New York Racing and Wagering Board Chairman John Sabini said on Tuesday that he expects the state to have new restrictions on equine steroids in place for 2009.

Sabini said the rules, patterned after the Association of Racing Commissioners International’s model rule, should be in place by January 1. They will apply to all Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing in the state. Sabini believes the new policy will strengthen integrity.

“For the sake of the betting public, we want to do everything in our power to ensure that racing runs on a level playing field,” Sabini said. “By imposing rigid new limits on four steroids and banning all others, New York is taking a leadership role in promoting integrity in racing. The message to owners and trainers should be clear: If you flaunt our steroid rules, you will be held accountable.”

The new rules set testing thresholds for each of the four steroids that are permitted for therapeutic use out of racing and allow only one of the four to be found in a horse at any given time. The restricted steroids and the concentrations that are allowed are as follows: stanozolol, one nanogram per milliliter of urine; boldenone, for male horses other than geldings, 15 nanograms per milliliter; nandrolone, one nanogram per milliliter; and testosterone, 20 nanograms per milliliter in geldings and 55 nanograms per milliliter in fillies and mares.

Board members Daniel Hogan and John Simoni said the rule signals a step forward for integrity for New York racing. Sabini stressed that veterinarians are in agreement that the permitted small concentrations of the four specific steroids would not be enough to affect a horse’s performance.

“New York is one of the world’s greatest venues for racing, hosting the Belmont Stakes (G1), the oldest of the Triple Crown races, and a host of other major stakes contests in both the harness and Thoroughbred categories,” Sabini said. “A prosperous industry is good for the communities that host the tracks as well as for the entire state. That is why Governor David A. Paterson and I are fully committed to working closely with all the stakeholders involved with racing and taking the steps needed to help this storied ‘Sport of Kings’ grow and build on its base of fans.”