Equine drug testing center sought for NMSU

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP)--Funding is being sought by horse racing officials to start an equine drug testing laboratory at New Mexico State University.

They've been lobbying state legislators, but NMSU officials say they're concerned about the cost of operating such a lab.

The university has had a contract with the state Racing Commissions to conduct the drug testing, but NMSU subcontracts the work to an Iowa State University lab.

Commission director Julian Luna says New Mexico is one of the biggest racing jurisdictions in the country, and it's important for the state to have its own lab.

But an NMSU vice president, Ben Woods, says running the lab would be expensive, and the lab would have to sustain itself.

He says the state Department of Agriculture is working on a business plan for the lab's operation.

Date: 10/17/08