Stronach: Eliminate Race-Day Meds, Sport Will Flourish

[Whirlaway]

This article was first posted by BenB in another thread, I thought it deserved greater attention.

“We as track operators, horsemen and regulators must do everything we can to eliminate race day medications and consider the support of federal legislation to create a more uniform set of rules and regulations,” Stronach wrote. “The integrity of our sport and safety of our athletes, both human and equine, should and must always be of paramount concern. I hope you join me in promoting the elimination of race day medications.” In a letter last week to WHOA, Mr. Stronach, founder of Adena Springs and one of the sports most successful horse owners and breeders, said “racing can not only survive the elimination of race day medications, but it will flourish and invigorate itself while cultivating new fans from around the world”.


http://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/stronach-throws-support-behind-water-hay-oats-alliance/

[TJ]

This article was first posted by BenB in another thread, I thought it deserved greater attention.

“We as track operators, horsemen and regulators must do everything we can to eliminate race day medications and consider the support of federal legislation to create a more uniform set of rules and regulations,” Stronach wrote. “The integrity of our sport and safety of our athletes, both human and equine, should and must always be of paramount concern. I hope you join me in promoting the elimination of race day medications.” In a letter last week to WHOA, Mr. Stronach, founder of Adena Springs and one of the sports most successful horse owners and breeders, said “racing can not only survive the elimination of race day medications, but it will flourish and invigorate itself while cultivating new fans from around the world”.


http://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/stronach-throws-support-behind-water-hay-oats-alliance/

Stronach, the last two starters he had both raced with LASIX and BUTE. Magic Maya at Hollywood and Point of Entry at Santa Anita. Do as I say, not as I do...good example of his hypocrisy. TJ

[BenB]

At this time there is no opportunity to race without racemedication at an equal level playing field, so do as the others do.

Why giving away an full second at an distance from five furlong.????

An seperate competion would be the best. So design graded stakes races for horses that compete without the legal medication, and like I advocate it, in the past overhere, It will bring benefits in the long term.

[TJ]

At this time there is no opportunity to race without racemedication at an equal level playing field, so do as the others do.

Why giving away an full second at an distance from five furlong.????

An seperate competion would be the best. So design graded stakes races for horses that compete without the legal medication, and like I advocate it, in the past overhere, It will bring benefits in the long term.

Now you are talking "level playing field", reminds me of one major reason why horsemen/women in America advocate the use of race day lasix (read the Graham Motion article I posted).
I still call it hypocrisy...if you are against race day lasix/bute then fight for what you believe in. Run your horses now, according to your beliefs and show you can compete under what you are advocating for other owner's race horses.
Take yourself for instance...you don't believe in the use of lasix to limit EIPH. So you didn't use it in training of your horses. You took your stand against lasix rather then try to use it therapeutically to limit each episode. Even though, I would assume, others in your country may have used the drug to keep their bleeder's running. You took your stand against and rather then run your bleeder you culled that horse. No hypocrisy there... you stood behind what you advocate at your personal expense and loss of your race horse. Unlike Stronach, who is using, what he does not advocate....when he runs his horses with Lasix and Bute....hypocrisy there. TJ

[BenB]

It was quite an expensive loss, but the mare, aged at this time of writing, got a good live after my decision. So it was beneficial to the horse involved indeed.

[bdw0617]

Every "major" track in the countyr should start off by being mandated to have at least 3 of their stakes races that no horse can run on any race day medication whatsoever. If he's serious, make the big cap, SA derby and the Santa Margritia no race day med races.

He won't.

[TJ]

It was quite an expensive loss, but the mare, aged at this time of writing, got a good live after my decision. So it was beneficial to the horse involved indeed.

Exactly...quite an expensive loss, but I applaud the fact you practice what you preach. As you experienced, it is the financial loss to an American trainer's owner, which they try to avoid with the use of lasix. American trainers are almost united in wanting race day lasix to remain legal for this reason. Another reason is that trainers in America understand what their horses endure via EIPH through pro-active scoping. Because of this, we are aware of the fact horses bleed to a minor extent internally nearly 90% of the time. We also see that it progressively increases after each subsequent start in which a horse suffers EIPH. Some can be held at the level 1 stage with lasix, some may reach level 2...which is cause for concern since the next level 3, will affect the horses ability to race. So a level 2 will prompt a closer look at your horses environment and require serious steps to prevent reaching the next level. At this time (category 2) it may require considering antibiotics, additional time off, hypoallergenic feeds, reduced hay intake supplemented by alfalfa cubes, switch to shavings if on straw, etc to return to the preferred and controllable EIPH, level 1.
I know if other countries defined bleeders as we do in America using this 0-4 scale, they would have just as many bleeders in their country. American trainers can do away with all other meds....but lasix is seen as a necessary and humane practice to avoid level 4 EIPH (Epistaxis). TJ

[Pan Zareta]

I know if other countries defined bleeders as we do in America using this 0-4 scale, they would have just as many bleeders in their country. American trainers can do away with all other meds....but lasix is seen as a necessary and humane practice to avoid level 4 EIPH (Epistaxis). TJ

The definition(s) of bleeders in North America tends to be pretty liberal because salix has long been suspected and is now proven to enhance performance, even when unnecessary to avoid epistaxis. If even one horse in the field is running on raceday salix most everyone else is going to want their horse on it too.

You're quite right that it's a necessary and humane practice for horses that absolutely cannot race without epistaxis. The question I'd pose is whether allowing horses with severe EIPH, especially those that bleed through salix, to race and enter the breeding population is responsible stewardship of the breed. This is a heritable trait though the specific mechanisms of transmission and expression are presently not well understood. Seems to me that it's in the best immediate interests of the animals and the best long-term interests of the people within the NorthAm TB industry to gradually phase out use of raceday salix and generally bring our med/substance rules and regs. closer to those of the various other major international jurisdictions.

Just my $.02

[TJ]

I know if other countries defined bleeders as we do in America using this 0-4 scale, they would have just as many bleeders in their country. American trainers can do away with all other meds....but lasix is seen as a necessary and humane practice to avoid level 4 EIPH (Epistaxis). TJ

The definition(s) of bleeders in North America tends to be pretty liberal because salix has long been suspected and is now proven to enhance performance, even when unnecessary to avoid epistaxis. If even one horse in the field is running on raceday salix most everyone else is going to want their horse on it too.

You're quite right that it's a necessary and humane practice for horses that absolutely cannot race without epistaxis. The question I'd pose is whether allowing horses with severe EIPH, especially those that bleed through salix, to race and enter the breeding population is responsible stewardship of the breed. This is a heritable trait though the specific mechanisms of transmission and expression are presently not well understood. Seems to me that it's in the best immediate interests of the animals and the best long-term interests of the people within the NorthAm TB industry to gradually phase out use of raceday salix and generally bring our med/substance rules and regs. closer to those of the various other major international jurisdictions.

Just my $.02

Hi Pan,
Liberal, I wouldn't use that term. Pro active is what I would call it. Since the advent of scoping, it was found that a horses first bleeding episode is minor. Slight flecks of blood in the trachea (grade 1)....at which point lasix is administered in his next start. Chances are, the second time a horse runs (after the addition of lasix) he could show slightly more bleeding (grade 2) or could remain at the preferred level 1. The purpose of pro-active trainers who use lasix in America, is to limit each EIPH episode to grade 1 or 2 .... both levels will allow a horse to race without being impacted negatively by this level of EIPH. Each time a horse bleeds, the next episode gets progressively worse (if you are not monitoring them internally via scoping) and treating them accordingly. Treatment prescribed is usually antibiotics and changes in the horses feed and environment (stall) would be made. Once you allow a horse to run two or three times, without knowing the extent of the EIPH, that horse will develop scaring in the lungs. Once this begins, the elasticity in the lung is compromised and every time the horses respiration increases he bleeds at a significantly higher rate then if he had run with lasix at the onset of internal symptoms (that being the first bleeding level 1). It is these un-monitored bleeding episodes occurring internally to horses that allow scaring in the lungs to take hold...in turn allowing that horse to reach Epistaxis.....which is the final external symptom of bleeders gone untreated and un-monitored. Leaving no recourse but to retire them.

European horses are not considered bleeders until blood is seen coming from one or both of their nostrils (Epistaxis)....which is the final stage of bleeding in America, grade 4. I will repeat, in America we are pro-active and scope our horses....unlike other countries. When blood staining is seen in the trachea we begin to do something about it, so that the horse doesn't reach Epistaxis as is the definition of bleeders in other countries. I might add 99% of trainers who use Lasix isn't because a trainer is looking for any performance enhancement....other then to limit the bleeding episode to a grade 1 or 2 so the horse won't be negatively impacted by EIPH.

To your posed question, I can't agree with you because I have found most bleeders are man made....not inherited. I know they have studies saying they are, but I don't agree with those studies. On the internet we can find any study we are looking for skewered to ones personal belief/life experience. With this comment I am not looking to be offensive to your belief bleeding is inherited...I certainly enjoy having the discussion, for having these discussions comes food for thought. It's been my lifes experience which brought me to my beliefs concerning lasix and bleeders and it has served me in dealing with the most serious of bleeders...which began prior to the legalization of lasix.

There are less than 1% of bleeders racing in America who reach the grade 4 level.
Below is the Veterinarian scoping standard for the five diagnosed grades of bleeding in America, I certainly would prefer the first level:>) TJ

Grade 0: Shows absolutely no bleeding in post-race scopings.

Grade 1: Only flecks of blood or a single stream which covers less than one-quarter of the tracheal length being visible – no negative impact on performance.

Grade 2: This level of bleeding presents one continuous stream of blood which covers at least one-half the length of the windpipe, or separate streams covering less than one-third of the trachea. Grade 2 bleeding episodes can affect a horse’s performance, while some horses remain unaffected.

Grade 3: Multiple streams cover over one-third of the trachea causing a negative effect on a horse’s performance.

Grade 4: In this most serious level of bleeding, the trachea floods, and pooling is visible at the thoracic inlet. In some cases, Grade 4 bleeding is catastrophic. (Epistaxis)