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NEW RULES FOR SALIVA TEST Trainer, Owner or Agent Must Be Present at Sample Taking. Sample- to Be Sealed In Jar With Owners or Representatives Signature Written on Seal. Drastic changes strengthening and tightening the rules concerned with the taking of saliva tests at all Illinois race tracks have been made by the Illinois Racing Commission, it was revealed Monday by the commissions secretary, George H. Foster. These alterations and additions, designed to protect both the public and the owners and trainers themselves, will go into effect with the opening of the six-months Chicago turf season at Aurora on May 1. As has been the custom in Illinois, saliva tests will continue to be used to prevent the illegal stimulation of horses. Illinois rules call for a test to be taken of the winner of each race and also of any other horses which may have aroused the suspicions of the stewards. This will be the practice in 1937, but a six-fold system of protection for the trainers of such horses has been instituted, placing Illinois far ahead of other states in this practice. MUST BE PRESENT. During the taking of these saliva tests, the rule always provided that the trainer of the horse may be present. The rule has been reworded to make attendance compulsory of the trainer, the owner, or an agent authorized by them in writing, or their chemist. The trainer may indicate at this time his desire to be present or to have a chemist representing him present, when the jars are opened at the laboratory for the tests. If he does so, he will be notified by letter as to the time the tests will be made and the jar will not be opened until his arrival. Following the taking of the test, the samples will be sealed in a glass jar as usual with the trainers signature on the seal. Each jar is to be placed in an individual steel container made expressly for the purpose. These steel containers will in turn be placed in a steel carrying case large enough to hold ten tests. The case will then be locked in a steel safe and each track shall furnish a guard, to be appointed by the racing commission, who shall be on duty each day from the first test through the last. EXTRA PRECAUTIONS. Thus, is removed all possibility that the saliva specimens may be tampered with from the time taken until the time opened to be examined at the laboratory. In addition to rules concerning the saliva tests, the commission will require each track to be more strict with the licensing of stable help. No stable badges shall be issued to anyone until application for a state license Continued on twenty-third page. NEW RULES FOR SALIVA TEST Continued from first page. has been filed. Stricter policing of the grounds will be inaugurated, and each watchman must report daily the area policed and must admit no one but licensed help. A letter of instructions must be sent to each watchman by the track and the watchman will be held, individually responsible for the area policed by him. Licensing of trainers, jockeys and stable help for the Aurora and Washington Park meetings is to begin in the near future, secretary Foster intimated, for the opening of the local season is little more than two weeks in the future.
