§175. Unnatural stimulation of horses; willful pulling of reins

A. The possession and use of scheduled drugs shall be governed by the following provisions:

(1) Except as otherwise provided herein, no person shall administer or apply or cause to be administered or applied to any horse which has been entered in any race, or have in his possession within the confines of a racetrack or racetrack stables, sheds, or buildings on racetrack grounds where horses are kept which are eligible to race over a racetrack of any racing association or licensee, any drug, chemical, or other substance which is listed on Schedules I, II, III, IV, or V of the schedules of controlled dangerous substances established by the Drug Enforcement Agency of the United States or Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

(2) The provisions of this Subsection shall not prohibit the possession or use of scheduled drugs by veterinarians licensed by the racing commission and engaged in the lawful treatment of horses. If a horse is entered in a race and is subsequently treated with a scheduled drug, the veterinarian shall report the treatment to the Louisiana State Racing Commission steward for the track at which the horse is entered in a race. The steward shall order the owner of the horse to withdraw the horse from the race.

B. The administration of any drug which is not included in the schedules of controlled dangerous substances shall be governed by the rules and regulations adopted by the Louisiana State Racing Commission unless it is a drug that could unnaturally stimulate, excite, or depress a horse and would influence the outcome of a race.

C. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall supply a list of all scheduled controlled dangerous substances to the Louisiana State Racing Commission and to each licensed racing association in the state. The department shall also supply a list of changes in the schedules to the same entities.

D. No person shall administer or apply or cause to be administered or applied to any horse which has been entered in any race, or have in his possession within the confines of a racetrack or racetrack stables, sheds, or buildings on racetrack grounds where horses are kept which are eligible to race over a racetrack of any racing association or licensee, any electric battery or other apparatus, which might have the effect of unnaturally depressing, stimulating, or exciting any horse during any race.

E. No jockey mounted on any horse during a race shall willfully pull the reins, or do anything whatsoever that has the effect of diminishing the chance of the horse winning any race whether such action on the part of the jockey is of his own accord, by instructions from the owner of the horse, or as a result of a conspiracy with any other person.

F. The commission shall investigate any violation of this Section and shall make written report of it to the district attorney, and shall send a copy of the report to the attorney general.

G. Whoever violates or attempts to violate this Section shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not less than one nor more than five years, or both.

Acts 1987, No. 780, §1.