Why are horses allowed to use steroids and other performance enhancing drugs in horse racing?

Question

Did you know there is absolutely NO drug testing for steroids in horse racing? I know many trainers and they see the performance enhancing drugs getting way out of hand.

.....And you thought baseball had major drug problems??

Answer 1

No ,,..I didn't know that.  You know why I didn't know it???   Because it isn't true.  What you said is a bold faced lie.  Horses are tested for performance enhancing drugs.

Answer 2

You shouldn't post something you obviously nothing about.  Obviously you don't know any or enough trainers.  Race horses are not allowed to use steroids or other performance enhancing drugs.  And yes they are tested for steroids and performance enhancing drugs.  The first and second place horses are taken to the test barn after each race where  the state vet collects a blood and urine sample from each horse.  The samples are then sent of to a lab for drug testing.  If the results come back positive.  That horse is disqualified and loses it's claim to the purse money.  That and the trainer is fined and can even end up with his license suspended or revoked.  So most trainers won't take a chance of using steroids or other performance enhancing drugs.  Now there is a list of acceptable drugs that a trainer can use like bute and lasix but only track vets can administer those drugs and the have to be in appropriate dosage amount allowed by the racing commission.  If a horse tests as having more than the appropriate dosage amount in their system the trainer can be fined and even suspended.

Answer 3

Has everyone forgotten that there are steroids with theraputic purposes? Some horses are on steroids for that reason. It helps with allergies, chronic inflamation and other conditions as well. The point is you aren't supposed to race a horse on steroids. If you have one that is prescribed the drug then you use it til the animal recovers then wait the mandated time for it to clear the system.

My dog has cancer. He is on steroids to slow tumor growth. Am I abusing him for feeding him steroids? No, but if I overdose him then take him to a dog fight obvioulsy I am.

That's the way it is. Yes trainers have used steroids on their horses but usually it is for theraputic reasons and not performance related.

Answer 4

they do test for steroids but there are natural plant extract that are produced by many companies that have an anabolic effect on the horses anyway so i guess it doesn't really matter.

Answer 5

Chris, what you have said in your question is a bunch of BS- it's just NOT TRUE. Every state where racing exists has laws which prohibit the use of performance enhancing drugs in race horses- and ALL race horses are tested before and AFTER every race, EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY RUN, throughout their entire careers. There is a LONG list of prohibited substances, and it's the trainer's responsibility to know what is and is not allowed- and those horses who test positive for illegal or banned substances can be barred from racing permanently. In addition, there are stiff penalties for people involved in such behavior- and these can and do range from fines, to loss of licensure, to jail time in many cases. Any prize monies won by horses with illegal drugs in their systems become forfeited automatically. These laws are RIGOROUSLY ENFORCED, in EVERY STATE where there is racing or race tracks- and incidentally, it should be noted that the racing stewards have an additional function as LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS, when this is warranted. They do much more than just watch and review films of races and issue rulings on things like photo finishes. No, one of the main functions of the stewards is also to see to it that the laws regulating the use of medications and drugs are enforced.  Steroids are among the list of banned medications at most tracks- I know for a fact that Kentucky state law forbids their use in race horses.  I also know from my own experiences working with steroids in horses that horses DO NOT respond to these drugs the way humans do. Eight Belles was too big because of poor genetics and because she was overfed and grew too quickly as a yearling- not because she was given steroids.  

If it should come out that Eight Belles had any type of steroid, or another performance enhancing drug in her system, then both her trainer and jockey are likely to lose their licenses- and the filly's owners are going to be fined and face possible criminal charges as well. Drugging race horses is against the law, Chris- and rightly so, might I add. Training horses and racing them is a PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT, and those who abuse or misuse that privilege can and do get it taken away from them. This is also a business, Chris, and no one in the business world has much respect for people who cheat, or swindle others, or engage in illegal or immoral behavior. Life doesn't work that way.

Now, you may say you know many trainers- but I have to wonder about that, because if that were true, then how come these same people haven't ever told you that they or someone they know has been caught giving horses drugs and been suspended or had his license taken away?? That's what happens to people who cheat in that business- and drugging is cheating. Horses have to pass the box ( also called the spitbox) every time they race- and those who don't are not allowed to run again until whatever issue they have is eliminated. So I must admit to some confusion as to where you are getting your information from for this question.

Answer 6

Are you maybe talking about "lasix"?

Lasix, if I am correct is a diarectic, and is allowed and posted on the racing form if the horse is or is not on lasix.

Answer 7

The only drug I know of that horses are put on is lasix.  It's used to keep them from bleeding, or so I've been told.

Answer 8

Horses are tested for steriods in Australia and if caught the owners are banned for life.

Answer 9

After every race, the winning horse is taken back to the testing barn for a blood and urine sample that they test to ensure that the horse was not on any illegal drugs.  

And if trainers are caught with any illegal drugs, they get suspended for a very long time and it doesn't matter if they say that they didn't know the drug was there and they didn't put it there.  Steve Asmussen and Patrick Biancone were both suspended recently for having drugs that they aren't allowed to give the horses.

So the industry is regulating drugs and punishing those who break the rules.

Answer 10

I doubt that horses take steroids. Steroids are very strong and would probably kill or injure the horse.

Answer 11

The answers here are not complete.  There is a huge difference between North American (Canada and U.S.) horse racing and European and Asian horse racing.

Outside of North America, trainers may not medicate their horses with pain medications on the race day.  In the United States, in a limited degree, trainers may do so.  

Horses are drug tested in the United States -- absolutely. However, they are allowed to "pass" those tests with levels of drugs that would be strictly precluded outside of North America.

It always seems like the U.S. is behind the curve when it comes to performance-enhancing drug testing.

For example, bute is considered performance enhancing in Europe and Asia.  Bute is an anti-inflammatory painkiller that is allowed in 5 micrograms per milliliter in California and strictly prohibited in Europe.