Recreational use of ketamine by a stable staff member caused Franconia to test positive for the horse tranquilliser after it won the 2020 Abingdon Stakes at Newbury, a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) Decision reveals. The staff member admitted ‘occasional recreational use’ of ketamine, and to storing the drug in their wallet. They had used their credit card on the day of the race, after which they handled Franconia.

Ketamine is one of the most commonly used agents for inducing anaesthesia in horses, but it is also used recreationally due to its ability to induce a dissociative state. Because ketamine can be used as an anaesthetic, it is is listed as a ‘Controlled Medication’ by the international equestrian federation (FEI). Article 2.1 of the FEI’s Controlled Medication rules prohibits the presence of any Controlled Medication in a horse’s sample during an Event without a valid form from a veterinarian. 

Franconia’s sample, taken after Frankie Dettori rode the bay filly to victory on 13 June 2020, reported ‘small traces’ of ketamine and its metabolites. Rule (L)47.4 of the BHA’s Rules of Racing state that a horse shall be disqualified from a race already run if it tests positive for a prohibited substance. 

The Decision outlines that following ‘extensive investigations’, the BHA ruled out contamination from other sources or via the Newbury Stables. Three horses in the care of John Gosden, Franconia’s Trainer, had been administered ketamine during treatment at the Newmarket Equine Hospital. However none of them had returned to Gosden’s Stables prior to Franconia’s positive test. There was no evidence that ketamine had been used at Gosden’s Stables, and subsequent tests on Franconia were negative.

Despite the above, Gosden told the BHA he had “never heard of the substance” (see right). Two other horses from Gosden’s stables have been involved in cases involving positive tests for controlled medications on raceday during the past 18 months (click here and here).

Dr. Stuart Paine, Associate Professor of Veterinary Pharmacology at the University of Nottingham, testified that due o the ‘small traces’ of ketamine detected in Franconia’s sample, the stable staff member’s explanation was plausible. As Gosden admitted responsibility ‘in part’, Franconia’s 13 June victory in the 2020 Abingdon Stakes has been disqualified and prize money will be redistributed.