Page 120 - June 2022

LOUISIANA ZILPATROL TESTING
The Drug Testing Back Story That Led To Louisiana’s Zilpaterol Positive – And Hope For The Future
by Natalie Voss, Paulick Report
Copyright © 2022 Blenheim Publishing/PaulickReport.com Republished with permission of the copyright holder.
The recent rash of zilpaterol positives for a long time on the backstretch, maybe as Reine, we were able to have the Louisiana
in Louisiana Quarter Horse racing
left a lot of outsiders scratching their heads. Since February of this year, a total of
21 trainers have gotten 49 positives for the substance, a Class 2 drug that is only approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in cattle. It’s not the first time zilpaterol has been found in racehorses; its use in beef cattle is primarily weight and muscle gain, which could be attractive to trainers expecting to bulk up a horse. At a recent meeting of the Louisiana State Racing Commission, two of the trainers facing years-long suspensions blamed the positives on the use of a supplement advertised to build muscle mass.
Eddie Guidry, attorney for trainer Lanny Keith, said after the meeting that he believed use of such a supplement had been going on
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long as three years.
So, what changed?
In late 2021, the Louisiana Quarter Horse
Breeders Association board began hearing concerns from its members about integrity
of racing in the state. According to LQHBA executive director Bruce Salard, there were rumors about possible use of a new synthetic performance- enhancing medication that could not be detected in testing. Salard and the LQHBA board decided to conduct a fact-finding mission.
Ahead of the Louisiana Million Futurity in December, Salard asked the commission whether the two organizations could collaborate on additional testing of the split samples from the race.
“With the support of the Louisiana state racing commissioners, especially Mr. Louis
commission do it under their custody and control,” Salard said.
Salard knew in advance that the winner and the runner-up from the race would
most likely be tested, but the stewards were responsible for choosing two additional horses for testing. Of course, he did not know which horses would finish where – and the point was general surveillance, not to take a look at any one operation.
“The forensic testing was never done to target any horse, any trainer, any owner. The forensic testing was done to find prohibited substances,” Salard said. “It was a surprise because there was never any intention to target anyone or entrap anyone. There are 13 board members on the LQHBA and therefore everyone had knowledge of it, and you know how many trainers they know.