Turfites are calling on the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority (TTRA) to ensure that horses are reliably tested for the presence of drugs and stimulants and to immediately amend the drug and medication regulation.

They say that the TTRA should be empowered to contract a testing laboratory, for the purpose of saliva, urine, or other tests, which they argue is nothing more critical to the integrity of racing and to the physical safety of horses and jockeys.

The TTRA must ensure that horses do not carry in their bodies while racing any legally or improper drugs, medications or substances.

Concerns have surfaced following a recent $500 fine imposed on trainer Christopher Prime for using a haemostatic medication (also called Kentucky Red), which is not on the list of banned substances.

The drug is an ingredient in a supplement for performance horses, mainly used for “bleeders” and horses with joint problems.

Prime’s horse, Traviata, was not on the list of “bleeders”.

He was charged under section 62.2 of the rules of racing which deals with corrupt and fraudulent practices.

The horse was also disqualified from first place.

But some trainers are arguing that since the medication is not on the banned list of substances, the TTRA was wrong to impose a fine on Prime.

The haemostatic medication is not the list of prohibited of drugs in racing countries around the world.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is yet to place “Kentucky Red” on the list of banned substances.

Turfites say the TTRA is charged with the clear and unequivocal responsibility of protecting the integrity of racing by ensuring that horses in Trinidad race free of the taint of illegal drugs and medication.

The Act should empower the TTRA to promulgate administrative regulations, “restricting or prohibiting the use and administration of drugs or other improper acts to horses prior to taking part in a race”.

Some owners complain there exists in TnT a genuine and very real state of emergency regarding the rules and administrative regulations as they pertain to the drugs and medications that can be administered to thoroughbred horses prior to the day of a race.

“There is simply no effective or enforceable rule or administrative regulation on the books at the moment with respect to foreign substances that are unclassified,” one owner noted.

Up to last Saturday punters were questioning the sudden reversal form of two horses, which won.

“There are calls for the regulation to be immediately amended to fall within the mainstream of most other racing countries.

“The present administrative regulation is far too impractical for the racing industry.

“The present situation is totally intolerable and until this emergency regulation is effected and carries the force of the law, the TTRA is effectively incapable of adequately policing the racing industry and ensuring, to the extent possible, the physical safety of jockey who ride and to protect the punters from unscrupulous trainers,” a former racing official said.

“It is vital that this emergency amendment to the drug and medication regulation be in effect before next month,” he added.