Irish racing’s regulatory body is about to introduce pre-race testing as part of an expansion of its anti-doping policy.
The finishing touches are being applied by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) to a system that will allow blood tests be taken from runners at tracks before they race.
The aim is to ensure horses are not racing with medication or other drugs that could alter their performance.
Pre-race testing has been an option for other jurisdictions for some years, including the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).
It has proved controversial at times including in 2019 when Irish trainer Jessica Harrington complained that one of her horses was tested shortly before being narrowly beaten at Salisbury.
Harrington said at the time that taking a sample “could raise a horse’s blood pressure, contract spleen and/or provide an adrenaline rush, all of which you don’t want happening just over half an hour before a Group 3.”
An IHRB spokesman said on Friday: “We are putting the final touches to rolling it out. It will shortly be in operation as part of our anti-doping strategy.
“On-arrival testing is another avenue we will be exploring over the coming months. On arrival testing is literally when the horse arrives they might try to get a urine sample. Pre-race testing will be a blood sample.”
Shake-up
In February, a radical shake-up of Irish racing’s anti-doping system was announced by Horse Racing Ireland.
It included a pledge for twice yearly activity reports on testing from the IHRB, the first of which was released on Friday.
The report showed that 2,499 samples were taken in the first half of 2021 of which 1,752 (72 per cent) were taken on the racecourse and at point-to-points. A total of 697 (28 per cent) were taken as part of an out-of-competition testing programme.
Just 10 (0.4 per cent of all samples taken) showed adverse analytical findings, none of which were substances that are prohibited at all times such as anabolic steroids.
The IHRB said it has inspected 33 equine premises since the start of the year and tested at 18 of them, seven of which were unlicensed premises.
A spokesperson also said the IHRB board is set to meet on Monday and is likely to examine the formal processes required to replace its out-going chief executive, Denis Egan.
On Thursday, Egan (60), who has been chief executive of the regulatory body for almost 20 years, confirmed he will step down in September as part of an early retirement scheme.
