Kentucky's ongoing attempt to end racing in state proceeds..

[Riot]

Originally Posted by citycat

I agree that the sport will not die is Lasix is banned (although I do not think it should be banned) but the real point of the situation is why Kentucky. The sport is currently floundering here in the state with the inpending closure of Turfway and Ellis Parks after this year. There will be many people losing their jobs because of this and the Lasix will just be the final straw. The only way I would support a ban on Lasix if it were to be a nationwide wide and not just another hit to the sport here in Kentucky.

The only way it would work is nationwide, all at once. This will kill Kentucky racing. But nationwide, it's bad for horses. Lasix is so important for horse health it will be used in the morning for speed work like it is the world over, but we can't use it in the afternoon, when it matters, under the stress of racing, in front of the public? Even though the horses are under the same, if not increased, threat of EIPH? That's beyond ridiculous.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Riot

The only way it would work is nationwide, all at once. This will kill Kentucky racing. But nationwide, it's bad for horses. Lasix is so important for horse health it will be used in the morning for speed work like it is the world over, but we can't use it in the afternoon, when it matters, under the stress of racing, in front of the public? Even though the horses are under the same, if not increased, threat of EIPH? That's beyond ridiculous.

I'll be honest here. I love horse racing, and I make a good living because of it. But, if all horses truly need to be injected with a drug to safely compete, it is probably a sport that should go away.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I'll be honest here. I love horse racing, and I make a good living because of it. But, if all horses truly need to be injected with a drug to safely compete, it is probably a sport that should go away.

Horses are injected with a drug to help prevent physical problems that can be caused by what we ask them to do.

It's called "sports medicine" and good medical care. There is a difference between abusive medicine and therapeutic medicine. For god's sake - can we please do what's best for the health of the horse?

Horses - and some dogs and humans, btw - suffer EIPH at speed: race horses, barrel horses, quarter horses, harness horses, event horses, steeplechase horses, fox hunters.

The only way to eliminate EIPH is to eliminate any horse sport that involves speed and maximal effort. It's hardly limited to racing them. It's called Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage.

It's simple - put the welfare of the horse first.

American Veterinary Medical Association policy

Therapeutic Medications in Racehorses
(Oversight Committee: AWC; EB 11/2010)

The AVMA endorses the American Association of Equine Practitioners' policy on therapeutic medications in racehorses, which reads as follows:

"The AAEP policy on medication in pari-mutuel racing is driven by our mission to improve the health and welfare of the horse.

The AAEP policy is aimed at providing the best health care possible for the racehorses competing while ensuring the integrity of the sport.

The AAEP expects its members to abide by the rules of all jurisdictions where they practice.

The AAEP condemns the administration of non-therapeutic or unprescribed medications to racehorses by anyone.

The AAEP believes that all therapeutic medication should be administered to racehorses by or under the direction of a licensed veterinarian.

Health care decisions on individual horses should involve the veterinarian, the trainer and owner with the best interests of the horse as the primary objective.

The AAEP strongly encourages continued research in determining the therapeutic levels and appropriate withdrawal times that represent responsible use of medication in the racehorse.

The AAEP is aware of the dynamics of the development of new products, as well as the continuing evaluation of current medications, and will continue to evaluate its policy based upon available scientific research and the best interests of the horse.

In order to provide the best health care possible for the racehorse, veterinarians should utilize the most modern diagnostic and therapeutic modalities available in accordance with medication guidelines designed to ensure the integrity of the sport.

To this end, the following are the essential elements of AAEP policy concerning veterinary care of the racehorse:

All racing jurisdictions should adopt the uniform medication guidelines set forth by the Racing and Medication Testing Consortium Inc. (RMTC). Including the RMTC testing procedures with strict quality controls and penalty schedules, these guidelines and procedures strive to protect the integrity of racing as well as the health and well-being of the horse.

Race day medication must be in accordance with current RMTC guidelines. In the absence of a more effective treatment/preventative for exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), the AAEP supports the use of furosemide as a day-of-the-race medication to control EIPH. The AAEP advocates the research and development of new treatments to help prevent and/or control EIPH.

The AAEP encourages proactive and constructive communication between regulatory bodies and practicing veterinarians and other industry stakeholders.

The AAEP believes that all veterinarians should use judicious, prudent and ethical decisions in all treatments to ensure the health and welfare of the horse.

The AAEP strongly endorses increased surveillance and enforcement of the above-mentioned regulations."

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Riot

Horses are injected with a drug to help prevent physical problems that can be caused by what we ask them to do.

Really? No sh!t. That was my whole point. If every horse needs an injection of drugs to race, we probably shouldn't be racing horses. Now, personally I don't think they all need it, but you know that already. I'm just not sure the US is ready to hear we run a sport where every horse needs drugs to run. How is that going to fly?

Originally Posted by Riot

The only way to eliminate EIPH is to eliminate any horse sport that involves speed and maximal effort. It's hardly limited to racing them. It's called Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage.

I never said it could be eliminated, I'm just saying drugs are overused, but you also know that. Amazingly, the rest of the world seems to do just fine without it, and also kick our ass much of the time. When is the last time a horse from the US shipped overseas and won a race of consequence?

[Riot]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Really? No sh!t. That was my whole point. If every horse needs an injection of drugs to race, we probably shouldn't be racing horses. Now, personally I don't think they all need it, but you know that already. I'm just not sure the US is ready to hear we run a sport where every horse needs drugs to run. How is that going to fly?

Nobody is advocating that all horses get it. Nobody is saying all horses need it.

But the truth is that 93% of horses that race in North America have evidence of bleeding in their lungs, lasix helps prevent that, and why is the racing industry trying to take that therapeutic help away?

Should we stop working on current research to find other drugs that help prevent or provide relief for EIPH?

Those same horses bleed on race day in other countries that don't use lasix - and suffer worse affects from the episodes because the severity isn't attenuated.

Again: you want to eliminate lasix, eliminate all horse sports at speed. Let's go down the slippery slope of that argument. And prevent some human athletic competitions. And hunting dogs. And if we want to prevent broken legs, or any athletic injuries, to animals, let's just refuse to do anything with horses - or other animals - but watch them be lawn ornaments in pastures. Let's prevent the Amish from using them as carriage horses. Let's let PETA take over the world.

Now, the above is silly. Most of us here love horses, and love horse racing. So let's continue to put the horse first, and make racing them safer and healthier for the horse - not move away from that

[cmorioles]

You are being ridiculous. Which races allow the humans to take Lasix?

Maybe 93% show "some" bleeding, but of that percentage, how many can race without side effects and really need it to be successful? I'm guessing it is a MUCH smaller number. After all, we had racing for a century before it was deemed necessary for so many horses.

Plain and simple, it was abused because many felt it was a performance enhancer and that those that actually did need it were getting an advantage. So, they started searching for easier and easier ways to get Lasix for the horse. That is what got us where we are today.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

You are being ridiculous. Which races allow the humans to take Lasix?

I'm saying that Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage is not a problem only of horses.

Maybe 93% show "some" bleeding, but of that percentage, how many can race without side effects and really need it to be successful? I'm guessing it is a MUCH smaller number.

How do you define "successful"? Earning money?

Because I'm sure the horse would much prefer to have air in his alveolar sacs during running, instead of blood and hemosiderophages. It makes oxygenation easier.

After all, we had racing for a century before it was deemed necessary for so many horses.

A century ago, we didn't have the modern medical capability we have now. Medical advancement in health care of the horse is a good thing. We didn't have penicillin during World War one. Does that mean we shouldn't have used it in Viet Nam?

And we've raced horses for much longer than a century.

Plain and simple, it was abused because many felt it was a performance enhancer and that those that actually did need it were getting an advantage. So, they started searching for easier and easier ways to get Lasix for the horse. That is what got us where we are today.

But today we have modern medicine, and research, and we are far more educated on the extent and complications of EIPH in race horses. We are completely familiar with the pharmacology of lasix. We haven't had a problem with lasix diluting drug samples for over 20 years.

So now, with our increased education and knowledge, the veterinary world is advising the horse racing world to allow one drug - lasix - to continue to be used as a therapeutic medication on race day, for the health and welfare of the horse.

But those that control racing are making a stupid, ignorant choice to do the opposite, based upon outdated and no longer valid "reasons and knowledge" from literally decades ago.

[cmorioles]

1994, BC Classic, 14 horses run, 6 with Lasix. Lasix horses take the first 6 spots.
1995, 10 of 11 with Lasix
1996, 11 of 13
1997, 9 of 9
1998, 9 of 10
1999, 14 of 14
2000, 13 of 13
2001, 13 of 13
2002, 12 of 12
2003, 10 of 10
2004, 12 of 13, foreign shipper lone exception
2005, 13 of 13
2006, 12 of 13, foreign shipper lone exception
2007, 9 of 9
2008, 11 of 12, foreign shipper lone exception
2009, 11 of 12, foreign shipper lone exception
2010, 11 of 12, foreign shipper lone exception
2011, 12 of 12

Since 1999, EVERY American horse in our best race has been injected with a drug to race. Not 93%, but 100%. We are talking around 130 horse and EVERY one was given Lasix. Sure, it isn't abused.