test positive for the drug and the Association of Racing LBUQUERQUE, NM — Welcome Commissioners International three New Mexico racehorses to the years ago recommended that the world of Zilpaterol and all that it harshest penalties possible be handed brings with it. Severe sweating, muscle down whenever the drug was found in tremors, an accelerated heart rate and, racehorses. if the dosage is potent enough, rup“It has no business being in a tured vessels. racehorse, ” Racing Commission Director Zilpaterol, according to Dr. Jerry Vince Mares said. “What they’re doCosper, a veterinarian and member of ing using Zilpaterol is beyond me. It’s the New Mexico Racing Commission, shocking to see the number of Zilpaaffects horses much the same way the terol (positives) we’re getting.” methamphetamine, commonly known Cosper said Zilpaterol can dramatias Speed, affects humans. cally increase the muscle and mass in “It increases the heart rate and increases the blood pressure. It increases cows within 48 hours. “It increases cell size immediately the adrenalin,” says Cosper. “It’s no difby maintaining water within the cells. It ferent from putting Speed in a horse.” What kind of damage can the drug puffs the cows up,” Cosper said. He said the Racing Commission do in a racehorse? has been told there is a nationwide “When you increase heart rate increase on the use of Zilpaterol. And past its normal metabolic use, you’re he suspects the drug has been around going to have some sort of increased horseracing for a while, “but now there pressure,” says Cosper. “You’re going is more sophisticated testing.” to have some sort of ruptured (blood) “We’re looking for it more than we vessels because they can only handle had in the past, I imagine, ” he said. so much pressure. You can compare There are currently at least four it to an adrenaline or Speed overdose cases of Zilpaterol positives pending in a human. At some point, the blood before the Racing Commission. Two of pressures will actually rupture vessels the four involve the same trainer, Salbecause they can’t handle it for that period of time. Then when you add that vador Oscar Vallejos. Two of his horses increased rate to extreme exercise, i.e. a tested positive for the drug within a two-week period at the Downs at Alburace, you just make it worse.” querque meet this fall. Zilpaterol poses one of the latest The penalties in that case could challenges in the Racing Commission’s ongoing and seemingly endless efforts include a three-year suspension and up to clean up horseracing in New Mexico. to a $50,000 fine. Two other positives for Zilpaterol Approved by the Food and Drug were found in horses trained by AnAdministration for use in cows headed thony C. Chavez and Francisco Campufor slaughter, it is banned from use in sano Chavez. Anthony Chavez’s horse, horses. Pt Phlyer, tested positive after winning Apparently, because the drug is known to increase muscle and body fat a race at The Downs at Albuquerque on Sept. 25, 2013, and Francisco Chavez in cows, Zilpaterol is now being found on the backside not only in New Mexico was the trainer of Get N Wacky, which tested positive after winning a race at but elsewhere. Last summer, three Zia Park on Sept. 30, 2013. trainers in Hong Kong had 17 horses
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By Pete Herrera
Francisco Chavez could end up facing a suspension of three years and a fine of up to $25,000, and Anthony Chavez could be suspended for three years and fined $10,000 if found guilty. The Racing Commission is also dealing with an apparent dramatic increase in the number of positives surfacing at the state’s racetracks for the drug Clenbuterol. “Absolutely it’s excessive,” said Mares, who told SureBet that there are three to four cases of Clenbuterol or Zilpaterol positives a week. “I haven’t compared it to other states, but these are drugs that are being highly abused on the backside.” Zilpaterol is listed as a Class 2 drug, and Clenbuterol is a Class 3. Only Class 1 drugs such as cocaine and dermorphin are considered more dangerous and carry more severe penalties for abuse than do Class 2 drugs. Some of the trainers who have had horses test positive for excessive Clenbuterol in recent months include some of the top quarter horse trainers in New Mexico. Juan Gonzalez is a two-time winner of the All American Futurity, including last year’s race with Handsome Jack Flash. His horse Caliente Colt tested positive for Clenbuterol after a race Sept. 28 at Zia Park. The Racing Commission said this is the second positive Gonzalez has been cited for within the last year. His case is pending and Gonzalez is facing a possible suspension of up to 180 days and a fine of $2,500 if found guilty. Eduardo Gonzalez has trained the runner-up horses in the last two All American Futurities – Sudden Thoughts in 2012 and Reagle Eagle in last September’s race. Two of his other horses – Desert Delight Cash and Celebrity Dasher, tested positive for excessive amounts of Clenbuterol at Zia Park on Oct. 20 and Nov. 2, 2013. SureBet RacingNews.com • February 2014 • Vol. 8 No. 2 9