http://www.nytha.com/pdf/the_lasix_question.pdf
• Much has been made of the effects of weight
loss on an athlete’s performance. The weight loss
effect of Lasix is
comparable to the weight
loss a horse might
experience if denied hay
and water for 24 to 48
hours before a race, as was often the practice before the advent of Lasix.
While Lasix use is strictly controlled, there is no oversight for if or when a
trainer takes away a horse's nutrients. Will this necessitate the
introduction of security to ensure that all trainers observe the same
protocol? Will it lead to headlines proclaiming, “Horses Starved and
Dehydrated Before They Race”?
• Lasix does not allow a horse to perform beyond
its peak natural ability. It alleviates, but does not
eliminate, a condition that hampers peak
performance. Anecdotally, historically and
scientifically, it has been demonstrated clearly
that EIPH adversely affects performance. Horses run slower when they bleed. Anecdotally,
historically and scientifically, it has been demonstrated clearly that Lasix is significantly effective
in minimizing EIPH. The refusal to connect these dots is the height of, “Don’t confuse us with the
facts.”
6) Does Lasix mask other medications?
• During the International Summit on Race Day Medication, EIPH and the Racehorse,
Dr. Richard Sams, PhD, director of HFL Sport
Science Inc. in Lexington, stated that, after the
American Association of Equine Practitioners
came up with a universally accepted standard of
practice for Lasix in 1983--recommending that it
be administered intravenously and at a time four
hours prior to a race--the concern that Lasix
could affect the detectability of other
medications was addressed. “That concern is
largely eliminated when [Lasix] is administered in
a tightly controlled environment, as it is in the
United States,” Dr. Sams said. He concluded, “I
don’t refer to [Lasix] as a masking agent. It’s
impact on post-race testing is not very
significant.”
17
• In an article in Daily Racing Form, Steven Crist said, “The whole issue of whether Lasix can
mask other drugs was a valid concern a generation ago--perhaps the best reason to oppose its
use--but from all veterinary accounts this is now a non-issue. The vastly increased precision of
testing, and a greater reliance on plasma rather than urine tests, has made this a moot point.”