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Michigan Department of Agriculture

Michigan Department of Agriculture. 1999 DRUG DETECTION CREW FAIRS AND RACING DIVISION Michelle L. Curell. MDA Drug Crew’s Objectives. The job of the drug detection crew is to ensure the fairness of all races and safety of all horses, drivers, horse pullers and spectators.

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Michigan Department of Agriculture

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  1. Michigan Department of Agriculture 1999 DRUG DETECTION CREW FAIRS AND RACING DIVISION Michelle L. Curell

  2. MDA Drug Crew’s Objectives The job of the drug detection crew is to ensure the fairness of all races and safety of all horses, drivers, horse pullers and spectators.

  3. Safety Is A Priority Breathalyzers are administered to all drivers. Any driver who fails to submit to the breathalyzer will not be allowed to race and will be fined by the judge. A strict zero tolerance rule is enforced.

  4. Information Collection As a race is completed, vital information from the winning horses is recorded on I.d. tags. Horses name, age, sex, race number and tattoo are recorded to ensure the proper horse is sampled.

  5. Urine Sample Collection Horses are generally cross tied in the stall. The drug crew member then whistles to the horse. Whistling encourages the horses to cooperate, as they are trained to recognize it as the command to urinate

  6. Blood Collection Often if a urine sample cannot be obtained, a blood sample will be drawn. Drug crew members are certified by the MDA or MSU to draw blood. Six tubes of blood must be collected from each horse, to allow enough to be tested. All blood samples are processed like urine samples.

  7. Collection of Pulling Horses Collection of pulling horses is done on a random basis. These horses are not trained to urinate on command, so collection can be more difficult. The drug crew collects a sample from any horse that they see or hear urinating. Usually the drug crew will pull blood on the top two teams of horses, at the judges request.

  8. Identifying Samples After a sample is collected, it is tagged with the corresponding I.d tag. The tube is then sealed with a plastic fastener. Then it is taped shut with evidence tape and bar coded. Then the horse’s tattoo is checked.

  9. Processing of Samples Once a sample is sealed, it then placed into a small metal box. This box is then locked and cannot be opened until it reaches the MDA lab. These boxes are then placed into a cooler with ice to keep them cool.

  10. At the Lab After all racing for the day is completed, the samples are transported to the MDA laboratory on Harrison road, in East Lansing.

  11. Compound Testing The laboratory technicians take the cases out of the cooler, unlock both cases and scan the bar code. The techs then run a series of seven tests, which will find even trace amounts of 14,650 different compounds that are banned from use in harness racing and horse pulling.

  12. Delivery of Samples At the lab, the samples are transferred from the cooler to the red cases, which are in turn locked. These cases are placed in the cooler, until the lab techs open and process them.

  13. Log-in of Samples All the red cases have a number on the top of the case. These numbers must be recorded on the log-in sheet. Whoever delivers the samples must sign-in the log-in sheet and record the time that samples where placed in the cooler. The delivery person must also signify that these are fair samples.

  14. Facilities All transportation and equipment used by the drug detection crew is provided by the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

  15. The Home Office The drug detection crew is based out the the MDA laboratory. This is where all supplies are stored, picked up and the drug crew meets to travel.

  16. Supplies Coolers, I.d. tags, breathalyzer tubes, collection tubes and sticks, ice and cases are all stored at the MDA lab. The fair crew has a separate section for storage of supplies and is supplied directly by the lab techs.

  17. Transportation The drug crew is provided with a state owned vehicle, in this case van. All supplies and necessities are either stored or placed in the van after pick up from the lab.

  18. Travel After all the needed supplies from the day are packed, the crew departs from the MDA lab and travels to the fair.

  19. Importance Harness racing in Michigan is a $1.2 billion dollar industry in Michigan. Racing provides over 42,300 jobs. There are an estimated 77,000 race bred horses in Michigan. Racing provides direct support to Michigan’s 4-H programs. Racing provides entertainment to countless horse and racing fans.

  20. For More Information Michigan Department of Agriculture-Fairs and Racing William Woodman 517-373-9762 MDA Fair Drug Crew Supervisor MDA Web site www.mda.state.mi.us/about/index.html

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