Commission adds teeth to drug enforcement

The Maine State Harness Racing Commission met twice this week, Wednesday in Augusta and Thursday in Union. At both meetings, commissoners heard appeals and worked on solutions to the problem of increased drug detection, primarily with the drug trichloromethiazide, more commonly known as Noquazone.

Commissioners indicated earlier this year they would “put some teeth” in enforcing rules against all illegal drugs in Maine.

Noquazone is not a new drug in Maine, just new to the state’s detection equipment. The commission is taking a tough attitude against drug violators and currently has positive results on more than 30 active cases of illegal use of Noquazone in Maine.

The two meetings on Wednesday and Thursday were spent hammering out what they consider an equitable solution to strengthen and enforce the laws against drug use violators.

Noquazone aids breathing and reduces inflammation in a racehorse. It has the properties of both Lasix and Bute (butazolidin), but is a much less harsh drug.

On Wednesday, commissioners set a deadline on what they consider equitable treatment for drug violators by opting for consent agreements on Noquazone positives. Effective Wednesday, Aug. 21, trainers, the ultimate people responsible for the condition of a racehorse, will have the option of signing a consent agreement for any positive test of Noquazone.

According to the racing commission office, if the consent agreement is signed, the trainer of record will pay a $100 fine; the owner of the horse will return any purse earnings gained during the race in question; there will be a 30-day suspended sentence on the trainer’s record; and the trainer will be placed on a probationary period for approximately one year.

If any trainer has a horse show up with a positive test for any illegal substance in a horse during that probationary period, stiffer measures, such as suspension of licenses, will be initiated by the racing commission for an unspecified period. The trainer still has the option to appeal any commission findings.

The racing commission still has additional suspect urine samples being tested at the state laboratory.

Anyone with a horse found with a positive test for Noquazone after the Aug. 21 date will be heard before the commission on an individual basis. All previous cases on record (as of this date) are eligible to sign the consent agreement. —

Union Fair continues its fair and racing program through Saturday. Post time is 2 p.m. every day.

Harness racing moves to Cumberland Fair for a week, beginning on Sunday. Post times are: 2 p.m. Sunday; 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; and 1 p.m., Sept. 2, Labor Day.