For eight years, the Water Hay Oats Alliance (WHOA) has slowly been gaining momentum in its pledge to rid American horse racing of performance-enhancing drugs and all race-day medication.

The movement’s aim is to achieve the passage of federal legislation in the form of the appointment of an independent anti-doping program run by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to “resolve the problem of widespread drug use in American racing and put U.S. racing jurisdictions in step with international standards.”

Bill HR 1754, if signed into law, will create and implement anti-doping, medication control, drug testing and racetrack safety standard programs enforced by an independent agency rather than the current state-by-state regulation of the sport.

Hundreds of supporters such as owners, trainers, breeders and others, in the U.S. and some in Canada, have pledged their support on the WHOA website.

And with the Sept. 29, 2020, unanimous passing of the bill HR 1754 by the United Sates House of Representatives, it appears that its efforts are working.

Bill HR 1754, if signed into law, will create and implement anti-doping, medication control, drug testing and racetrack safety standard programs enforced by an independent agency rather than the current state-by-state regulation of the sport.

Hundreds of supporters such as owners, trainers, breeders and others, in the U.S. and some in Canada have pledged their support on the WHOA website.

Following the passing of the bill, Staci Hancock, managing member of WHOA said, “The members of WHOA applaud Congressmen Paul Tonko and Andy Barr for their bipartisan leadership in working with all segments of our industry. Today’s passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) marks a much anticipated and long awaited day for our horses and horse racing. WHOA’s grassroots efforts have been focused on enacting legislation for drug free racing under the independent oversight and management of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). The passage of HISA in the House of Representatives today is an important milestone on the way to setting these reforms into law.”

The use of performance-enhancing drugs by some horsepeople in racing has long been a problem and the lack of uniformity in legislation across racing jurisdictions confirms “America’s racing industry cannot police itself by eliminating” such drugs nor does it have the power to “adequately punish the purveyors of these drugs”, states the WHOA platform.

“Doping destroys public confidence in racing, defrauds the betting fan, weakens the genetic pool and, most importantly, puts the life and limb of our equine athletes and their jockeys at risk.”

Drug use in horse racing landed in mainstream media in March of last year when the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, after a long investigation, indicted 27 people, including high profile horse trainers Jason Servis and Jorge Navarro on federal charges that include mislabelling or misbranding blocking agents, masking agents, EPO agents and other products in a complex scheme to give racehorses performance-enhancing substances while avoiding detection.

In Canada the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) Equine Drug Control Program legislates, tests horses and issues elimination guidelines for a wide array of allowed medications but also is in place to deter the uncontrolled use of drugs or medication in racehorses.

“It is imperative that we bring uniformity to our North American racing. Clean racing and a level playing field are essential to be in line with rest of the world. We have been making very small steps in this direction, to no avail as I see it. It is now time to take large strides to accomplish this.” ~ Roger Attfield

In April 2020, the CPMA announced that Clenbuterol, used for breathing and bronchial disorders can no longer be used within 28 days of a horse racing. Its previous restriction was seven days out from a race.

This move was welcomed by many including Woodbine’s perennial leading trainer Mark Casse, also a supporter of WHOA. Casse said about his support of WHOA, “I continue to be frustrated by the lack of uniformity in our industry, and I know that WHOA is a big supporter of the Horseracing Integrity Act, as am I. It is my belief that it is our only chance to bring a level playing field to racing.”

Canadian and U.S. Hall of Famer Roger Attfield is also on board with WHOA. “It is imperative that we bring uniformity to our North American racing,” he said. “Clean racing and a level playing field are essential to be in line with rest of the world. We have been making very small steps in this direction, to no avail as I see it. It is now time to take large strides to accomplish this.”

However, WHOA’s platform also includes the elimination of race-day furosemide, Lasix, the anti-bleeding medication that the majority of horses compete with in North America but is banned in most international racing jurisdictions.

For the majority of horsepeople, Lasix is therapeutic and a necessity given horses bleed internally from the lungs due to physiology and environment. Most of the Canadian trainers contacted by Canadian Thoroughbred for this report who were familiar with WHOA — not all were — were not in support of it because of its proposed ban of Lasix, but applaud a move to uniform legislation.

“I’m all for uniformity in drug regulation,” said Dino Condilenios, a leading trainer in Canada based at Hastings Racecourse. “I believe there is a need for some therapeutic drugs that may help a horse from harm, such as Lasix and a few others. I rather be able to give a horse Lasix than see it bleed. But for the most part I am against most drugs in horse racing.”

Several other trainers echoed Condilenios’ sentiments with regards to Lasix. “I agree with having drug policies being the same at all tracks,” said Steven Chircop, who is based at Woodbine and has raced his horses in the U.S. during the winter months.

Others, who did not want to be named said they “were concerned” about WHOA’s stance of not allowing the use
of Lasix.

A common thread among statements from Canadian trainers, however, was going after the few who abuse drugs regarded as performance-enhancing.

“Unfortunately I think, we as an industry, are missing the bigger problem,” said Condilenios. “That is dealing with the trainers and horsemen that continually get positive tests or are caught cheating and aren’t dealt with severely enough. Whether it’s blood doping or synthetic drugs like those charged earlier this year [Servis, Navarro, etc.]; these are the types of things that harm horses, not Lasix and a few other therapeutic drugs. I would like to see cheaters and dopers out of the industry, or at least dealt with a lot more severely.”

Condilenios is not alone in his frustration.

“Those who abuse these drugs should be banned, that’s it,” said Chircop.

Both cite trainers who will suddenly have an improved record in victories.

“I follow racing all over North America and over the years I’ve seen many trainers go from being eight to 10 per cent winning trainers to 30-40 per cent overnight, and that’s where investigating needs to take place,” said Condilenios. “Did they get better horses, become more experienced or are they cheating?”

In essence, Canadian trainers support the general direction of WHOA, especially when it comes to the greater issue of performance-enhancing drug abuse by a few, but oppose the ban of Lasix which many believe is a necessary aid.

“I do support WHOA,” said Condilenios. “But there has to be some common sense to go along with it.”

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Originally published in the Canadian Thoroughbred 2021 Sire Book, Dec. 2020.