Book excerpt: By Thomas Tobin, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky. With a chapter by Richard Heard. With Forewords by H.R.H. Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and Ernst Jokl. Written with authority, clarity and a sense of humor, this book contains information on all types of drugs used in horses. The author explains how these drugs act, how they influence performance, and how they cause problems. The five sections of the text deal in turn with the history and basic aspects of drug use in performance horses; the controversial drugs of controlled medication, including phenylbutazone, other nons-teroidal drugs, furosemide, corticosteroids, and anabolic steroids; illegal or banned medications, including all pertinent stimulants, depressants, narcotics, local anesthetics and tranquilizers; the use of vitamins, minerals, fluid therapy and antibiotics; and medication control, with data on the techniques and capabilities of chemical testing, the rule-making process, and legal aspects of rule enforcement. All horsemen, owners, trainers, coaches, competitors, judges and administrators will deem this book the definitive guide to equine drugs.