JC / Railbird

Drugs in Racing

About a Lasix Ban …

Steve Zorn:

It would undoubtedly require major changes in training patterns and, ultimately, in breeding patterns as well. Is it possible?

Bill Finley:

It’s not that complicated and doesn’t require a whole new series of summits or meeting. In fact, it’s a no-brainer. Do it.

Ban or die.

Posted in Racing on June 16, 2011 / Tagged Drugs in Racing, Finley for Commissioner, Lasix, Medication Policies

Lasix, An Expensive Habit

Arthur Hancock in the May 18 issue of TDN:

As owners, we are paying a minimum of $100 million a year just for the use of Lasix alone, not counting the money we spend for “jugs” to revive the horses after they have had this powerful diuretic. If you add butazolidin and all of the other veterinary charges to the list, I calculate that we are shelling out at least $150 million a year.

That works out to an average of $359.55 in veterinary charges per start in 2010. Considering the expense, owners should be clamoring to eliminate raceday drugs; even cutting Hancock’s estimate in half would be a boon.

Posted in Racing on May 18, 2011 / Tagged Drugs in Racing, Owners, Raceday Medications

Advance Notice

Joe Drape on proposed federal legislation of drugs in racing:

Some of horse racing’s most influential stakeholders have known that the bill was coming and in recent weeks have called for the elimination of all illegal drugs as well as legal ones, like corticosteroids, that can mask an injury.

I had been wondering what gave rise to recent concord on the issue …

Posted in Racing on April 29, 2011 / Tagged Drugs in Racing, Federal Legislation, IHA, Raceday Medications, RCI

To the Dogs

John Pricci responds to the NHBPA’s opposition to a raceday drug ban:

How can so many of the game’s practitioners fail to see that what they accept as “unfortunate accidents that are part of the game” is unacceptable to an unknowing and unsophisticated populace?

Do so many horsemen wear closed-cup blinkers that they cannot see “taking a bad step” is nothing more or nothing less than animal cruelty in the public’s eye, a public that could shut the whole down thing down because for 15 minutes they were empowered to take action and feel good about themselves?

That’s what happened in Massachusetts to greyhound racing, an animal sport nationally in steep decline, partly due to dog welfare and safety issues.

Posted in Racing on April 22, 2011 / Tagged Drugs in Racing, Equine Safety, Horsemen, NHBPA, Raceday Medications, RCI