Doped Horses on a Juiced Track - SA Gets New Superintendent!

[Whirlaway]

Sixty percent of the horses running in the Breeders' Cup will be running on the performance enhancing drug Furosemide, also known as Salix or Lasix. Two-year-old horses will not be allowed to run on the drug. Next year, the Breeders' Cup committee, in its infinite wisdom, will allow all horses to run on the drug. Science has shown that horses injected with the drug "raced faster, earned more money, and were more likely to win or finish in the top 3 positions than horses that did not. Horses receiving furosemide had an estimated 6-furlong race time that ranged from 0.56 seconds to 1.09 seconds less than that for horses not receiving furosemide, a difference equivalent to 3 to 5.5 lengths" (Gross, Morley, Hincliff).

Why move in the opposite direction - why allow more doping? What professional sport allows and encourages their top athletes to run on performance enhancing drugs? How can horse racing survive with such a distorted set of values, particularly in an environment where fans detest drug use by pro athletes. Where is the integrity? How can reasonable minds allow such madness?

To compound matters is the racing surface at Santa Anita Park. One would think with all the science, technology and world class equipment the racetrack surface managers would get it right - a level playing surface, a neutral track or as close to neutral as possible. A review of the racing surface statistics shows a 76% speed bias for the meet. From what I've read, racetrack management has supplemented the surface with differing types of sand in an effort to level the playing field, but jockeys are complaining that the kick back from the new "sand" stings and causes some horses to back out and run wide in an effort to avoid the discomfort from the kickback. Review of video replays confirms their statements.

Doped horses running on a juiced surface hurts the integrity of the sport. We need to get back to a level playing field with no drugs allowed.

[Fireslam]

Uh...science has shown that horses injected with the drug had significantly less EIPH than horses given a placebo. Thus, horses will run faster when they arent bleeding in their lungs. You might want to actually read the study from those authors:

http://www.rmtcnet.com/resources/Study- ... semide.pdf

From this article:

We have previously
shown that EIPH adversely affects the performance
of racehorses and that treatment with furosemide improves
race performance,3,6 and results of the present
study would seem to suggest that the improved performance
associated with furosemide could potentially be
attributed to prevention or mitigation of EIPH.

[Kari]

There are some doctors from Hagyard out at SA this weekend scoping horses as they come off the track for a study on EIPH and Lasix. Can't wait to see the results, but probably won't be published for another 6 months or so.

[Patuxet]

Fireslam writes:"science has shown that horses injected with the drug had significantly less EIPH than horses given a placebo..."

Based on the cited study that is quite an exaggeration. Even with furosemide, the majority of horses still bled (as determined by an endoscopic exam) and the average decrease in EIPH score was less than one-half a grade on the 0-4 grading scale used in the study.

It is an inescapable fact that in this country we have a gross overuse of an under-needed medication which also conveniently happens to have the advantageous side effect of producing a significant weight loss by post time. What else it does and what it masks are open to question and scientific inquiry.

[Mahubah]

I think the other obvious question is whether horses with significant pulmonary bleeding should be running at all if it can't be controlled by means other than drugs, especially since they can still bleed through the Salix.

I also wonder if over-reliance on Lasix/Salix is one reason you seem to see more horses suffering from heat distress after racing these days. I know humans who take the stuff for medical reasons have to be careful about overdoing it in hot weather.

[steward]

According to drugs.com, the potential ("incidence not known") side effects of lasix include increased thirst and less urination. So that water deficit is less likely to occur.

I say that as a person who has a relative lack of thirst under all conditions (it also runs in my immediate family), and who has suffered several serious heat exhaustion bouts. Water is the prevention, along with avoiding agents (like caffeine) which cause it to wick out or drain from the body. Lasix doesn't seem to be one of them, if the science is honest.

[Whirlaway]

Mean ±SE weight loss during the 4 hours prior to the start of the race was 12.7 ± 0.33 kg (27.9 ± 0.73 lb) when horses were given furosemide (n = 160) and 5.4 ±0.28 kg (11.9 ±0.62 lb) when horses were given saline solution (155). These values were significantly (P <0.001) different (Hinchcliff, Morley, Guthrie, 2009).

Previous studies have demonstrated that furosemide induced reduction of body weight results in an increase in the mass-specifc rate of oxygen consumption during high-intensity exercise (Ommundson, Fenton, Pagan).

~

Efficacy of furosemide for prevention of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in Thoroughbred racehorses: Kenneth W. Hinchcliff, Paul S. Morley, Alan J. Guthrie

Effects of an external nasal strip and frusemide on pulmonary haemorrhage in Thoroughbreds following high-intensity exercise: R.J. Geor, L. Ommundson, G. Genton, J.D. Pagan

[pistol]

[quote="Whirlaway"]Mean ±SE weight loss during the 4 hours prior to the start of the race was 12.7 ± 0.33 kg (27.9 ± 0.73 lb) when horses were given furosemide (n = 160) and 5.4 ±0.28 kg (11.9 ±0.62 lb) when horses were given saline solution (155). These values were significantly (P <0.001) different (Hinchcliff, Morley, Guthrie, 2009).

Previous studies have demonstrated that furosemide induced reduction of body weight results in an increase in the mass-specifc rate of oxygen consumption during high-intensity exercise (Ommundson, Fenton, Pagan).

[/quote]

I've often wondered if they thought trying a weight assessment for a horse running on Lasix, since they have an advantage from losing the weight. Not sure if that would have much effect since weight loss is much more than could be assessed.

[BenB]

The people who are advocating the stuff should be using the stuff themself, and afterwards running an 100yards full, then they will realize what the stuff is doiing, much more serious is the calcium depletion caused by the use of lasix, and the fact that less than 5% in the breed are really bad bleeders (through the nostrils).

Overhere it,s just an race enhacer and nothing else. Therefore strictly forbidden.

[Affirmed1]

[quote="BenB"]The people who are advocating the stuff should be using the stuff themself, and afterwards running an 100yards full, then they will realize what the stuff is doiing, much more serious is the calcium depletion caused by the use of lasix, and the fact that less than 5% in the breed are really bad bleeders (through the nostrils).

Overhere it,s just an race enhacer and nothing else. Therefore strictly forbidden.[/quote]

Hey BenB, please come toward the light and hang out with the rest of us (don't tell Louis)

[Whirlaway]

Mean ±SE weight loss during the 4 hours prior to the start of the race was 12.7 ± 0.33 kg (27.9 ± 0.73 lb) when horses were given furosemide (n = 160) and 5.4 ±0.28 kg (11.9 ±0.62 lb) when horses were given saline solution (155). These values were significantly (P <0.001) different (Hinchcliff, Morley, Guthrie, 2009).

Previous studies have demonstrated that furosemide induced reduction of body weight results in an increase in the mass-specifc rate of oxygen consumption during high-intensity exercise (Ommundson, Fenton, Pagan).

I've often wondered if they thought trying a weight assessment for a horse running on Lasix, since they have an advantage from losing the weight. Not sure if that would have much effect since weight loss is much more than could be assessed.

Twenty to thirty pounds is a lot of weight and no doubt that amount of weight can alter the outcome of the race. What is so sad and particularly nefarious about doping is that most racing fans don't know what the doping really does to the horse. Assigning a weight assessment based on the weight loss caused by the use of the drug is an interesting idea.

For your review, take a look at the past performances for horses racing in Japan, you'll see they list the weight of each horse running. Interesting information here . . . numbers look relatively consistent and no doubt this additional piece of data can be of help to handicappers. Certainly would be nice to see the weight info added to the past performances here in the United States.

http://japanracing.jp/en/index.html

[BenB]

The difference between the use of lasix or not in racehorses, is the difference of an full second in an sprint from 5 five furlongs, it also is the difference between an allowance horse or an graded stakes winner.

Since money rules the racing buisiness and not the integrity from the sport, all big mouthed people will reign in the US.

Everywhere on the globe raceday medication is prohibited in graded stakes races except in the US. Most ironic is the West Fam, which threathend the BC
ltd with an court case, won the Juvi with NEW Years gooiing without LASIX.

[steward]

It's obvious that most American handicappers have accepted that lasix is a minor factor at most, and that the argument is between purists and horse owners about the health effects of it on their animals. One side equates it to near torture, while the other side seems to be content.

Hyperventilating about an old product that has been studied to death probably won't change minds at this point, no matter the level of histrionics. There has been enough science performed to satisfy most American racegoers. I liken this to the beefs about religion, GMOs, or organic foods, etc., where some people feel the need to proseletyze in order to make others bend to their will and see the light. Science be damned.

Signed,
An American bigmouth.

[steward]

The difference between the use of lasix or not in racehorses, is the difference of an full second in an sprint from 5 five furlongs, it also is the difference between an allowance horse or an graded stakes winner.

Ben, you should open an online account to bet on American races, just to give your theory a test.

Personally, I can remember some lost wagers employing the first-time lasix angle--decades ago--before realizing that the effect and promised rewards were greatly overstated. Not saying that there isn't any impact at all, but I wish that I had that money back.

[BenB]

I,ll bet sometimes, but only on English and German races.

In my opinion: a sound horse does not require medication for racing and a horse that requires medication should not race at all.