An "overwhelming majority" of Driving Horse and Pony Club (DHPC) members have voted in favour of drastically revising the existing drug testing policy in harness racing.

Among the proposals put forward at a meeting last week includes a change that could see a ban lifted on the use of phenylbutazone, commonly referred to as Bute. Although Bute is essentially a "pain reliever", it is still classified as a "performance enhancer" and as such in the past has been off limits to harness drivers.

Earlier this year, The Royal Gazette revealed that three ponies failed random drugs test with one of them, co-owned by son of past DHPC president David Lopes, testing positive for Bute.

The new regulations suggested, which have yet to be ratified by the DHPC, include the reduction in suspensions and fines imposed when drivers or their ponies fail tests.

Under the current laws when a pony from any particular stable tests positive for a banned substance the owner is fined up to $1,000 and all of his or her ponies are banned from racing for a year.

However, members are now pushing for reforms that some claim are "far more lenient" than the exisiting regulations, such as reducing the fine from $1,000 to $250 and a one-year ban to just five racing days for first time offenders.

A second offence would carry an automatic 10-racing-day ban from racing and a $500 fine.

Though the majority of members are believed to have "embraced" the changes, there are still those who believe "relaxing" existing drug policy sends out the wrong message and encourages rather than discourages the use of banned substances with the ponies ultimately paying the heaviest price from the long-term use of performance enhancing drugs.

Only recently DHPC club president Nick DeCosta praised his association's "rigorous" drug testing policy and vowed to clamp down on would-be drug cheats.

He said: "Just like other sports we get scrutinised before and after races. And this only proves that the system we have in place works and we will continue to ensure everyone abides by the rules that are put in place. We want our sport to be on a level playing field just like any other and plan to continue drug testing in order to keep a drug free policy."

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) also supported the DHPC's current drug laws. "The SPCA endorses the drug testing procedure implemented by the DHPC and in no way wants to dimish the penalty system imposed on owners for drug enhancing their pony's performance," read a SPCA statement.

It's understood that only four ponies at four different meets are tested each season, meaning only 16 ponies are tested over the course of a season which is comprised of over 200 races.

It's also understood that ponies and their drivers who break track records are not automatically subjected to such tests.

In the wake of the doping scandal at Vesey Street, DHPC's proposal to revise existing policy was met by fierce opposition from veteran driver John Flood. The outspoken Flood accused his association's hierarchy of shifting the proverbial goalposts to accommodate committee member Colin Mello who is among those currently banned from racing.

"When rules are made they should never be changed for any one person. And if they (DHPC) are not changing the rules for Colin (Mello) then why are they changing them at all? If I got caught I can guarantee you that there would be no special meeting called to change any rules and I think this whole thing (revisions to drug rules) is biased," he argued.

"To change the rules at this stage would be very unfair because everybody agreed before that the current rules should remain in place for five years. The rules were put in place for five years, and that's the way I think they should stay.

"I have absolutely no problem with the drug testing policy because everybody knows we are not supposed to use drugs and are well aware of the consequences if they get caught. But now they (DHPC) are calling for a special general meeting and I am sick and tired of the rules changing. To jump up and change the rules because a committee member fails a test will cause animosity among the drivers."

DHPC president DeCosta did not return calls yesterday while fellow executives Robin Manders and Joe Viera declined to comment.

Meanwhile, one source yesterday confirmed that four ponies from one stable alone were "put down" last year simply because they were not performing up to par.

According to top veterinarian, Dr. Dane Coombs, in most cases in overseas jurisdictions harness ponies are destroyed after suffering "catastrophic" injuries.

"Putting a horse down because it's athletic capability is no longer up to par isn't something that is usually done in places where I have worked before," he said. "But sometimes horses are put down because of catastrophic injury which is the number one reason in the US.

"They get an injury while on the track and it then becomes inhumane to keep them alive."

Only last month Champion of Champion pre-race favourite and track record holder, It's Speed Time, was put down after breaking a leg on the Vesey Street track.