Lasix

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority called for potential researchers to prepare research proposals on the administration of furosemide, still commonly called Lasix in racing, to Thoroughbred racehorses during the 48-hour period before the start of a race, the organization said in a release Thursday evening. The call for proposals is expected to be released Sept. 1. As the Authority was created by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) of 2020, it is mandated by Congress to include at least one study on the use of furosemide. Included in...

Edited Press Release The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) announced the members of an Advisory Committee which has been convened to oversee a three-year study on the use of furosemide (also known as "Lasix") on horses during the 48-hour period before the start of a Covered Horserace, including the effect on equine health and the integrity of competition. The establishment of this Advisory Committee for the study of furosemide administration and the requirements of the study are specifically mandated and set forth in the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act....

The third race at Belmont Park Friday was left with just two horses entered to run after Lasix was not administered to four horses who were supposed to receive it. The veterinarian charged with administering the Lasix, Dr. Steven Lascher, "is no longer employed by NYRA," the company said. The race, a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at one mile had drawn six entries, but was left with just two: Pharoah's Heart (American Pharoah) and Honey Money (Central Banker) after the omission came to light. "Four horses entered to run in...

Dates for the 2023 live racing season at Delaware Park, which this year will offer 85 days from May 24 through Oct. 28, were approved by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission on Tuesday. The 86th season at the Wilmington oval will be conducted on a Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule with the exception of seven dark Fridays--May 26, July 28, every Friday in August, and Oct. 27. This year's stakes schedule, anchored by the GII $500,000 Delaware H., offers 12 added-money events worth $2.25 million. Additionally, all stakes races will be run Lasix-free...

After a failed attempt in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in which he bled, Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca) will return to his comfort zone for his next start. Trainer and co-owner Tim Martin reports that his Iowa-bred gelding will start next in the Dec. 9 Advent S. at Oaklawn at 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt for 2-year-olds. "This will give him five weeks between races," Martin said. "We worked him last week and he didn't bleed. Everything looked good. I'll breeze him again Saturday. In this race...

by Ken Lowe (TDN is re-running this letter to the editor, which originally appeared in Wednesday's newsletter, due to editing errors). There were many empty seats at the table when HISA was invented, that being "Middle America Racing", comprised of almost every jurisdiction between "the moon (California) and New York City (NYJC)." Now, being "blue collar horse folks," we all know it takes three (3) legs for a stool and in this "fixed race" it was Kentucky. Throw kerosene on the flames, when certain trainers were indicted by the Feds...

After reading both the Bennet and Parkin article published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association entitled "Fifteen risk factors associated with sudden death in Thoroughbred racehorses in North America (2009-2021)" followed by the TDN analysis of that article, I have become increasingly aggravated over the last three weeks from the implied message portrayed by each. The dramatic click-bait headline "Horses on Lasix at Increased Risk of Sudden Death" is unwarranted by the facts. When compared to the end of the article, one becomes more frustrated with the...

The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) took a unanimous voice vote on Thursday to request an exemption from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act Authority (HISA) that will allow the continued use of Lasix in races other than those for 2-year-olds and in stakes. Asking for the exemption also opts states into a three-year study that will be conducted by HISA that is designed to shape future federal Lasix policies, possibly as early as 2026. The vote itself was hardly a surprise. Not applying for the exemption would have...

A new study published this week in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and funded by the Grayson Jockey Club Foundation, has found that horses racing on Lasix were 62% more likely to die within three days of racing than were horses running without the diuretic. Fatalities due to catastrophic musculoskeletal injury were not included in the study. The use of Lasix was one of 15 risk factors identified in the report. The study, relying on information from the Equine Injury Database, examined starts made by 284,387 Thoroughbreds...

We are writing in response to Bill Finley's article from last week discussing the New York Gaming Commission's suspension of Mr. Wayne Potts. Our company, ReCellerate, developed the product EquiFlow (concentrated protein serum) that was found in Mr. Potts's barn and the basis for his 45-day suspension, for the treatment of Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage ("EIPH") or bleeding. Last week,the company issued a press release discussing EquiFlow and addressing some of the misunderstanding about the product in the market. We also confirmed that we have no affiliation with Mr. Potts,...

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public and where. California Track: Santa Anita Date: 01/14/2022 Licensee: Kent Desormeaux, jockey Penalty: $500 Violation: Excessive use of the riding crop Explainer: Jockey Kent Desormeaux is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8) (Use of Riding Crop--more than six times--first offense within...

The story of a high-quality Thanksgiving weekend of racing at Churchill Downs was undoubtedly Ken McPeek, who sent out four impressive winners on Saturday's all-2-year-old Stars of Tomorrow card, including GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. hero Smile Happy (Runhappy) and 'TDN Rising Star' Cocktail Moments (Uncle Mo), to follow up a six-length victory by his Envoutante (Uncle Mo) in Thursday's GII Falls City S. Tuesday, the thoughtful McPeek sat down for an expansive interview with the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland to talk about his loaded barn of promising...