Kentucky's ongoing attempt to end racing in state proceeds..

[Riot]

Since 1999, EVERY American horse in our best race has been injected with a drug to race. Not 93%, but 100%. We are talking around 130 horse and EVERY one was given Lasix. Sure, it isn't abused.

Your assumption is mere use = abuse.

My viewpoint - based upon the science - is that use = therapy good for the horse.

Who cares what was done 10 years ago? 100 years ago? What matters is what we know now, today, about the horse's health.

And those that know race horse health best, the veterinary world, based upon today's medical knowledge and research, are advising the racing world to allow one drug - lasix - to be used on race day as a therapeutic medication for the health and welfare of the race horse.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Riot

Your assumption is mere use = abuse.

My viewpoint - based upon the science - is that use = therapy good for the horse.

Who cares what was done 10 years ago? 100 years ago? What matters is what we know now, today, about the horse's health.

And those that know race horse health best, the veterinary world, based upon today's medical knowledge and research, are advising the racing world to allow one drug - lasix - to be used on race day as a therapeutic medication for the health and welfare of the race horse.

Simple, 93% of horses allegedly need it, yet 100% get it. Sure, that makes sense.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Simple, 93% of horses allegedly need it, yet 100% get it. Sure, that makes sense.

Do you know what is required on the race track to get permission from the stewards to give a horse lasix on race day?

[cmorioles]

Yes, virtually nothing. I know that isn't what is on paper. I've spent plenty of time on the backstretch, and that is reality.

[cmorioles]

For me, if all horses need drugs to race, preventive or otherwise, there shouldn't be racing. I can't think of any other sport for any type of being where this would even be considered.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

For me, if all horses need drugs to race, preventive or otherwise, there shouldn't be racing. I can't think of any other sport for any type of being where this would even be considered.

So you are also against banning banamine? Omeprazole? Clenbuterol? Ketoprofen? Because there wouldn't be any horse racing without those drugs on the backstretch.

Horse racing in other countries use lasix daily as a therapeutic drug during speed training to prevent lung damage. It's just outlawed on race day. How backwards is that? It's allowed as a therapeutic drug on the race track in the morning, but not in the afternoon?

It's 2012. We shouldn't be making medical decisions for horses based upon decades-old outdated information and assumptions from the past.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Riot

Horse racing in other countries use lasix daily as a therapeutic drug during speed training to prevent lung damage. It's just outlawed on race day. How backwards is that? It's allowed as a therapeutic drug on the race track in the morning, but not in the afternoon?

That is ridiculous. What percentage of horses in other countries train on lasix during speed training, 5% at the most? It is an extremely small percent. It would only be horses that are considered bad bleeders.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

For me, if all horses need drugs to race, preventive or otherwise, there shouldn't be racing. I can't think of any other sport for any type of being where this would even be considered.

Other horse sports do. The FEI, the Federation Equestre Internationale, for example at the Rolex International Three-Day Event here in KY now, has a list of permitted competition-day drugs, which includes certain levels of aspirin, banamine, and bute. That's right - on competition day. These drugs are not considered performance-enhancing at the allowable levels.

And the FEI is twice as tough on testing and drugs as horse racing could ever dream of being.

The Olympics has a long list of competition-day allowable drugs, and levels, that athletes can use. Includes albuterol and other "lung" (asthma) drugs.

We need to ban illegal performance enhancers. Not helpful therapeutics.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Riot

Other horse sports do. The FEI, the Federation Equestre Internationale, for example at the Rolex International Three-Day Event here in KY now, has a list of permitted competition-day drugs, which includes certain levels of aspirin, banamine, and bute. That's right - on competition day. These drugs are not considered performance-enhancing at the allowable levels.

And the FEI is twice as tough on testing and drugs as horse racing could ever dream of being.

The Olympics has a long list of competition-day allowable drugs, and levels, that athletes can use. Includes albuterol and other "lung" (asthma) drugs.

We need to ban illegal performance enhancers. Not helpful therapeutics.

Banning certain drugs could actually backfire. For example, if they banned bute, it would probably make trainers more likely to inject ankles and knees. That would be worse for the horses. I don't know what the answer is.