So steps are taken at each year's equine endurance run to make sure the animals don't become fatigued or overworked.  In fact, Saturday, veterinarians were testing the horses involved in the race for the presence of drugs and other performance-enhancing substances.

Dr. Sandra Wahlert says, "There's quite a variety of drugs that they test for here. The list takes up about an entire page. But not only are they testing for drugs; it could be anything that would excite the horse, give it extra endurance: steroids. Other things they would test for would be like tranquilizers."

The Fort Meade Remount Endurance Race continues Sunday on the BLM property just south of the Fort Meade veteran's hospital.

Al Van Zee