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Veterinary Panel in England Files Report on Drugs Study LONDON, England, May 2 Reuters. — Lord Irwin, senior steward of the British Jockey Club until he retired by rotation from the stewardship recently, informed the jockey club that a panel of veterinary surgeons had been appointed in July last year to investigate the use of drugs in the treatment of race horses and other attendant matters, and that an interim report had now been received from the panel. It is understood that this confidential report was short, and served to indicate the lines upon which the panel was working. The club would, of course, be informed when the final report was received. The panel of veterinary surgeons has made tests on race horses, using various drugs, with the object of finding what effect the drugs have on the performances of the horses. These experiments have also been useful in indicating what physical signs can be seen on a horse who has been tampered with. This will make the detection of doping more certain and easier. One of the biggest problems at the moment is that far too many horses run in races for it to be practicable to test them all, and not enough is known of the detectable symptoms of doping. The panel has also interested itself in the distinction between a legitimate tonic and a dope. The difference is sometime slight. A horse, under normal veterinary treatment, may be given a medicine which contains a stimulant. Another matter investigated has been the analytical methods used on sweat and saliva samples to determine whether a stimulant has been administered. Much of the evidence collected is highly technical and it is understood that it will take some time to sift.
