Breeding & Racing Magazine

US Track Plans Blood Gas Testing

Also making US headlines is the revolutionary Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission decision to "implement a plan for blood gas testing at Delaware Park," reported thoroughbredtimes.com. DTRC executive director John Wayne explained the plan "would require all horses to report to a detention barn just prior to a race in which they are entered; a random sample of horses from each race would then be tested for alkalizing agents that indicate a pre-race 'milkshake' had been administered". Since test results only require 2½ minutes, "stewards would have the results by the time the horses reach the paddock & those who fail the tests would be scratched from the race".