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All American Finalists Return Clean Hair Tests
All of the horses in this year's All American Futurity and Derby have passed pre-competition hair tests.

© Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
All American Finalists Return Clean Hair Tests

Q-RACING—AUGUST 30, 2017—The fields for the All American Futurity and All American Derby, as well as the consolation races - the All American Juvenile and First Down Dash - have all come back with clean hair tests.

The New Mexico Racing Commission implemented hair testing on July 1. The rule allows the NMRC to place a horse on the stewards list for 60 days if it is found to be positive for certain prohibited substances. The rule does not allow for a trainer to be sanctioned with a fine or suspension, and that is based on the difficulty of determining when a drug was administered when tested in hair.

All of the 40 horses eligible to race in the four All American races, worth a combined $4.6 million, have passed the hair test.

One of the objectives that AQHA Chief Racing Officer Janet VanBebber has been working on is encouraging the different racing jurisdictions to implement the use of hair in out-of-competition testing, exercising reciprocity between the states, and making clenbuterol a prohibited drug.

"All of these measures were to help horsemen compete with the confidence that they faced an even playing field, and more importantly, to protect the welfare of the horses," VanBebber said. "I am very pleased that the New Mexico Racing Commission and the management at Ruidoso Downs have implemented all of these objectives as they approached the All American Futurity and other upcoming key races. I applaud them for sending the world a strong message that they are taking a stand to improve the integrity of racing."

The All American Derby and First Down Dash will be run on Sunday, September 3. The All American Futurity and Juvenile will be run on Monday, September 4.