The Regulations Amending the Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations (SOR/2026-44) revise Canada’s federal oversight framework governing drug use in horse racing under the authority of paragraph 204(9)(d) of the Criminal Code. The amendments update the schedule of prohibited substances in the Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations. The changes are designed to preserve the integrity of pari-mutuel wagering by ensuring that racehorses compete without the influence of performance-altering drugs or medications exceeding permitted thresholds. The amendments adjust the list of prohibited substances and clarify quantitative residue limits applicable to biological samples collected from competing horses.

A key amendment adds apomorphine to paragraph 1(d) of the schedule of prohibited drugs, inserted in alphabetical order. Apomorphine is a dopamine agonist with broad physiological and neurological effects relevant to equine performance, making its inclusion significant for race integrity monitoring. The regulations also replace section 2 of the schedule, which establishes quantitative limits for specific substances in urine and blood. The revised list includes arsenic, cobalt, furosemide, and salicylic acid, each assigned maximum allowable concentrations. Arsenic is limited to 300 ng/mL in urine and 15 ng/mL in blood. Cobalt is limited to 100 ng/mL in urine and 25 ng/mL in blood. Furosemide is permitted at 85 ng/mL in blood, but only for horses listed under an exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) designation. Salicylic acid is capped at 750 µg/mL in urine and 6.5 µg/mL in blood. The revised structure clarifies that limits apply to either urine or blood depending on the substance, improving interpretive consistency.

The regulatory impact analysis explains that these provisions operate under section 204 of the Criminal Code to protect the integrity of pari-mutuel betting on horse racing. While certain veterinary drugs are legally available and may be administered to horses, most substances must not be present at race time, subject to limited exceptions such as vitamins, selected antiparasitics, and certain antimicrobials. The framework relies on maintaining an up-to-date schedule of prohibited substances and corresponding detection thresholds. The objective of this amendment is to strengthen that framework by expanding the list of controlled substances and clarifying permissible residue limits, thereby reducing ambiguity and improving enforcement consistency across testing protocols.

The amendments come into force immediately. This ensures that updated prohibited substance listings and revised quantitative thresholds apply without delay to regulatory testing and enforcement activities. The changes improve the Canadian pari-mutuel betting supervision regime by providing clearer compliance parameters for laboratories, regulators, and racing participants. By adding apomorphine and refining residue limits for arsenic, cobalt, furosemide, and salicylic acid, the regulations strengthen the system’s ability to detect and deter illicit pharmacological manipulation.

Canada (44/2026) March 25, 2026
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