Pedigree Query

Just to get a grasp, have a question:

What percentage of yearlings in the high end sales do you think have had steroids for sales prep?

Any consignors more known (or suspicious?) for this?

Is the use/abuse real or is it overblown?

Thanks for your opinion.

Starting in 2008, Keeneland (the largest sales company for yearlings in the world) will institute a program whereby buyers can have their yearlings tested for steroids and undo the sale if the horses test positive. Hopefully this will have a big effect on future sales prep practices, so whatever answers you might receive to your questions will probably be moot by the time yearling sales season rolls around again.

I realize that--let me rephrase---the past 5 years, what % would you guess had been under a steroid or even GH program?

Not looking to crucify anybody here...so forget the asking about suspected consignors. Just asking for honest opinions of how many do you think were "treated".

This is more of a homebred vs. sales horse inquiry, not an indictment of the industry. Thanks

I have asked the same question of consignors and buyers.

The answers have ranged from 20-80%.

Of the big highly fitted yearlings 80%+, of the small lessor conditioned yearlings the percentage would be far less.