A bill to rein in illegal doping of horses that take to New Mexico's race tracks has passed the Senate.
The legislation by Sen. Mary Kay Papen was approved 39-3 Wednesday. It now moves to the House.
Regulatory changes in the state's horse racing industry continue and come after a 2013 New York Times investigation highlighting drug use, horse deaths and jockey injuries at tracks across the nation, including in New Mexico.
Gov. Susana Martinez signed into law last year another bill that allowed for testing more horses for illegal drugs and imposition of tougher sanctions for violations.
Papen's bill requires the New Mexico Racing Commission to follow the Association of Racing Commissioners International guidelines for handling pre-race, post-race, out-of-competition, and necropsy testing of samples taken from race horses.
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