McAnally Not Issued Fine or Suspension in CBD Case

Nearly a year after a horse trained by Hall of Famer Ron McAnally, 89, tested positive for a derivative of CBD, the California Horse Racing Board has issued a ruling disqualifying the horse from its victory last November. No fines or suspensions were given.

A CHRB complaint filed May 17 revealed that Roses and Candy , campaigned under the name of McAnally's wife, Deborah, had failed a post-race drug test after winning the third race Nov. 22, 2020 at Del Mar. The derivative found was 7-Carboxy-Cannabadiol, a metabolite of cannabidiol, and a requested split sample confirmed the finding.

The ruling, issued Nov. 12, disqualifies Roses and Candy from her victory a year ago also calls for all purse money related to the winner be redistributed. Roses and Candy had earned $21,000 in that turf sprint starter allowance. Acai , who had finished second—a nose behind Roses and Candy—is now the official race winner.

At the time of the complaint, California did not list CBD among its classified substances, which typically would place it in the highest level of concern: a Class 1 drug calling for penalty category A. But as CBD does not contain THC like its cousin marijuana, California regulators were in the process of reclassifying CBD as a Class 3 substance, Penalty Class B.

CHRB spokesman Mike Marten told BloodHorse in May that CHRB staff recommended the stewards consider the CBD finding in the lower classifications in line with the changes. The CHRB also noted then that McAnally had not had a positive of Class 4 or greater concern since 1998.

In a CHRB meeting held two days after the complaint was issued in May, vice-chair Oscar Gonzales acknowledged jockey Geovanni Franco's admission of using CBD ointment that "could have penetrated the horse's skin."

The reclassification was first proposed to the CHRB in August, three months before Roses and Candy's positive test, Dr. Rick Arthur, the CHRB's equine medical director at the time, said during the meeting.

In 2019 the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium put out a release outlining concerns about CBD, noting its increased over-the-counter availability. It noted that these products are not well-regulated.

"Like other largely unregulated products, there are risks regarding purity, consistency, and safety," the RMTC said. "The lack of regulation poses a risk to the trainer of a positive finding and to horse health."