Page 32 - August 2017

Erico Braga hoists the trophy with Marcos Sa, Butch Wise & Vince Genco.
AQHA First Vice President Dr. Jim Heird
AQHA Chief Racing Officer Janet VanBebber
Anti-Doping
For the racing industry, one of the most notable things that took place during the trip was the presentation of a plaque to recognize ABQM and the Jockey Club de Sorocaba’s dedication
to drug testing. It marked the culmination of a project that started three years ago when another AQHA delegation, led by AQHA Past President Johnny Trotter, visited Brazil.
“We made a trip down there, and one of these things that came out of those meetings was that they wanted to establish a drug protocol,” said Butch Wise, who was part of that trip. “And so, it has taken those three years to get that accomplished.”
“Nobody pushed harder than Mauro Zaborowsky,” added Vince Genco, who was also on the trip three years ago. “He was probably the biggest influence behind the drug-free deal. He just wouldn’t give up.
“A lot of the people who I do business
with, all of them were very much for it when I explained to them all the advantages of the drug testing,” Genco continued. “I also talked to them about the animal welfare aspect of it, and that got their attention immediately, because they are having a lot of trouble in Brazil. There’s a big animal rights movement down there, just like there is here in the U.S.”
The AQHA Challenge Championship races held in Brazil have always followed U.S. drug rules, but the same could not be said of other races. Beginning in 2018, all overnight and stakes races at the Jockey Club de Sorocaba will include drug testing.
“This year they only had two races that were not tested, and they were giving those races time to adjust to it, because they want to be 100 percent tested,” Genco said.
AQHA Executive Committee Member Butch Wise
AQHA Chief International Officer Dr. Anna Morrison
30 SPEEDHORSE, August 2017