'Supertest' start still uncertain

A Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association board member, Dell Hancock, updated the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority on Monday about the planned "supertesting" protocol for American graded stakes. The protocol, which would create standardized increased drug testing on graded stakes, had been set to begin July 1 but was delayed because not all jurisdictions were ready to implement the testing regimen. Hancock said the American Graded Stakes Committee would meet in mid-August to set a new start date. The state racing authority voted to consider the protocol at its Aug. 16 meeting.

In a related item, the racing authority announced that it was in the process of naming nine new members to the Equine Drug Research Council, which has not met since last autumn.