by Jessica Barnes, for the Indiana Horse Racing Commission

Indianapolis, IN — The Indiana Horse Racing Commission reports a total of 38 rulings for positive tests for prohibited substances or substances over threshold levels at the 2014 Hoosier Park race meet. An additional 18 tests currently await adjudication.

A number of factors contributed to the record positive count. The two most significant factors include the adoption of RCI Model Medication Rules (the Model Rules) with regulatory threshold levels for a large number of therapeutic medications and the primary testing lab’s delay in reporting positive test results. Earlier this year, prior to the commencement of the Indiana Grand race meet, the Commission adopted the Model Rules. Like most every other racing jurisdiction that adopted those rules, Indiana saw a spike in positive results.

“With the horsemen, both in Indiana and nationally, becoming acclimated to the new threshold levels and timely lab reports, I’d expect to see a substantial decline in positive tests in 2015,” said Joe Gorajec, IHRC Executive Director.

The Commission staff is working with the Indiana Department of Administration (IDOA) to issue a new Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify a new lab for 2015. Commission staff, along with IDOA, will evaluate lab proposals. Pursuant to the State’s procurement process, the final selection will be made by the IDOA.

The new RFP will require the applicant lab submit an education plan geared at horsemen and veterinarians. “Our goal is for horsemen to utilize therapeutic drugs responsibly and avoid positive tests,” said Gorajec.

A synopsis of all 2014 positive test rulings to date is provided on IHRC’s website at http://www.in.gov/hrc.