Interesting article on Racing, Vets, Drugs, etc.

[Laurierace]

Currently they only "test" winners - pre-lasix testing would raise costs exorbitantly. The practicality isn't there.

What should not have happened is having horses run on lasix who are not bleeders. Period. If you plan to run on lasix, you should train on lasix because of the way it makes the horse FEEL.

What does that mean? The horse should have lasix every day? What do you mean the way it makes the horse feel?

[karenkarenn]

See we plan on being at the BC this year, and I am bringing a group of young people who don't understand why a horse would bled through the nose. The last time I got a reaction from my friends is the BC sprint where Midnight Lute won. In the Paddock Fatal Bullet bled. I have a couple pictures of him, even though it was bleeding through the mouth, there was alot of people there that went Ewww and really stirred up the issue of Animal Abuse. So just in case there was an issue I took pictures to say-- no he could have banged his face or mouth. Not nec .. animal abuse.
I agree with Madelyn on starting a horse on Lasix to get the feel because I don't want to be in the crowd that sees a horse bred and all hell breaks lose because they don't understand whats going on.

[BenB]

The only reason why the use of lasix is so high, it is giving more than 6 lenghts advantage in an 5 furlong race ,or a full second in an mile race.

That can be the difference between an horse earning his costs or an horse that means a loss of income, so why would the stuff not beiing used????

A complete zero would be in the long run the best for the buisiness, meanwhile new trainers can becoming trainers and not needle users.

And off course seeiing an horse bleeding from his/hers nose is not a nice thing, my kids saw it, and my mom. They saw thank god the filly the other day in the pasture. and were assured that it was not life threatning.

[winds]

Currently they only "test" winners - pre-lasix testing would raise costs exorbitantly. The practicality isn't there.

What should not have happened is having horses run on lasix who are not bleeders. Period. If you plan to run on lasix, you should train on lasix because of the way it makes the horse FEEL.

We had horses that were bleeders, they were scoped and had bled, but didn't need it to work, because the stress between racing and working is different.

winds

[BenB]

Stress and flighty, and high humidity with high temperatures will worsening the case.

[Laurierace]

See we plan on being at the BC this year, and I am bringing a group of young people who don't understand why a horse would bled through the nose. The last time I got a reaction from my friends is the BC sprint where Midnight Lute won. In the Paddock Fatal Bullet bled. I have a couple pictures of him, even though it was bleeding through the mouth, there was alot of people there that went Ewww and really stirred up the issue of Animal Abuse. So just in case there was an issue I took pictures to say-- no he could have banged his face or mouth. Not nec .. animal abuse.
I agree with Madelyn on starting a horse on Lasix to get the feel because I don't want to be in the crowd that sees a horse bred and all hell breaks lose because they don't understand whats going on.

They are breeding horses in the crowd?

[karenkarenn]

No Where did you get that? Oh Nevermind I see it
I meant the horse is bled and some people in the crowd go stir crazy because they think that hes been abused or they can't stomach the blood infront of them.

[madelyn]

Lasix is a pretty serious diuretic and racing on it without ever having had it before, I believe, is like running a marathon on your first gallon of coffee ever.

All of the trainers I know will train on it at least once before ever racing on it.

[ratherrapid]

I am not a supporter, at all, of running all horses on Lasix. Ben, did you scope every horse you ever ran after every race? Just because blood wasn't running out the nostril doesn't mean the horses Never Bled...

I also just don't believe in running a horse that bleeds enough to be called a bleeder - whether it is just for whatever time they need to get fit, or clear up an infection, or resolve an environmental issue - or forever for the case of a horse that has a heritable trait for bleeding (which is Not All Bleeders).

The biggest problem that I have with Lasix is that it can (1) mask other drugs and (2) let a trainer get away with running a horse who is not fit and might bleed because of a lack of fitness.

As to ur concerns--above--I think recent stats show that the belief that there are a lot of trainers using performance enhancers is bunk. It's just other than a problem. Only a total idiot would endanger their career to win a race or two. Truth of the matter is that these sorts almost never win, and are generally found out.

Certainly the Q of unfit horses is one of the serious problems of the sport on the horse side. Getting better however, from what I'm seeing. Competition will do that. Madelyn I think possibly you overlook (to date--your opinion will change as mine did when u have a good horse bleed) the importance of preventing EIPH. If u're a small owner and want to stay in the game, u're simply unable to afford losing horses, and fact is most of 'em bleed eventually if u keep racing them. The idea of retiring a good horse with EIPH is simply silly imo. First --retirement is other than pretty for most of these, and second, why, if they can still run competitively. What possible justification?

[Laurierace]

I think the majority of the cases where people object to lasix use is a knee jerk reaction to the word drug. They want the horses running drug free because it sounds good and don't care what that means to the horse physically in terms of the toll on their bodies. Get rid of them and get another one.

[BenB]

It is pure and simple an race enhacer nothing more or less. Since it is an powerfull diurectic a legal race day med in the us, but everwhere else in the whole race world strictly forbidden.


Bleeding from the nose will not occur at once, as there is always a sign seen as an blood drop in an nostril, earlier on. But mostly is ignored.

[karenkarenn]

Well then if that where the case, humans who are on it should have an edge in competition.

[Affirmed1]

[quote="BenB"]It is pure and simple an race enhacer nothing more or less. Since it is an powerfull diurectic a legel race day med in the us, but everwhere else in the whole race world strictly forbidden.[/quote]

BenB: Check out Bloodhorse.com, the "Hammertime" column dated 9/26/2012. There is a very insightful comment about how American racing policies and drug use have affected yearling sales to Europeans....

P.S. My beautiful bulbs from the Netherlands arrive next week...Yippee!

[BenB]

I do think that the writer has hit the nail on it,s head.

But I do tend to think, that the most of the last trainers generation , have taken sideways instead of gooiing straight.

This movement will continue till the states are gooiing to race and accept the IFHA race medication rules.

Nobody in Europe gives a damn for an US graded stakes.

[Laurierace]

It is pure and simple an race enhacer nothing more or less. Since it is an powerfull diurectic a legal race day med in the us, but everwhere else in the whole race world strictly forbidden.


Bleeding from the nose will not occur at once, as there is always a sign seen as an blood drop in an nostril, earlier on. But mostly is ignored.

ABSOLUTELY FALSE. I have seen horses bleed a ten out of ten on a scope without a single drop visible in the nostril. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Try putting a bag over your head and walking into traffic.