Case Name: McILMURRAY v. MICHIGAN RACING COMMISSIONER; McMULLEN v. MICHIGAN RACING COMMISSIONER
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1983-11-07
Citations: 130 Mich. App. 271
Docket Number: Docket Nos. 64215, 64814
Parties: McILMURRAY v MICHIGAN RACING COMMISSIONER McMULLEN v MICHIGAN RACING COMMISSIONER
Judges: Before: R. B. Burns, P.J., and Bronson and R. E. Robinson, JJ.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 130
Pages: 271–283

Head Matter:
McILMURRAY v MICHIGAN RACING COMMISSIONER McMULLEN v MICHIGAN RACING COMMISSIONER
Docket Nos. 64215, 64814.
Submitted March 1, 1983, at Lansing.
Decided November 7, 1983.
Leave to appeal applied for.
Waldo McIlmurray is the trainer of two harness race horses which ran and placed in separate pari-mutuel races at Wolverine Harness Raceway in April, 1981. A post-race urinalysis of each horse revealed the presence of methenamine, a urinary tract disinfectant. At a hearing before the raceway stewards, McIlmurray admitted that the drug had been administered to both horses prior to the races. The stewards imposed fines of $200 for each horse and ordered redistribution of the purses. McIlmurray appealed to the Michigan Racing Commissioner who affirmed the stewards’ decision. McIlmurray then appealed to the Ingham Circuit Court which affirmed, Jack W. Warren, J. Steven McMullen is the trainer of a harness race horse which ran and placed in a race at Wolverine Harness Raceway in May, 1981. A post-race urinalysis revealed the presence of phenothiazine, an animal worming medication, and, as a result, the track stewards revoked McMullen’s license for 30 days and ordered redistribution of the purse. McMullen appealed to the Michigan Racing Commissioner who reinstated McMullen’s license, imposed a $200 fine, and affirmed the stewards’ order redistributing the purse. McMullen appealed to the Ingham Circuit Court which affirmed, James T. Kallman, J. Mc-Ilmurray and McMullen appeal from the orders affirming the Racing Commissioner, contending that neither methenamine nor phenothiazine constitute prohibited drugs under the rules and regulations of the Racing Commissioner. The cases were consolidated for purposes of appeal. Held:
References for Points in Headnotes
1 Am Jur 2d, Administrative Law §§ 69, 73.
1 Am Jur 2d, Administrative Law § 92 et seq. 2 Am Jur 2d, Administrative Law § 277 et seq. 25 Am Jur 2d, Drugs, Narcotics, and Poisons § 7.
73 Am Jur 2d, Statutes § 257.
2 Am Jur 2d, Administrative Law §§ 310, 311.
1. Both methenamine and phenothiazine constitute drugs as that term is defined in the Racing Law of 1980.
2. The Racing Law of 1980 absolutely prohibits the use in horses of drugs that are stimulants or depressants during their participation in a race. Other drugs are prohibited unless authorized by the Racing Commissioner. The Racing Commissioner has not yet promulgated rules and regulations specifying the conditions under which authorized substances may be administered. Neither Mcllmurray nor McMullen obtained permission from the commissioner to administer the drugs found in their horses.
3. The Racing Commissioner was acting within his authority when he imposed the fines on Mcllmurray and McMullen for the administration of drugs prohibited under the 1980 act.
4. The Racing Commissioner was acting within the scope of his authority in ordering the redistribution of the purses.
Affirmed.
Bronson, J., dissented. He does not believe that the definition of the term "drug” set forth in the Racing Law of 1980 must be read as conflicting with, or having superseded, that previously established by administrative regulation pursuant to the Racing Law of 1959. He noted that the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Racing Law of 1959 excluded substances which were neither stimulants nor depressants from the definition of impermissible "drugs”. It is his view that the rules promulgated pursuant to the Racing Law of 1959 continue in effect until expressly amended or rescinded and that such rules have not been impaired by the passage of § 23 of the Racing Law of 1980. and, therefore, remain in full force. He noted that the broadened definition of "drug” contained in § 23 of the Racing Law of 1980 is specifically limited to § 23. He believes that the amendment of § 23 served to eliminate any doubt that the Legislature intended to confer upon the Racing Commissioner the authority to regulate non-narcotic substances having some effect on the structure or bodily functions of race horses by means of supplementary regulations. He believes that the Legislature thereby made it clear that it had delegated additional regulatory authority and that it did not manifest any intention to exercise that authority directly by means of any statutory amendment of pre-existing rules. He would reverse and direct the commissioner to apply the rules promulgated pursuant to the Racing Law of 1959 to these cases.
Opinion of the Court
1. Administrative Law — Power — Authority.
A state agency has no inherent power; any authority a state agency has must come from the Legislature.
2. Horse Racing — Racing Law of 1959 — Prohibited Substances — Administrative Law — Administrative Code.
The Michigan Racing Law of 1959 specifically prohibited the administration of any hypnotic, narcotic, stimulant or depressant to a racing horse within a period of 24 hours prior to a race in which that horse was entered; pursuant to the 1959 act, the Racing Commissioner promulgated rules which further proscribed the administration of narcotic-based anesthetics, hypnotics, stimulants or depressants (MCL 431.48; MSA 18.966[18]; 1979 AC, R 431.62).
3. Horse Racing — Racing Law of 1980 — Racing Law of 1959 — Prohibited Substances.
The Racing Law of 1980, which superseded the Racing Law of 1959, considerably expanded the category of substances which may not be administered to horses prior to their entry in a race (MCL 431.31 et seq., 431.61 et seq.; MSA 18.966[1] et seq., 18.966[31] et seq.).
4. Horse Racing — Racing Law of 1980 — Prohibited Substances — Drugs.
The Racing Law of 1980 prohibits the presence of drugs in horses during their participation in a race, except under limited circumstances; drugs that are stimulants or depressants are absolutely prohibited, other drugs are prohibited unless authorized by the Racing Commissioner; the term "drug” includes all substances intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease in humans or other animals (MCL 431.83; MSA 18.966[53]).
5. Horse Racing — Racing Law of 1980 — Prohibited Substances — Drugs.
Both methenamine and phenothiazine are drugs for purposes of the statutory prohibition against the presence of drugs in horses during their participation in a race (MCL 431.83; MSA 18.966[53]).
6. Horse Racing — Racing Law of 1980 — Racing Commissioner — Penalties.
The Racing Law of 1980 specifically authorizes the Racing Commissioner to assess a penalty, including a fine of not more than $5,000, for violation of the 1980 act or rules promulgated thereunder (MCL 431.66[3j; MSA 18.966[36][3]).
7. Horse Racing — Racing Law of 1980 — Horse Trainers.
The Racing Law of 1980 provides that horse trainers are responsible for and are the absolute insurers of the condition of their horses entered into a race (MCL 431.71[4]; MSA 18.966[41][4]).
8. Horse Racing — Racing Commissioner — Drug Violations — Redistribution of Purse.
The Racing Commissioner is empowered to order the redistribution of the purse resulting from a horse race in which a horse sharing in the purse was found to have violated the statutory prohibition against the presence of drugs in horses during their participation in a race as an incidental power necessary to the enforcement of the legislative intent of the Racing Law of 1980 in broadening the proscriptions against substances administered to racing horses just prior to races (MCL 431.62, 431.66, 431.83; MSA 18.966[32], 18.966[36], 18.966[53]).
Dissent by Bronson, J.
9. Horse Racing — Administrative Law — Drugs — Racing Law of 1959.
Substances which are neither stimulants nor depressants are excluded from the deñnition of impermissible "drugs” under regulations promulgated by the Racing Commissioner pursuant to the Racing Law of 1959 (MCL 431.31 et seq.; MSA 18.966[1] et seq.; 1979 AC, R 431.62).
10. Horse Racing — Words and'Phrases — Administrative Law — Racing Law of 1980 — Racing Law of 1959 — Drugs.
The broadened deñnition of "drug” contained in the section of the Racing Law of 1980 pertaining to the presence of drugs in horses applies only to that section itself, and not to the preexisting rules promulgated pursuant to the Racing Law of 1959 deñning impermissible "drugs” (MCL 24.232[1], 431.31 et seq., 431.83[3]; MSA 3.560[132][1], 18.966[1] et seq., 18.966[53J[3]; 1979 AC, R 431.62).
11. Administrative Law — Amendment of Rules.
A statute which is intended to amend a rule previously promulgated by an administrative agency must do so explicitly.
12. Horse Racing — Administrative Law — Drugs — Racing Law of 1959 — Racing Law of 1980.
The rules governing the use of medications, and deñning the term "drug", promulgated pursuant to the Racing Law of 1959 continue in effect until expressly amended or rescinded, either by statute or subsequent regulation; the broadened deñnition of "drug" contained in the section of the Racing Law of 1980 pertaining to the presence of drugs in horses is intended to confer upon the Racing Commissioner the additional authority to regulate, should he see St to do so, by means of supplementary regulations, the use of substances which are not stimulants or depressants, but which could nonetheless have some effect on the structure or bodily functions of race horses, and is not a manifestation by the Legislature of any intention to exercise such additional regulatory authority directly, by means of any statutory amendment of the pre-existing rules (MCL 24.231[2], 431.31 et seq., 431.83[3]; MSA 3.560[131][2], 18.966[1] et seq., 18.966[53][3]; 1979 AC, R 431.62).
Charles A. Palmer, for Waldo McIlmurray and Steven McMullen.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Louis J. Caruso, Solicitor General, , and Charles D. Hackney and Theodore S. Klimaszewski, Assistants Attorney General, for defendant.
Before: R. B. Burns, P.J., and Bronson and R. E. Robinson, JJ.
Former circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment pursuant to Const Í963, art 6, § 23 as amended in 1968.

Opinion:
R. B. Burns, P.J.
A single issue is presented by these two cases consolidated for purposes of appeal only. The cases arise out of different, though similar, factual circumstances.
McIlmurray is the trainer of two harness race horses, "Leader's Demon" and "Happy Sharon". These horses ran and placed in separate pari-mutuel races at Wolverine Harness Raceway on April 8, 1981, and April 11, 1981. Post-race urinalysis of each horse revealed the presence of methenamine, a urinary tract disinfectant._
At a hearing before the Wolverine Harness Raceway stewards on April 17, 1981, Mcllmurray admitted that methenamine had been administered to both horses prior to the races. The stewards imposed fines of $200 for each horse and ordered redistribution of the purses. Mcllmurray appealed to the Michigan Racing Commissioner who, on August 21, 1981, affirmed the stewards' decision. Mcllmurray then appealed to the Ingham County Circuit Court, which affirmed the commissioner.
Steven McMullen is the trainer of a race horse, "Varrick". On May 2, 1981, McMullen asked Dr. Keeran, a veterinarian, to administer phenothiazine to the horse, which he did. Phenothiazine is an animal worming medication. On May 4, 1981, Varrick raced in the fifth race at Wolverine Harness Raceway and placed first. However, a post-race urinalysis revealed the presence of phenothiazine and, as a result, the stewards revoked McMullen's license for 30 days and ordered redistribution of the purse.
McMullen appealed to the Michigan Racing Commissioner and at a hearing conducted June 17, 1981, evidence was introduced establishing that phenothiazine is not a stimulant, depressant, local anesthetic or tranquilizer and that the medication will not affect the racing condition of a horse. The commissioner found that phenothiazine does have a reasonable therapeutic purpose, that being the removal of parasites from the body of the horse.
By order of February 18, 1981, the commissioner reinstated McMullen's license and instead imposed a $200 fine. The commissioner, however, affirmed the stewards' order redistributing the purse on the grounds that phenothiazine is an unauthorized drug. McMullen appealed to the Ingham County Circuit Court, which affirmed.
Both McIlmurray and McMullen appeal the circuit court orders affirming the Michigan Racing Commissioner, contending that neither methenamine nor phenothiazine constitute prohibited drugs under the rules and regulations of the Michigan Racing Commissioner.
The question here is whether the Michigan Racing Commissioner acted within the scope of his authority in imposing fines on each of the appellants and in ordering redistribution of the purses won by the appellants' horses. Since a state agency has no inherent power, and since any authority it has must come from the Legislature, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Michigan v Ins Comm'r, 403 Mich 399; 270 NW2d 845 (1978), this Court must look to relevant statutory and administrative law' in resolving the present issue.
The Michigan Racing Law of 1959, MCL 431.31 et seq.; MSA 18.966(1) et seq., specifically prohibited the administration of "any hypnotic, narcotic, stimulant or depressant" to a racing horse within a period of 24 hours prior to a race in which that horse was entered. MCL 431.48; MSA 18.966(18). Pursuant to the 1959 act, the Michigan Racing Commissioner promulgated rules which further proscribed the administration of narcotic-based anesthetics, hypnotics, stimulants or depressants. 1979 AC, R 431.62.
Today, the Racing Law of 1959 has been superseded by the Racing Law of 1980, MCL 431.61 et seq.; MSA 18.966(31) et seq., which considerably expands the category of substances which may not be administered to horses prior to their entry in a race. Under the new act, the administration of all substances used in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease in humans or other animals is prohibited unless otherwise au thorized by the Racing Commissioner. MCL 431.83; MSA 18.966(53). Both methenamine and phenothiazine constitute drugs as that term is statutorily defined. The Michigan Racing Commissioner has been directed to promulgate rules and regulations specifying the conditions under which some substances may be administered. Such rules have not yet been promulgated.
Section 6(3) of the 1980 act, MCL 431.66(3); MSA 18.966(36)(3), specifically authorizes the Racing Commissioner to assess a penalty, including a fine of not more than $5,000, for violations of the 1980 act or rules promulgated thereunder. Thus, without even looking at administrative rule 431.62, the Racing Commissioner's imposition of fines against these plaintiffs is authorized under the 1980 act if it can be found that plaintiffs violated any provision of the 1980 act.
Section 23 of the 1980 act, MCL 431.83; MSA 18.966(53), prohibits the presence of drugs in horses during their participation in a race, except under limited circumstances. Drugs that are stimulants or depressants are absolutely prohibited. Other drugs are prohibited unless authorized by the Racing Commissioner. The term "drug" includes all substances intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease in humans or other animals. All parties agree that both methenamine and phenothiazine constitute a drug under the Racing Law of 1980 and that neither Mcllmurray nor McMullen obtained permission from the Racing Commissioner to administer the drugs found in their horses immediately after each race.
Section 11 of the 1980 act, MCL 431.71(4); MSA 18.966(41)(4), provides that trainers are responsible for and the absolute insurers of the condition of their horses entered into a race. This provision has been upheld as constitutional by a panel of this Court in Berry v Michigan Racing Comm'r, 116 Mich App 164; 321 NW2d 880 (1982). Both McIlmurray and McMullen are trainers.
Thus, under MCL 431.83; MSA 18.966(53), the Racing Commissioner was acting within his authority when he imposed fines on plaintiffs for the administration of drugs prohibited under the 1980 act.
A question remains as to whether the commissioner was also acting within the scope of his authority in ordering redistribution of the purses. The answer is not straightforward.
As already discussed, §6 of the Racing Law of 1980, MCL 431.66; MSA 18.966(36), authorizes the Racing Commissioner to impose a fine on trainers (among others) for violation of any provisions of the 1980 act. Section 6 specifically provides: "the racing commissioner may assess a penalty, including a fine (Emphasis added.) The term "penalty" is not defined in the act. However, § 2 of the act, MCL 431.62; MSA 18.966(32), provides that "[t]he racing commissioner shall have the powers and duties prescribed in this act and shall have the responsibility for administering the provisions of this act relating to licensing, enforcement, and regulation". (Emphasis added.)
In our opinion, the Racing Commissioner's power to order purse redistribution is an incidental power necessary to the enforcement of the legislative intent in broadening the proscriptions against substances administered to racing horses just prior to races.
Affirmed.
R. E. Robinson, J., concurred.