This issue cannot be voted on in a vacuum. They have to change racing first. The preoccupation with speed with so many 6f races has to stop.  Not having enough longer races for horses is a problem. Maybe having a longer warm up for horses or more races run on the kind of grass tracks they have in Europe.  Slower races over a bigger distance with gentle turns and then some speed at the end.  No more 2 year old under tacks shows. Better vet reports on bleeders and sires and mares that are bad bleeders cannot be bred.  Stricter rules for all meds at the track. If a horses knees have to be tapped then he needs to be off the track for awhile perhaps.  There are many farms that can take in horses for lay ups.  

I like your post and it's sensible.  Some things in racing do need to change first. 

And your wish for layups and farms to accomodate that is something I have heard from others in the sport.   Even beyond that,  giving the horses a winter break.   There are actually trainers who want that.  I hope the sport can somehow come together.  I think there are alot of people in the sport who care.  It seems so hard though to get positve changes and ideas even on the table for discussion and getting the right people who can make changes involved.  I hope it's happening on some level.

Its going to have to start with the owners and trainers, because their is no leadership. What is called leadership now is completely worthless. They will have to decide, "ok, we are not going to give our horses lasix, no matter what", and just take whatever comes.

Thoroughbred Times has a survey out about this, please take time to take the survey and get it out to as many people as possible.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2012/04/17/thoroughbred-times-survey-race-day-medication.aspx

The horse will tell you what he is about. Will he go long or short. Is he good enough to run in big  races or do you need to place in in lower company.  They do not ask to do this we make them so we need to respect them.  Our yearlings are now 2 and training but will get their break soon and start again in the fall. The purse money is attractive for 2 year old races  and the idea that you get an extra 100K if you win your maiden at belmont or saratoga and then win a stakes race at 2 is also a lure. But is will be a lot for a horse to go through at such a young age. Our 2 year olds do gallop and are going through their lessons and now their 2 minute licks  but soon will have a few months off at the farm to continue to grow. They will be taken for rides on grass around the farm but no hard training. Every owner has to look into the face of their horse and do the right thing...it seems logical but what goes on in mind boggling. 

I'm so torn on the subject I don't even know how to answer, lol.   It all comes down to how they do it and there are so many other things that just may need to be planned for and in place ahead of this decision.

I wish it had a few other questions, or options, like a phase out  is the way to do this IMHO.

Interesting article and 2 articles writen by Steven Christ one in 1987 and one in 2012.

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/crist-on-lasix-then-and-now/

Just got around to reading this and it was interesting and both articles were good.  Crist has lots of experience in this game and I respect what he's got to say.

I respect him too and I really have to agree with what he is saying. I also think that only 10-20 % of the horses need lasix and IMHO they should not be running. Period end of story.