Are drugs in the game really THIS bad?

[Monmouth Matt]

Agreed that a solid claim can be improved thru feed, dentistry,regular rider for feedback along with supplementals, but the vet plays a huge factor in the process. Believe me ...I get the bills! the vets run the business these days.
Todays strongest claim barns have all come up dirty multiple times in the past year alone. I've have no problem with improving the horse, but let's make it a two way street and have mandatory drug suspensions and fines part of the game as well.

[Tiz]

How is clembuterol useful in training?

I wish for a uniform, nationwide drug policy, and very few allowed substances. Maybe even none. That would keep it simple.
People outside of racing are paying attention, or already have preconceived notions about what goes on in racing. Animal abuse is out of style people, and it's past time racing folks got that through their heads. Potential fans are being turned off.
How many times have you heard it said that our horses love to run, and then find yourself watching a stretch drive that involves lashing the horse with what looks like all of the jock's strength? Don't you find that contradictory?

[louis finochio]

We have a DVM on this forum Mary Sayer, lets let her give the vets side of the drugs use in Tb racing to prolong soundness.

[luvthegame]

It is sad to think that anyone would think that racehorses are abused. From top to bottom racehorses are treated with the very best of care. Yes during races jockeys give a great deal of encouragement with their whip but I have never seen a horse injured fromwhiping during a race. The abuse comes when horses are not in the care of trainers and owners and left to starve or neglected from any med. care or farier work. We are not going to change peoples mind that dont want to be changed but before u trash racing go get a job at a racetrack and see how long it takes u to begin loving the game and seeing how beautiful and awesome these special athaletes really are and how unique each and every horse really is. Yes they are doing what they love to do.

[Tiz]

I agree that these horses love what they do, but...
Whipping is whipping. It hurts. Maybe it doesn't break the skin, but to minimize it's effect by calling it encouragement is kind of ridiculous, don't you think? I don't think any "new" fan is likely to buy that.
You know without whips, there would still be a winner, a placer and a shower. There would still be horses running up the track. So, get rid of the whip, imo.


But my other question was about training on clembuterol. What is it's usefulness in training?

[Jolene]

I agree that these horses love what they do, but...
Whipping is whipping. It hurts. Maybe it doesn't break the skin, but to minimize it's effect by calling it encouragement is kind of ridiculous, don't you think? I don't think any "new" fan is likely to buy that.
You know without whips, there would still be a winner, a placer and a shower. There would still be horses running up the track. So, get rid of the whip, imo.


But my other question was about training on clembuterol. What is it's usefulness in training?

When used correctly, the whip is still a cue, just like leg pressure or anything else, IMO.

I assume the use of clembuterol in training is for the same at any other time...as a bronchial dilator, it allows for better breathing, even in the face of pollutants, allergens, etc. But this is purely a layperson's opinion.

[Rokeby Forever]

Clembuterol, or Windaid, is strong stuff...the bathtub kind that's floating around tracks can kill a horse if the stuff isn't mixed correctly. Be careful!

[Tiz]

I know how clembuterol works. I'm curious about using it in training. Why in the morning?
Roke, what are the symptoms of a goof up in administering windaid?

[Tucumcari]

[quote="Tiz"]How is clembuterol useful in training?


It's a broncho dihilator (sp).

[Tucumcari]

We have a DVM on this forum Mary Sayer, lets let her give the vets side of the drugs use in Tb racing to prolong soundness.

You don't "prolong soundness" when you medicate, Louis. The horse will do more in training and thus do more damage even in arthritis cases. You don't prolong soundness with medication, nor do you prolong a horse's usefulness.
Some give it in the morning out of habit, timing as per withdrawl times, they feel their horses train better as they breath better... horsemen are funny they get into a routine or get something stuck in their heads, and then it's the "thing" they do.
Clen is useful for bleeders, horses with allergies, mucous or chronic mucous.... etc.

[luvthegame]

clembuterol is a bronchial dialator. It is very powerful training tool to prevent a horse from pulminary hemorage. Yes the fitter and strongerthe lungs the less likely for exercise induced pulminary hemorage. It is very important to use as directed start with small amounts so the horse can get used to it and increase a little at a time. I know how we use it in our program and other stables may use it diferently. Some of the older major stakes winners have clean airways and do not require clem. but others known as bad bleeders or ones whos lung where not taken care of by other trainers require much more. If you can breath you can run.

[luvthegame]

When you talk about prolonging soundness. It does not make sense to me if you have a horse with problems and almost all have some inflamation issues some based on very minor things. That you do not beleive in treating with med. that the last time I checked were legal in every racing jurisdiction in the usa. If a field of ten are racing and 9 of the ten had some leg care ie. poultice sweats to releive inflamation just basic care that most barns give. Then which horse will not last. If u have a racehorse take advantage of all the new quality things that will help them have a nice racing carreer and in a great environment and not starving in someones pasture doing nothing.

[Tiz]

So you use it to train a horse that is such a bad bleeder, you can't work them without bleeding? I thought that it was illegal to run on it, so I'm guessing from your post , it has a long term effect. Even after it has cleared the bloodstream?

[Tucumcari]

Yes it does have a long "shelf life" in the body.
It is even useful in horses that aren't bleeders. Let's say you or I with healthy normal lungs are going to participate in some strenuous exercise, we take a drop of Clen... you will be able to go farther than you would have had you not. So it does enhance performance. It does have a W/D time of different lenggths in different jurisdictions. I think the closest I've given it was 36 hours as opposed to the 72 hour W/D in that jurisdiction.

[Rokeby Forever]

There was crap Clenbuterol going around Louisiana last year that was killing horses. There's a specific main ingredient (not sure of the name) that, if too much is mixed into the stuff, acts like a toxin and kills - and that's what happened in Louisiana.

I remember once at Saratoga, my allergies were killing me. I stuck my pinky in a bottle of the stuff and put just a drop on my tongue - my head was spinning all day long. That stuff is STRONG!!!