NY Task Force on Racehorse Health & Safety Report, Reccos

[tector]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/sp...se-deaths.html

[Kasept]

AS OPPOSED TO TIMES' AGENDA-DRIVEN NONSENSE, THIS FROM PRESS RELEASE:

During its comprehensive examination, the Task Force found that NYRA's organizational veterinary structure was inherently conflicted by reporting to an entity (the Racing Office) whose function is inconsistent with deliberate and careful equine risk management practice. Other structural shortcomings with NYRA's veterinary practice include: a lack of uniform protocols and procedures among track veterinarians, a failure to standardize risk factors to assess racehorses' fitness to run, and no uniformity in veterinary care recordkeeping or proper use of existing veterinary practice management software.

The State Racing and Wagering Board and NYRA will be directed to take these actions:

• Establish an Office of the Equine Medical Director to oversee horse safety

• Create an independent veterinary practice structure within NYRA which will put the health of the horses first and which reporting directly to the chief executive officer of NYRA

• Establish an anonymous reporting mechanism for jockeys to report health or safety violations without fear of reprisal

• Prohibit Clenbuterol within 21 days of a race

• Prohibit Methylprednisolone (DepoMedrol®) within 15 days of the date of a race

• Prohibiting all other intra-articular corticosteroids within seven days of a race

• Prohibiting all other systemic corticosteroids within five days of a race

• Requiring trainers to maintain and records of corticosteroid administrations and notify the Stewards in writing within 48 hours of all intra-articular corticosteroid administrations

• Extending the claiming rule that voids claims in the event a claimed horse dies on the race track to make a claim voidable within 1 hour of the conclusion of a race if the horse is vanned off the track

• Amending the economic proportionality claiming rule to allow a purse-to-claim ratio no greater than 1.6-to-1

• Requiring horse claimants be notified within 48 hours of any intra-articular administration of corticosteroids to the claimed horse in the 30 days prior to the race

• Expanding out-of-competition drug testing to include corticosteroids and clenbuterol

• Improving documentation of findings of fatal injuries, including the development of standard protocols for handling of horses sustaining fatal injuries

• Requiring testing laboratory accreditation

• Formalizing necropsy procedures

NYRA will also examine the possibility of installing of a synthetic surface on the inner track at Aqueduct.

[Kasept]

REPORT: http://www.governor.ny.gov/assets/documents/Report.pdf

Executive summary: http://www.governor.ny.gov/assets/do...iveSummary.pdf

A very ambitious set of recommendations, indeed. Let's see what develops during the implementation phase, and let's hope this isn't just paving of the road to hell.

[Kasept]

Crist predictably excellent summary: Even-handed Aqueduct breakdown report disappoints Chicken Littles

The authors – three of whom (Alan Foreman, Dr. Scott Palmer, and Dr. Mary Scollay) spoke at length during the press conference – also debunked many of the theories that have been advanced about the breakdowns, particularly by those who believe that various widely accepted therapeutic medications are at the heart of the problem.

Foreman specifically noted that there was no correlation between the the use of phenylbutazone or furosemide (Salix) and the breakdowns, and he rejected the perception that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are inherently dangerous: “These are not, as have been referred to by others, ‘powerful painkillers,’ ” a reference to The New York Times’s boilerplate language for them.

He also noted that of 7,106 samples tested from horses competing last winter during the period of increased breakdowns, there was not a single positive for an illegal or prohibited medication, and only five positives for overages of therapeutic drugs.

Nobody is going to be entirely pleased with the report: the state did not get its desired red meat on NYRA’s supposed transgressions; NYRA may find some of the recommendations overly critical; and some horsemen will grumble about increased record-keeping and intrusiveness. That’s a pretty good sign that the report was indeed independent of undue political influence and probably makes sense.

That’s what can happen when you give well-informed experts, rather than power brokers and zealots, the time and resources to investigate fully and fairly and make constructive decisions based on facts and science. It might even be the way to run racing going forward.

[Kasept]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/sp...se-deaths.html

So with the benefit of the actual report released and the rational, intelligent approach it took, the above NYT piece is rendered moot and shown up for what it was, more shameless, broadside character assassination intended to further the in-house agenda.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Kasept

So with the benefit of the actual report released and the rational, intelligent approach it took, the above NYT piece is rendered moot and shown up for what it was, more shameless, broadside character assassination intended to further the in-house agenda.

The report sure doesn't paint a pretty picture of what is happening on the backside. Clenbuterol every day?

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

The report sure doesn't paint a pretty picture of what is happening on the backside. Clenbuterol every day?

Not unique to New York. And not being done by every outfit certainly.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Not unique to New York. And not being done by every outfit certainly.

I wasn't trying to imply either, just talking about the sport in general. If this is going on at the biggest and best circuit , I shudder to think about places lower on the ladder.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I wasn't trying to imply either, just talking about the sport in general. If this is going on at the biggest and best circuit , I shudder to think about places lower on the ladder.

You think greater % of players in the NFL are on HGH and synthetic steroids or Div 3 football?

Clenbuterol side effects are wildly overblown. Personally I dont use it except for horses with acute lung issues because I never saw the benefit of giving it everyday. I tried it everyday on 6 horses for about 3-4 months years ago and honestly didnt see any difference at all.

Not to mention it is really expensive, especially if you are putting your whole barn on it everyday.

[outofthebox]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

The report sure doesn't paint a pretty picture of what is happening on the backside. Clenbuterol every day?

And certainly the outfits that give it daily are actually twice a day....

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Kasept

So with the benefit of the actual report released and the rational, intelligent approach it took, the above NYT piece is rendered moot and shown up for what it was, more shameless, broadside character assassination intended to further the in-house agenda.

Unfortunately the NY Times will never inform their readers of that.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Kasept

So with the benefit of the actual report released and the rational, intelligent approach it took, the above NYT piece is rendered moot and shown up for what it was, more shameless, broadside character assassination intended to further the in-house agenda.

I guess I'm so used to the vitriol and b.s. and games people play on these issues, then something fair presents itself, and I'm more than a little relieved. Even if it's critical, I'm so grateful that it's not tainted by the biases we've been dealing with. There are actually people trying to make things better that aren't being manipulated for maximum drama. I think if we get fair criticism and show we can adapt to it, that speaks volumes for our future. It's also a stark (and much needed) contrast to our portrayal by Cuomo and the NY Times.