1953 dead racehorses in 4525 days in the UK

Death and disarray on the racetrack seems to know no bounds. The numbers in the title of this post are what you find when visiting the UK based Animal Aid's Race Horse Death Watch page. They describe their mission: Animal Aid's Race Horse Death Watch was launched during the 2007 Cheltenham Festival. Its purpose is to…

Gulfstream plans Lasix free races in 2015

Hallelujah!  Something to cheer about concerning Thoroughbred racing in 2015. Tom LaMarra (@BH_TLaMarra) reporting for the The Blood-Horse writes: Gulfstream Park, which plans to become the racetrack prototype for integrity in the sport, is to to offer furosemide-free races for 2-year-olds in 2015 and eventually operate an on-track pharmacy to ensure tight regulation of medication.…

Jockey Club urging potential Salix study

Cross-posted from The Blood-Horse by FRANK ANGST The Jockey Club has called on leading industry organizations to come together to conduct a Salix study that would examine the timing of administration on the medication used to prevent exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. At the June 17 meeting of the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council, member A. Gary…

Tait resigns from Breeders Cup Board over Lasix

Cross-posted from Bloodhorse.com WRITTEN BY BLOOD-HORSE STAFF Oliver Tait, Darley's chief operating officer, has resigned from the board of the Breeders' Cup because of the organization's medication policy. "The Breeders' Cup has reversed its previously agreed and stated position that the 2013 Breeders' Cup World Championships will be conducted without Lasix," said Tait in a…

Forgotten Side of the Salix Debate: The Calcium Connection cont’d

WRITTEN BY JANE ALLIN Drug Interactions Anyone? This takes us to an even more insidious topic; the subject of drug interactions. As we are all aware there are always precautions associated with any medications, whether that be the so-called innocuous over-the-counter variety or more potent prescription medications. How two or more drugs interact, regardless of…

Forgotten Side of the Salix Debate: The Calcium Connection

WRITTEN BY JANE ALLIN It seems a day does not go by without some reference to drugs and breakdowns in the world of horse racing here in North America. While it is unambiguous that a drug culture permeates America’s racetracks where horses are over-medicated with the misaligned intent of keeping them on the track without…

Raceday Salix errors frustrate Kentucky horsemen

Cross-posted from TheHorse.com WRITTEN BY FRANK ANGST "Kentucky horsemen are losing patience with a new policy that requires regulatory veterinarians to administer furosemide (commonly known as Salix) on race day after mistakes have led to horses being scratched on consecutive race days at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, this November. "On Nov. 11 stewards scratched Booby…

Ban on drug at Breeders’ Cup keeps some away

WRITTEN BY JOE DRAPE Cross-posted from the New York Times ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 30, 2012) -- Call it uncharted territory, as some horse trainers here have, or the new facts of life, as many breeders and drug reformers prefer, but for the first time in the history of the event, 2-year-old horses at this weekend’s…

Blood Money: Salix and Beyond – Part 1, the Blood

by JANE ALLIN Int'l Fund for Horses Special Report PART 1, THE BLOOD THE North American Thoroughbred racing industry is rife with the natter of race day and other medications where polarized delegations continue to vehemently argue in defense of their convictions one way or another. Lasix (furosemide), now renamed Salix for use in animals,…

Governor implements new KY drug regulations for horse racing

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear Aug. 30 said regulations designed to reform some aspects of the state's equine medication policy will be implemented despite action by a legislative committee that found them deficient. Beshear's decision came after an afternoon meeting with representatives of racing industry organizations that lobbied for their passage. The Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and…