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, ,. New Jersey Report By FRED GALIANI New Way of Getting Urine Samples Plastic Mat Is Great Time Saver Developed by Ex-Jockey Trenchard MONMOUTH PARK, Oceanport, N. J., June 26. Steadily over the years, public confidence has been built up to the point where thoroughbred racing is recognized as the most honest, regulated and supervised sport in the country. Of all the safeguards for the publics benefit, none has been more reliable than the urinalysis. The winner of every race is so tested following his effort and spot checks of other horr.es are made daily. The public knows this is done, but few are aware of the difficult job in obtaining speci-ments of a horses urine. A racing commission inspector accompanies the horse to be tested and stays with him until he obtains a sample. This may take quite some time, and there are extreme cases on record where nine hours have elapsed before a horse relieved himself. All this is not too good for the horsemen The animal becomes upset, is kept from his .food and, in general, disturbed. For that matter, the commission man is no better off as he must remain until his mission is completed. Now a newmethod has been developed for obtaining: urine samples, which has been endorsed by the horsemen, officials and others. The new device is the brainchild of Sidney Trenchard, former jockey and now an owner and trainer. As the system in use now goes, the commission man is equipped with a long stick, to which is attached a tin cup, and he waits until the horse relieves himself. The presence of the man with the stick often works to opposite effects and the horse freezes, especially juveniles. Trenchard?s system leaves the horse alone. He has devised an acid resistant plastic mat, 10 feet by 12 feet, which contains 240 wells, each about a half inch deep and six inches apart. This portable mat is placed in a horses stall, then covered with fresh straw. After the horse to be tested has been cooled out, he is left alone in the stall. The straw over the plastic mat gives off a rustling sound. In over 50 demonstrations with the new mat, no sample has taken more than five minutes to obtain, a remarkable time saving. Now after the horse has relieved himself, he is led out of the stall and the commission man, in the presence of the trainer or representative, takes samples from the wells in the mat. There are enough wells to insure a full specimen. The sample is taken in an acid resistant, eight-ounce plastic bottle, equipped with a six-inch suction nozzle. After the sample has been sucked up the nozzle of the pipette is sealed with electric pliers, containing locked letters. The nozzle becomes flattened out, heat sealed, and the space is embedded with the name of the horse and the date and the inspectors number. The only way the specimen can, be removed is to cut the bottle. After the mat has been used, it is taken out and cleaned, by washing or steam. The mats dry in 20 minutes. Naturally the most important advantage of the new mat is the saving of time. Trenchard has demonstrated the mat to a number of horsemen, mostly here, since he is on this beat. Both the New York and New Jersey HBPA have approved it and the Maryland group has requested a demonstration. Most of the tests have been made in New Jersey and turfmen going on record in favor of it are Tom Barry, Joe Carroll, Warner Jones, Jr., Mrs. F. Wal-lis Armstrong, Sarge Swenke, Herman Del-man, Eddie Feakes, Al Cochrane, A. H. Bowen, Howard Hausner and many others. Every test has resulted in getting r. specimen, a 100 per cent average, and all were accomplished in less than five minutes. For example, Larry A., winner of his last two races, has required 4 hours for his j test. With the mat it took exactly 4 minutes and 43 seconds. Time Break, a two-hour horse, relieved himself in 1:46 seconds. The advantage in this mat system are self evident. Trenchard showed his device to a number of state racing: commissioners who were present this past week -at the an- nual NASRC convention. The idea was well received and he has received requests for detailed explanations and samples. Officials in New Jersey have taken a favorable impression of it and it is likely that an official try out will be sponsored by the N. J. Racing Commission, which may lead t its adoption.
