Barretts Equine Ltd. will prohibit the sale of weanlings and yearlings treated with exogenous steroids within 45 days of sale beginning in 2008.

The policy adjustment begins in January.

Barretts said in a release that the decision follows the example of Thoroughbred industry leaders such as the Kentucky-based Racing Medication and Testing Consortium and the California Horse Racing Board to address the use of anabolic steroids and other medications among race and sale horses.

“Along with our parent company, the Los Angeles County Fair Association, we supportthe Thoroughbred industry’s movement toward the regulation of these medications,” said Gerald F. “Jerry” McMahon, president and general manager of Barretts Equine Ltd. “We believe these actions are critical steps the industry must take in order to strengthen buyer confidence, as well as the overall integrity of our sport.

“We look forward to working with Dr. Rick Arthur [D.V.M.]—who has shown tremendous leadership nationally and in our state as the CHRB equine medical director, and Dr. Scott Stanley [Ph.D., Equine Analytical Chemistry]—director of the Ken Maddy Laboratory at the University of California at Davis, as we move to implement these rules at future Barretts two-year-old sales as well.”

The 2008 Barretts January mixed sale on January 22-23 will be conducted under the previous conditions of sale listed in the catalog, which do not address the use of anabolic steroids. Entries for the January sale closed November 9.