Laboratory

The State Racing Commission Laboratory is an important link in the Racing Commission's effort to ensure that quality pari-mutuel racing exists within the Commonwealth. The primary function of the State Racing Commission Laboratory is to analyze samples of urine and blood for the presence of any drug which is of such character as could affect the racing condition of the animal. Samples are taken from every winning horse or greyhound and any other horse or greyhound designated by Racing Commission officials in cooperation with track officials.  A specially trained staff at modern facilities located within the State Laboratory Institute in Jamaica Plain performs testing.

INTEGRITY OF SAMPLES ENSURED

Special precautions are taken at all Massachusetts race tracks when post race urine and blood samples are collected to ensure that no tampering can take place. In order to assure the continuity-of-evidence, every winning horse or greyhound and all designated horses and greyhounds are under the surveillance of a uniformed Massachusetts State Police officer and a Racing Commission testing assistant from the finish of the race until specimens are obtained. All equine samples are properly identified and transported immediately after the close of each racing performance by a uniformed State Police officer to the Racing Commission Laboratory in Jamaica Plain and placed in a locked and refrigerated laboratory locker for analysis the following day. Canine samples are properly identified, locked in steel boxes, and delivered directly to laboratory personnel by private courier.

Racing Commission Laboratory personnel assume responsibility for custody of the samples once the samples are placed in the laboratory locker.  To avoid bias, the chemist identifies the sample by number only. After analysis, the results are reported directly to the State Racing Commission.