Published: Tuesday, August 16, 2011

 

 

 

By TERESA GENARO
teresa@brooklynbackstretch.com

Since early June, I’ve spent about a dozen hours sitting in rooms listening to people talk about Lasix. Two days after the Belmont, the NTRA held a full-day “summit” on race day medication, specifically Lasix; the Association of Racing Commissioners International devoted three hours of its recent meeting to the topic; and both the Albany Law School Racing and Gaming Institute and the Jockey Club Round Table included commentary on the use of raceday furosemide.

http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2011/08/16/sports/doc4e4b12d6a12e6140938561.txt?viewmode=fullstory

 

THey already banned the steriods, and pain killers, ie:bute and banamine, the Lasix ban is just for 2 year old stakes races to start with.

Lasix was banned in the hopes of increasing the number of international entries and thus increasing the likelihood that people from out of the country would put some money on the races.  It is really all about the gambling revenue.  Horses all over the world train on Lasix.  They just pull them off it X number of days before racing.  Here is the thing and it is what I am assuming Bob is talking about, and he is certainly as qualified as anyone to have an opinion, before Lasix, people gave horses various combo's of potions to help prevent bleeding, they will do that again.  But instead of costing $25.00 for a shot of Lasix, it will cost $500 which in turn will be devastating to the little guys in the business.  The other thing is that horses who bleed will have to be treated and given time off which will up the cost significantly as well.

Jean, horses do not "train" on lasix. they administer it so many hours before a race. A trainer would not give lasix to a horse just to breeze. IMO the trainers will need to train their horses differently, more in step with Europe where they do more sprint type works. A horse gallops then picks the pace up for a few furlongs, then back to a gallop.The lower level racers would be fased out, they would start with 2 year old stakes next year, then I believe 2 and 3 year old stakes in 2013 and build up. Not sure how long it will be till they reach the goal.

I knew I should have used  the word worked.