Philracom begins drug-testing on horses in Triple Crown finale
As a result of its recent membership with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), the Philippine Racing Commission will begin its drug-testing protocols on horses today in the final leg of the Triple Crown Series at the Santa Ana Park.
“Drug-testing is a sign that we are already a world-class racing authority,” said Philracom’s executive director Andrew Rovie Buencamino. “We will do the demo in Santa Ana in line with the Triple Crown because we want to drum it up, we really want the public to know that we are serious in this.”
Drug-testing on horses through blood samples was initiated by former Philracom chairman Antonio Lagdameo in 1994, but was stopped 10 years ago by a temporary restraining order when a horseowner challenged the drug-testing process. The courts finally lifted the TRO last year.
“Since the beginning of this year, we were already provided a budget to revive the equine drug testing. Established racing authorities in the world require equine drug testing, a protocol where one should be a signatory before becoming a full member of IFHA. This measure is not only to protect the integrity of racing and the interest of the bettors, but also to protect the health of the horses,” said Buencamino.
Buencamino said the Philracom drug-testing would initially be a six-month dry run in order for the horse-racing body to perfect the entire procedure.
“We don’t want to immediately impose it without a full understanding of the procedure and the steps to follow. Kaya we are also studying the protocols abroad, kasama ako, si Dr. Jojo Kambay, who is the head of our laboratory here,” he said.
“The results of our tests will be confidential. During the sixmonth dry run, we won’t impose penalties yet, not until we have perfected the program.
“The Philracom is getting the services of US-based drug testing company Neogen to randomly test the horses, starting with the participants of Sunday’s Triple Crown. As a start, Neogen will be looking for downers (depressants and/or performance inhibitors) such as Azaperone, Etorphine, Propanolol, Detomidine, Benzodiazapine, Flunittrazepam and Promazine in the horses’ urine samples.
“We are not yet banning pain relievers. In some countries, a certain limit is allowed because they believe that, in a way, it is therapeutic. But in Hong Kong, where we patterned our procedure, there’s a 10-day withdrawal period, during which zero ‘yung presence ng pain relievers,” said Buencamino. “In America, they allow certain levels. Parang sa atin – ‘yung mga basketball players, umiinom ng pain killers. Here, we want to monitor, because we are also concerned of the health of the horses. Ayaw namin na tumatakbo sila na pilay na pilay.”
Buencamino said the racing industry, led by the horseowners and racing clubs, welcome this program with open arms.
“The stakeholders especially the horseowners want to have this program. They are very cooperative and we want to get their feedback,” said Buencamino. “As for the racing clubs, their franchises should be providing drug-testing facilities. They want us to lead so they would also learn through the process to the point of eventually using our methodologies.”
Buencamino added: “I want us and the industry to work together. We would like to come to a point that we will have international competition if – one – we have drug-testing and – two – our rating-based handicapping system. We want to get these in place to gain recognition abroad. Every year, we get invited to international conferences, to IFHA, and we always give a report on the condition of our industry, so this is a big development.”