State gaming commission ends drug testing requirement for claimed horses

On Monday, the New York State Gaming Commission eliminated a state rule requiring all claimed horses to be tested for illegal drugs and medications, saying the revision would save the state approximately $250,000.

Under the revision, owners of claimed horses still will be able to request that the horse be tested for illegal drugs or medications, but the owner will be responsible for the expense of approximately $150. If a horse tests positive for a banned drug or a medication violation, the owner can void the claim, as was the case under the previous rule.

Robert Williams, executive director of the gaming commission, told commission members that 2,286 Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds were claimed in New York in the most recent calendar year. While that figure works out to a potential savings of $342,000, Williams said the actual savings would be $262,000 because some claimed horses finished first and, therefore, automatically were tested.

Williams said the money saved by eliminating the requirement would go toward additional testing and research at the state’s equine laboratory.