On Wednesday, the Paulick Report learned that six of the 10 finalists in Friday night's $731,650 Sam Houston Futurity for 2-year-old Quarter Horses at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas, were found to have either clenbuterol or albuterol in hair samples taken on May 15.
Two other horses' sample sizes were insufficient and two of the 10 tested clean.
Thursday, Sam Houston Race Park announced that Friday's Grade 2 race will be held as a non-wagering event, and that trainers of horses testing positive will be barred from entering at the track, effective immediately.
The full statement from Sam Houston is as follows:
The Texas Racing Commission (TxRC) performed two separate testing methods on the qualifiers for the Sam Houston Futurity.
· Post-race Blood and Urine samples on the qualifying nights (May 7 and May 8)
· Hair Test samples on May 15th
Throughout this time period, all qualifiers were required to remain on Sam Houston Race Park (SHRP) property until the conclusion of the finals. TxRC staff notified SHRP that all post-race samples were negative for the ten qualifying participants prior to entry day on May 21 for the Sam Houston Futurity Finals.
On Wednesday, May 26, TxRC staff informed Sam Houston Race Park of the following results from the hair testing performed on May 15:
· Six (6) positive results for either Clenbuterol and or Albuterol (both prohibited in Texas)
· Two (2) results were deemed inconclusive
· Two (2) results were negative
A second hair sample was taken on May 26 of those horses who tested positive or inconclusive.
Based on this information, and to protect the interest of the wagering public, Sam Houston Race Park will conduct the running of this race as a NON-WAGERING event and those Sam Houston Futurity participants will compete for purse money only.
Effective immediately and until further notice, Sam Houston Race Park will stop accepting future entries from those trainers whose horses tested positive. Entries have already been accepted through Thursday, June 3, 2021.
Sam Houston Race Park reserves the right to issue further disciplinary actions against the trainers of these horses, pending actions of the Texas Racing Commission, including the results of second hair test samples if applicable.
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