| You've spent days studying the betting odds and | | | | 2.Less than 10% of runners are tested |
| analysing race statistics, and you're confident that | | | | In British horse racing, which boasts sophisticated |
| you're backing a winner. After all, the horse has had a | | | | testing procedures, less than 10% of runners are |
| long run of good form. But on the day of the race, | | | | tested. When you consider that in the UK |
| your winner is disqualified for testing positive for drugs! | | | | approximately 94,000 runners participate in races |
| The one variable you didn't consider... | | | | annually, this leaves more than 85,000 runners untested |
| You may find some comfort in knowing that the | | | | every year. |
| European Horseracing Scientific Liaison Committee | | | | This can be detrimental to your bet because horses |
| (EHSLC) has laid down rules to protect betters against | | | | that are competing against each other may have been |
| the use of banned substances in horse racing. If your | | | | given performance-enhancing drugs, |
| horse is disqualified before the race, you won't lose | | | | performance-inhibiting drugs, and masking agents that |
| any money and you can always resort to Plan B. But | | | | go undetected. If this happens, you stand the chance |
| is this where the risks end? | | | | of losing money because your future bets will be |
| A closer look at the testing procedures and penalties | | | | based on unreliable performance statistics. |
| highlights some areas of contention that questions | | | | 3. Results are not widely publicised |
| whether your bet is based on reliable statistics. | | | | Drug scandals in sport have been making international |
| 1. Testing takes place after the race | | | | news headlines from as far back as the 1950's, |
| Horses are usually tested by racecourse stewards | | | | highlighting the use of banned substances to improve |
| based on their performance in the race. If a long-priced | | | | performance in humans. However, drug-related |
| horse wins the race, this usually serves as a warning | | | | incidents involving horses appear to be rare. Is this |
| for the presence of performance-enhancing drug. If | | | | because drugs are rarely used to improve the |
| they test positive, they can be suspended and their | | | | performance of horses? Are offenders not being |
| trainers fined. | | | | caught? Or are cases just not being publicized? |
| But how does this benefit you? If you don't know that | | | | Nevertheless, the good spirit of horseracing far |
| a horse was suspended after a race, or that its owner | | | | outweighs the negatives. It's a pastime that's meant to |
| was heavily fined, how will you know that the | | | | be fun with the chance of winning some money in the |
| performance was drug-induced? Your careful analysis | | | | process. |
| and forecasting, therefore, goes down the drain. | | | | |