The California Horse Racing Board, under fire for its drug enforcement policies, would dramatically change penalties for many violations and repeat offenses under recommendations passed on to the full commission by its medication committee Jan. 9.

About 50 people, including veterinarians, trainers and owners, attended the four-hour meeting at Santa Anita. The committee recommended approval of penalty guidelines developed by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, a national body advocating uniform rule enforcement, as well as a revision of classifications of some 800 drugs advanced by the Association of Racing Commissioners International. The CHRB committee, on the advice of its equine medical director Rick Arthur, DVM, made some adjustments to both the drug classifications and penalty guidelines.

In addition, the committee is suggesting a 28-day withdrawal period before a horse treated with the bronchodilator clenbuterol will be allowed to run, and took the first steps toward prohibiting the use of anabolic steroids in California. It is also urging a rule amendment that would prohibit veterinarians from falsifying reports.

Richard Shapiro, the CHRB commission chairman and a member of the medication committee, said the board “wants a fair and equitable system for all participants.” The rules extend penalties beyond the trainers to include owners and veterinarians, where appropriate