Apomorphine added to banned race drugs

Summary#

These are final amendments to the Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations (SOR/2026-44), published in the Canada Gazette on March 25, 2026 (registered March 9, 2026). They add a new prohibited drug and set or clarify numerical testing limits for several substances in race horse blood and urine.

What it does#

• Adds apomorphine (a dopamine agonist) to the list of prohibited substances that must not be present in a horse when it races.
• Replaces the table of testing limits so it clearly shows whether limits apply to urine or blood samples.
• Sets or updates quantitative limits for specific substances:
  • Arsenic — urine 300 ng/mL, blood 15 ng/mL.
  • Cobalt — urine 100 ng/mL, blood 25 ng/mL.
  • Furosemide — blood 85 ng/mL (no urine limit; note: applies only to horses on an EIPH list).
  • Salicylic acid — urine 750 µg/mL, blood 6.5 µg/mL.

Who's affected#

• Race horse trainers and owners — they must avoid giving horses drugs that would produce positives under these limits.
• Veterinarians who treat race horses — they need to follow the updated prohibited list and limits.
• Racing regulators and testing labs (including the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency) — they use these limits when testing post-race samples.
• Bettors and the racing public — indirectly affected because the changes aim to protect fair race outcomes.
• Provincial racing commissions and other stakeholders who enforce rules and handle positive tests.

If it’s unclear whether a specific medication is affected, the notice says the agency consults experts; the list is updated when a substance could influence performance.

Why it matters#

• The changes help keep racing fair by banning a drug (apomorphine) that could alter a horse’s performance.
• Clear numeric limits for blood and urine make it easier for labs and regulators to interpret test results.
• The amendments are described as routine and non-controversial; they do not increase testing requirements or add new costs according to the notice.
• For participants in horse racing, the updates are practical: use different medicines or timing if you want to avoid a positive test on race day.