25 trainers urge Lasix-ban; THA says issue debated, decided

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Aly-Sheba

I belive you, but you always hear them talk about lasix dehydrating the horse and they can't run back as soon, so horses don't run as much in a year as they used to. I'm sure the day money plays a big factor in it also.

I was told that Eoin Harty did an experiment where he weighed every horse before they ran and after they ran. He did this with horses that ran on lasix and horses that didn't run on lasix. The horses that ran on lasix lost an average of about 80 pounds in the race. It took them about 2-3 weeks to put the weight back on. The horses that ran without lasix lost less than 10 pounds and they put the weight back on in 3 days.

I don't see how anyone can say that horses that run on lasix can run back as quick as horses that don't, when it takes horses that run on lasix 2-3 weeks just to put the weight back on that they lost.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I was told that Eoin Harty did an experiment where he weighed every horse before they ran and after they ran. He did this with horses that ran on lasix and horses that didn't run on lasix. The horses that ran on lasix lost an average of about 80 pounds in the race. It took them about 2-3 weeks to put the weight back on. The horses that ran without lasix lost less than 10 pounds and they put the weight back on in 3 days.

I don't see how anyone can say that horses that run on lasix can run back as quick as horses that don't, when it takes horses that run on lasix 2-3 weeks just to put the weight back on that they lost.

He ran 2 horses at the Spa yesterday. Both had lasix. If this is the case, why is he running his horses on lasix?

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by pointman

He ran 2 horses at the Spa yesterday. Both had lasix. If this is the case, why is he running his horses on lasix?

I would assume the reason he still runs on lasix is because he believes the pros outweigh the cons. Most people believe that it moves horses up. In addition, most guys aren't looking to run their horses every 2-3 weeks. If your horses only run every 4-6 weeks, the weight loss is probably not a big issue.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I would assume the reason he still runs on lasix is because he believes the pros outweigh the cons. Most people believe that it moves horses up. In addition, most guys aren't looking to run their horses every 2-3 weeks. If your horses only run every 4-6 weeks, the weight loss is probably not a big issue.

I'm sorry Rupert, he did not run any at the Spa yesterday. I confused him with Eric Guillot, I guess the confusion stems from two trainers that consistently get high priced stock and consistently underperform with them.

Having said that, he ran one at Del Mar yesterday without lasix and is running one today with lasix.

If there is so much bad about lasix, I just don't get why every trainer runs their horses on it. It is clearly beneficial to the horses.

If it takes so much weight off horses why are Europeans training on it? How could they get the weight back on by race time?

I just don't buy the anti-lasix crap. What is going to happen to bleeders that can't race, there are already too many unwanted horses as it stands.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by pointman

I'm sorry Rupert, he did not run any at the Spa yesterday. I confused him with Eric Guillot, I guess the confusion stems from two trainers that consistently get high priced stock and consistently underperform with them.

Having said that, he ran one at Del Mar yesterday without lasix and is running one today with lasix.

If there is so much bad about lasix, I just don't get why every trainer runs their horses on it. It is clearly beneficial to the horses.

If it takes so much weight off horses why are Europeans training on it? How could they get the weight back on by race time?

I just don't buy the anti-lasix crap. What is going to happen to bleeders that can't race, there are already too many unwanted horses as it stands.

I think practically all trainers believe lasix is beneficial overall. Trainers look at the benefits compared to the cost and they think they are better off running on lasix. I think on practically every measure, lasix has been shown to move up most horses. But that doesn't mean that horses need it. It just means that if you don't use it while others are using it, you are at a disadvantage.

In terms of training on it, they usually get a much smaller dose than they get in a race. The reason some trainers will use it for workouts is because they would rather be safe than sorry. Lets say that you are going to work your horse tomorrow and he is scheduled to run in 8 days. Many trainers will give the horse lasix for the work because if they don't give it to him and he happens to bleed, then they are going to miss the race. If the horse bleeds you are going to have to put him on antibiotics and back off a little bit and it's going to set you back a week or two. Many trainers don't want to take that chance.