Major League Baseball and the NFL are not the only sports dealing with suspicions of mass doping. California has taken measures to protect race horses, not only from being doped to win races, but to deter people from using the animals as testing grounds for substances intended for human use.

The new tactic is intended to surprise cheaters and disallow them to prepare for drug tests.

Rick Arthur of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) told the LA Times, "We're just going to show up. It's going to be unpredictable, and that's a real key to this. If you know I'm going to be coming around and testing on the 15th of every month, you're going to find some way to get around it."

One of the most abused substances found in horses is a respiratory drug, which has shown up in 28 cases. Another common drug used to boost performance is a "milkshake" formula, or a mixture of baking soda, sugar and electrolytes. Since 2003, out of 100,000 tests, 93 have discovered violations.

The chairman of the CHRB, Richard B. Shapiro, told the LA Times, "It's incumbent on us to make sure we're using a level playing field. If somebody's going to try something on the human athlete, those same types of people might say, 'Maybe it'll work on a horse.'"

In Kentucky, similar concern is being raised. On October 10th, the Kentucky Equine Research Council proposed setting up a test stable of 20 horses to determine safe and legal levels of substances. Complaints have risen regarding the rules and "threshold" levels of substance use. Trainers insist that they need to know how much is too much.

The decision in California is the first of its kind in the nation, and Louisiana is considering taking the same action. The move to begin random tests was motivated by increasing suspicion of drugged horses in the California winner's circles.

To help thwart the cheaters, a recent "fingerprint" test was developed at the University of Pennsylvania. The test was designed to identify a specific blood boosting hormone called EPO. EPO is also abused by many cyclists as a performance-enhancer.

"We're not on a witch hunt or anything, but if you are doing anything, you're duping the fans and you're stealing from the other competitors," said Ingrid Ferman to the Times. "If you still want to take your chances, then go ahead."

Trainer Mike Mitchell disagrees with the random policy. He told the Times, "I think they're going way too far. I've raced all over the country, and this is the toughest testing you'll find anywhere. To come out looking like our testing is bad, and everybody's getting away with murder, it just isn't right."