The six-month suspension of Delta Downs trainer Terry W. Vance after a horse he trains tested positive for Ractopamine, which is a Class 2 drug on the classification list of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, has not taken effect yet.
The suspension from Delta Downs stewards came as a result of the positive on the gelding Dak Attack after he romped to a 14 1/ 4 length victory in $4,000 claiming race at Delta Downs Dec. 4, 2009. The stewards recommended the suspension begin Feb. 20 and run through Aug. 20
Vance said he is continuing to train until the Louisiana Racing Commission acts on the stewards’ recommendation. It was incorrectly reported previously that the commission had suspended Vance.
According to the RCI "Uniform Guidelines for Foreign Substances," Class 2 drugs "have a high potential to affect performance, but less of a potential than Class 1 drugs, and are 1) not generally accepted as therapeutic agents in racing horses, or 2) they are therapeutic agents that have a high potential for abuse."
Marketed under the trade name Paylean, Ractopamine is a beta-adrenergic agonists that is used to increase muscle growth and decrease fat deposition and is approved by the FDA for use in swine.