I am not sure what to make of this. Perhaps you can enlighten me.
The Associated Press reports:
NEW YORK — New York Racing Association veterinarians will begin administering Lasix to horses on race day starting Jan. 26.
Lasix is a diuretic used to treat pulmonary hemorrhaging in racehorses.
NYRA President Charles Hayward says Thursday the measure will eliminate the need for private vets to enter horses’ stalls on race day. He calls it an “important integrity measure.”
Last year, NYRA expanded its in-house drug testing program to detect illegal performance-enhancing substances. The association also ended operation of its security barn, allowing horses to be examined on race day in their own stalls.
Is the NYRA saying it does not trust a racehorse’s veterinarian to administer drugs? What about the trainers?
Good question.
It is known that Lasix is also used to mask other drugs given to horses to enhance their performance.
To me then it is one of two things; (1) the NYRA is actually trying to eliminate abuse of the administration of Lasix by unscrupulous owners, trainers and personal vets or alternatively; (2) the NTRA is going to control the situation itself in a more sinister manner. perhaps I am too cynical.
In any case, why is NA racing all of their thoroughbreds on the drug while those in others countries typically run drug-free apart from when they race in NA???????