"A BAttle For Racing's Soul"

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Patuxet
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"A BAttle For Racing's Soul"

Postby Patuxet » Tue Jun 03, 2014 6:31 am

The NY Times has published "Amid Crown Chase, a Battle for Racing’s Soul" a stark assesment by Jim Squires, breeder of the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner, Monarchos, and author of “Headless Horsemen: A Tale of Chemical Colts, Subprime Sales Agents, and the Last Kentucky Derby on Steroids.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/sport ... d=31418693

A couple of quotes:

"Thyro-L and clenbuterol have long lists of side effects, which is why they are banned in every racing jurisdiction other than North America. There is little medical research specific to racehorses on either drug, an oddity that might be explained by the fact that administering Lasix to 95 percent of all thoroughbreds, although only 2 percent to 6 percent bleed excessively, is an estimated $100 million revenue stream from owners to veterinarians and drug companies, which most equine researchers depend on to finance their studies."

"Studies show that furosemide, the generic name of Lasix, causes dangerous electrolyte imbalances, particularly reduced levels of potassium and calcium, and lowers the count of white blood cells because of bone marrow suppression. When given with corticosteroids, a common practice, the drug damages the joints that fail in training breakdowns."
"He is pure air and fire and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him; he is indeed a horse ..." Wm. Shakespeare - Henry V