The Connecticut Department of Agriculture announced Friday it has prohibited two owners of draft horses from entering animals in draft pulling contests at fairs in Connecticut after their horses tested positive for the presence of drugs. The Department conducted random drug testing on animals participating in the draft horse pulling contests at the North Stonington Agricultural Fair held on July 11, 2010. Laboratory analysis of blood samples obtained by Department staff confirmed the presence of an anabolic steroid drug in two horses.
One of the horses testing positive at the North Stonington Fair was entered and owned by the Perkins Family of North Stonington. The other horse was entered and owned by Eric French and Son, also of North Stonington. Connecticut law requires that the owners of animals testing positive for the presence of drugs entered in pulling contests be prohibited from entering any future contests held in the state for a period of one year. As a result, the Perkins Family, including Mark Sr., Mark Jr. and Court, and Eric French and Son (Eric Jr.) are prohibited from entering any animals in draft pulling contests within the state for a period of one year. The law also requires that the animals in which a drug is detected be prohibited from being entered into pulling contests for a period of one year.
The Department of Agriculture has an ongoing program, with specific legislative funding, to test for the presence of drugs in animals entered in pulling competitions. The testing is conducted on a random, unannounced basis. The purpose of the program is to assure that animals entered into the contests are not mistreated with the use of performance-enhancing and other types of drugs; that participants in the event do not have an advantage due to the effects of an administered drug; and that spectators can be assured that they are watching an honest contest.
“These draft pulling events, a long-standing tradition at our Connecticut Fairs, are enjoyed by many of the fairgoers – and, by working with the Connecticut Fair Association, these random tests not only preserve the fairness of the events but more importantly help ensure the wellbeing of the animals,” stated Agriculture Commissioner F. Philip Prelli.
