Medication Crossroad

The Blood-Horse‘s editor-in-chief shares his thoughts on racehorse drug testing and penalties for violations.
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What to do with Thoroughbred racehorse Doug O’Neill and his most recent drug positive in New York that resulted in a 45-day suspension for the Southern California-based trainer and a ban from participating in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships?

O’Neill was suspended when a gelding named Wind of Bosphorus tested positive for oxazepam, a Class 2 drug considered by the Association of Racing Commissioners International to have a high potential to affect performance. Class 2 drugs include generally accepted therapeutic medications with “high potential for abuse.”

Oxazepam is in the same drug family as diazepam, or Valium, which is a muscle relaxant. According to the New York State Gaming Commission, the drug was administered within a week of the horse’s race June 2, 2013, which is a violation of state regulation.

Though O’Neill has already accepted his suspension, his problems don’t stop in New York

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Written by:

Eric Mitchell is a Editorial Director and Editor-in-Chief The Blood-Horse magazine.

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