An undisclosed number of positive tests for the class 3 drugs phenylpropanoloamine and norpseudoephedrine has prompted the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) to urge trainers to scrutinize any herbal products or food supplements they feed their horses. Fifteen trainers were notified on Aug. 9 by the board, asking them to avoid a specific herbal product. The CHRB also sent memos to official veterinarians at California racetracks asking them to remind trainers to be aware of the contents of herbal products and food supplements.

CHRB spokesman Mike Marten would confirm neither the positive tests nor the existence of an investigation. He did say the warnings sent to trainers involved a product sold by a vendor who was not licensed by the board but may have gained access to the stable area using an owner’s license.

Trainer Richard Mandella, who said he was not one of the 15 trainers notified by the CHRB, identified the product as “Herbal Advantage.” Promotional material from its distributor, “Herbman Products” of Manhattan Beach, Calif., said it “promotes, healthy, happy horses,” and has endorsements attributed to trainers Wallace and Craig Dollase and jockey Gary Stevens.

The internet site promoting “Herbal Advantage” could not be accessed and the telephone number listed in the product’s promotional material has been disconnected