From a Maryland Racing Commission release
In Maryland’s continuing effort to comply with the Mid Atlantic Uniform Medication and Drug Testing program which requires laboratories to be fully accredited, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved a 5-year contract with Truesdail Laboratories of Tustin California on Wednesday, February 5, 2014. Truesdail Laboratories will perform the analytical analysis of all urine and blood specimens taken from horses competing in Maryland races.
“The implementation of the Truesdail Laboratories contract is another step in the Maryland Racing Commission’s comprehensive medication reform policy and its ongoing efforts to provide for the safety of our human and equine athletes and to ensure the integrity of our sport,” said Maryland Racing Commission Chairman Bruce Quade.
The implementation of this contract will provide the Maryland Racing industry with state-of-the-art technologies to screen, quantitate and confirm drugs and medications administered to horses which exceed the permissive levels allowed by regulation or are not allowed to be present in a horse’s system on race day. The partnership with Truesdail Laboratories along with other aspects of the medication policy will reinforce the integrity of horse racing in Maryland and will ensure that the Preakness is consistent with other legs of the Triple Crown Races regarding medication policies. The services of Truesdail Laboratories will begin with races conducted at Laurel Park on Saturday February 8, 2014.
