field. California has demonstrated its concern about horse welfare.”
     Chairman Shapiro added that the effort would be continuing. “In the future we’ll be looking at inbreeding and some of the other possible contributors we might consider as adding to the frailty of racehorses today.”
     The board previously banned all steroids except for boldenone, nandrolone, stanozolol, and testoserone, and established very low threshold levels for those four anabolic steroids, three of which are endogenous or naturally occurring in the horse. Any administration of those steroids close to a race will be detected and will result in a violation. The board action Tuesday began the process of reclassifying those four anabolic steroids, so that violations will result in the disqualification of the horse and redistribution of the purse, and those involved would face minimum 30-day suspensions for first offenses. This regulatory process should be completed in September.
     In other business, the board delayed consideration of a request by the racing fairs to increase the takeout by 1 percent on wagers placed on California fair races. The proposal from the California Authority of Racing Fairs on behalf of the Alameda, San Mateo, Solano, Sonoma, Fresno, San Joaquin, and Humboldt County Fairs follows passage of a law last year authorizing an additional 1 percent for the maintenance and improvement of the fairs’ racetrack facilities, subject to CHRB approval. 
     Those fairs handled $126 million in 2007, including wagers placed outside of California on those fair races, so an additional 1 percent of takeout could result in $1.2 million for the improvements fund, assuming handle does not drop off and the additional takeout can be recouped from the out-of-state jurisdictions. CARF representatives said all of the fairs had agreed to earmark all of the initial revenue from the additional takeout for improvements in Pleasanton as it evolves into a year-round training facility in response to the imminent closure of Bay Meadows.
     While strongly endorsing the need to improve fair racing facilities, some of the Board members questioned whether the additional 1 percent would be sufficient to accomplish that goal. They also requested a comprehensive business plan with details on how the new revenue would be spent at Pleasanton and elsewhere. This matter will be discussed again at the board’s next meeting on June 19 at Golden Gate Fields.
     The board approved the license application for fair meets in Vallejo (11 days, July 9-21) and Santa Rosa (12 days, July 23-August 4), but only after intensive questioning on why the two fairs had abandoned the experiment of a combined meet known as “Sonoma Solano Wine Country Racing.” 
     In the ensuing discussion, Commissioner Jesse Choper cited the need for a comprehensive plan for horse racing in California, which “requires a certain amount of specialized knowledge, a collection of data, analysis of that input, and finally a determination of where we need to go. I don’t have all the answers, but we need to  make the effort. We need to begin a full consideration of the issue of what I might call revenue sourcing.”
     Chairman Shapiro assured Commissioner Choper and Commissioner John Amerman, who expressed similar views, that such a comprehensive discussion would take place, perhaps at a special meeting convened solely for that purpose.
     The board approved the license application for the thoroughbred meet at Del Mar (July 16 through September 3), with the exception of the Advance Deposit Wagering portion of the application. Del Mar has begun discussions with ADW providers to extend an experiment –  beyond its scheduled July 13 conclusion –  through the Del Mar meet and perhaps the end of the year. The current experiment allows all ADW account holders to wager on all California races.
     Del Mar Executive Vice President Craig Fravel discussed changes relating to the synthetic surface that was installed prior to the 2007 meet. Racing fatalities on the new surface dropped dramatically last year, but there were concerns about how the track changed in terms of performance from the morning to the afternoon. Fravel said a “softer wax” has been added to help address this issue, in addition to a different watering schedule. He said Racing Secretary Tom Robbins is “excited about the way we’ve improved the track” from a performance standpoint.
     The board adopted a rule allowing a horse returning from a layoff of at least 180 days to be entered into a claiming race in which it will be ineligible to be claimed, just the one time, as long as the horse is entered at a claiming level equal to or greater than the price for which it last started. The purpose of this rule is to encourage owners to give horses needed time off.

     Q: When will horses that have excess levels of steroids actually result in sanctions?
     A: The necessary laboratory procedures and official testing of samples will begin July 1, 2008. We will start issuing complaints and/or warnings for violations after that date.

     Q: Will all steroid violations be treated the same?
     A: No. Testosterone, boldenone, nandrolone, and stanozolol are temporarily Class 4. All other anabolic steroids already are Class 2 or 3. Complaints will be issued for Class 2 or 3 violations after July 1. However, sanctions for the Class 4 steroids testosterone, boldenone, nandrolone, and stanozolol will be limited to warnings for the first few months until their reclassification to Class 3 is completed.

     Q: When will the warning period end for those four steroids and complaints begin?
     A: Probably in September. The first step in the regulatory process to move testosterone, boldenone, nandrolone, and stanozolol to Class 3 already has been taken. Once this regulatory is completed, all anabolic steroids will be Class 2 or Class 3. This is expected to be completed in September, at which time complaints will be issued for violations involving excess levels for   those four as well.

     Q: Under the new penalty guidelines, what possible sanctions will result for steroid violations?
     A: All Class 2 and Class 3 steroid violations will result in purse redistributions and a minimum 30-day suspension for first-time offenders. Any warnings issued after July 1 for the Class 4 steroids testosterone, boldenone, nandrolone, and stanozolol could count as an aggravating factor against anyone who receives a complaint after they become Class 3.

     Q: What medications used at the track are anabolic steroids?
     A: Equipoise® (boldenone); Durabolin® (nandrolone), Winstrol® (stanozolol) and testosterone are the most common anabolic steroids used in racing. We occasionally will see trenbolone. There are many anabolic steroids available but they are not typically used in horses. If you have any questions consult your veterinarian. 

     Q: Are anabolic steroids all completely banned?
     A: Veterinarians can still have and administer anabolic steroids on the racetrack. Anabolic steroids just cannot be found in post-race tests except at the threshold levels established by CHRB regulations.

     Q: Why are any anabolic steroids allowed at all?
     A: We have totally banned all anabolic steroids except four. Threshold levels have been established for testosterone, boldenone, nandrolone, and stanzolol. The first three are naturally occurring, also known as endogenous, in the horse. Testosterone is present in intact males, gelded males, and fillies. Nandrolone and boldenone are naturally occurring in non-gelded males. Even though stanozolol (Winstrol®) is a manufactured pharmaceutical anabolic steroid, the 1ng/ml level (1 part per billion) is below the detection procedures in most racing labs around the world. This level was not set to be permissive but rather to promote uniform national policies for anabolic steroids. Uniform rules do no good without uniform reporting levels.

     Q: Is clenbuterol an anabolic steroid?
     A: No. Clenbuterol is a beta-2 agonist, a bronchodilator. Clenbuterol is reported to have adrenergic (muscle building) activity but is not an anabolic steroid. Notwithstanding, late or excess administration of clenbuterol is a Class 3 violation itself.

     Q: What are the withdrawal times on anabolic steroids?
     A: As with all drugs, withdrawal times are specific to the formulation. As a group, anabolic steroids stay around for a long time, longer than any other group of drugs used in racing. Trainers should be looking at a minimum of 30 days with the water-based anabolic steroids, such as stanozolol (Winstrol®) and aqueous testosterone. The oil-based anabolic steroids, such as Equipoise® (boldenone), Durabolin® (nandrolone) and testosterone, will need a minimum of 45 days. Therefore, we are advocating that administration of these drugs stop at this time.

     Q: Can we rely on these withdrawal times? Are they “official?”
     A: Just like all other drugs, the answer is an emphatic no. These are recommendations for minimum withdrawal times. There are too many variables involved to be more specific.  Dose, route of administration, specific formulation, and multiple doses are all factors that cannot be controlled. Withdrawal times on these drugs are further complicated by the common use of compounded anabolic steroids. Compounded drugs do not have the same quality control standards as drugs manufactured at FDA inspected 

     Q: What are trainers to do to protect themselves from a positive?
     A: The simplest answer is to not use anabolic steroids beyond this point.

     Q: What about if I need to treat a horse with anabolic steroids? What can I do then?
     A: The horse can be treated, but you must let sufficient time pass afterwards for the administered drug to clear the system, otherwise a positive test could result. The CHRB can arrange pre-entry testing, provided the treatment is documented by your veterinarian on the Confidential Veterinarian Reports. Your veterinarian must list the horse, route of administration, dosage and drug on the Confidential Veterinarian Reports to be eligible, and the race to enter cannot be within the minimum recommended withdrawal times.

     Q: What will be the cost to have my horse pre-race tested, and can I routinely have all my horses tested?
     A: The current drug testing budget for the CHRB allows us to provide pre-race testing at no cost to horsemen through the rest of 2008, provided you meet the requirements outlined in the previous answer. If those requirements are met, a trainer could make such testing routine.

     Q: What if I claim a horse or buy a horse from another trainer?
     A: The CHRB can arrange pre-entry testing with a legitimate documentation of transfer of ownership.

     Q: Will California be alone in this effort?
     A: No, Pennsylvania and Delaware already are regulating anabolic steroids, and the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium has recommended all jurisdictions have policies to regulate anabolic steroids in place no later than the end of this year. California is better prepared than most jurisdictions, so we are ready to move forward at this time. The Ken Maddy Equine Analytical Laboratory at UC Davis began gearing up early last year for the testing of anabolic steroids once it became clear this was going to be an issue in horse racing. While California might be ahead of most other states, anabolic steroids should be effectively regulated throughout the country by the end of the year. Never before has racing medication regulation moved so closely together as with anabolic steroids.

     Q: What kind of notification and education are you planning to make people aware of the changes?
     A: The CHRB has discussed this publicly for more than a year at Medication Committee meetings and monthly Board meetings. Dr. Arthur has been in close contact with the California Thoroughbred Trainers and other horsemen’s groups in an effort to discuss and educate all parties on the new rules that are being enacted. The CHRB will schedule backside open meetings in Northern and Southern California to address any questions or concerns. Additionally, Dr. Arthur is willing to meet with trainers and veterinarians at any time to answer questions.--May 23.

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