TESTING OF GREYHOUNDS REVEALS LOW EXPOSURE TO COCAINE

This letter is in response to Alan Snel's article ``Drugs Taint
Integrity Of Greyhound Racing'' (Nation/World, May 3). Snel's article
leaves the impression that illicit drug use in racing greyhounds is
running rampant with no control or corrective processes in place - a
gross misrepresentation of the state's regulation of the greyhound
racing industry.

A finding of cocaine in even one racing greyhound is cause for
concern. In addition to being an illegal substance and having no
legitimate therapeutic use, there is no proven evidence that cocaine
makes a dog run faster. When there is a positive finding of an illegal
substance such as cocaine, an investigation is immediately opened by
the Division of Pari- Mutuel Wagering and the owner and/or trainer of
the greyhound in question is held accountable through a combination of
fines, suspension or revocation and the redistribution of the purse.

Snel's figures, taken completely out of context, greatly distort their
significance. Post-race urine samples are collected under tight
security controls and tested at the Racing Laboratory at the
University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine. The vast
majority of the overall positive findings involve the misuse of
therapeutic drugs such as anti-inflammatories or analgesic
medications.

For the three-year period cited by Snel, almost 104,000 urine samples
were thoroughly tested by the racing lab, with positive findings for
cocaine in only 117 cases. That is approximately one-tenth of 1
percent positive findings for cocaine, or one in every 889 greyhounds
tested. While still of concern, many findings show only a very low
trace of cocaine exposure in the dogs.

Florida's Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering is committed to protecting
the safety and welfare of racing animals and the public. Sanctions
imposed against greyhound owners and trainers who violate state
statutes and rules are significant - even in some cases shutting them
out of the industry for good. The overwhelming majority of people
associated with the greyhound racing industry abide by Florida
Statutes and rules. A very small number of individuals are responsible
for most of the cocaine positive findings and they are disciplined
accordingly. This is a complex issue for which Snel provided only a
fraction of the facts.

The writer is director of the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel
Wagering.