Jockey Club claims strengthened control regarding animal welfare

The Macau Jockey Club (MJC) “has implemented for a very long time strict internal control procedures, following the practices on similar horse racing clubs around the world,” according to a statement released by the company earlier this week. “The internal controls detect malpractices, corruption, administration of forbidden substances and other fraudulent acts,” the statement reads. The statement is an attempt to clarify what happened in April, when a horse strapper at the MJC was found giving an undisclosed substance to one of the horses. MJC claims that tight routine control procedures were being followed at that time However, it was detected that a stablehand had administered to a racing horse a substance confirmed both locally and by an international laboratory to be a tranquilizer that affects racing performances.