Lasix Finale
"What passes here is hardly new..."
--Mephistopheles in Goethe's Faust
Just read B. Pressey's comment last post. Unable personally to relate EIPH treatment to "starts per horse" where I'd think the effect would be exactly the opposite. Reduction in starts I'd relate primarily to deficient training, questionable campaigning, where trainers are always looking for "the right spot" instead of just racing their animals. But, who knows.
That lasix itself would "reduce" the number of starts would be solely related to lasix use weakening bone structure, which seems highly illogical to me. I'd more relate weak bones to lack of vitamin D and appropriate calcium supplementation combined with inappropriate training. Watching some of these yo yos train, are we really to believe them injuring an entire shedrow in one meet is related to lasix use?
If we're banning EIPH treatment on race day--remembering that's all it is, and that EIPH treatment is going to continue 24/7 during training--I think it prudent for the sport that an exercise physiologist/vet tandem follow some non-lasix volunteers--write a few non-lasix dirt races for these, see what happens to the lungs. Just guessing that over a course of 10 races it will be other than pretty.
I'd respectfully differ that USA racing should play Russian Roulette with our dirt horses in the manner that's being suggested. Lasix was the new wonder drug just a few years back and the last that opposed finally agreed in NY in early '90s. Different crowd, different argument now, but this all is hardly new. Will be interesting to know Bill Pressey's thoughts as he goes on this one. And, btw, and this is strictly personal opinion, those "lower level" horse people ought to be the back bone of this sport. They're the ones that ultimately support the sport, though that's another subject. To wipe them out with a lasix sideshow to me locks up the sport with the deep pockets, what many of them are bucking for, to be sure.
--Mephistopheles in Goethe's Faust
Just read B. Pressey's comment last post. Unable personally to relate EIPH treatment to "starts per horse" where I'd think the effect would be exactly the opposite. Reduction in starts I'd relate primarily to deficient training, questionable campaigning, where trainers are always looking for "the right spot" instead of just racing their animals. But, who knows.
That lasix itself would "reduce" the number of starts would be solely related to lasix use weakening bone structure, which seems highly illogical to me. I'd more relate weak bones to lack of vitamin D and appropriate calcium supplementation combined with inappropriate training. Watching some of these yo yos train, are we really to believe them injuring an entire shedrow in one meet is related to lasix use?
If we're banning EIPH treatment on race day--remembering that's all it is, and that EIPH treatment is going to continue 24/7 during training--I think it prudent for the sport that an exercise physiologist/vet tandem follow some non-lasix volunteers--write a few non-lasix dirt races for these, see what happens to the lungs. Just guessing that over a course of 10 races it will be other than pretty.
I'd respectfully differ that USA racing should play Russian Roulette with our dirt horses in the manner that's being suggested. Lasix was the new wonder drug just a few years back and the last that opposed finally agreed in NY in early '90s. Different crowd, different argument now, but this all is hardly new. Will be interesting to know Bill Pressey's thoughts as he goes on this one. And, btw, and this is strictly personal opinion, those "lower level" horse people ought to be the back bone of this sport. They're the ones that ultimately support the sport, though that's another subject. To wipe them out with a lasix sideshow to me locks up the sport with the deep pockets, what many of them are bucking for, to be sure.
posted by rather rapid at
11:29 AM
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1 Comments:
RR-
Part of what contributes to poor conditioning practices is the over-reliance on drugs. You don't have to worry about warming your horse up, galloping more miles, or breezing more frequently if you can simply use a syringe to address the problem.
99% of US trainers have never Googled the term 'thoroughbred physiology' and have no idea what the hell the spleen does in a horse. If I have sold 100 HR/GPS monitors in the past 2 years - less than 10 have gone into the US, and 6 went to one farm with Euro roots.
There are roughly 20 high speed treadmills in use by trainers around the world, yet I am aware of none in the US, except for scoping purposes at the vet.
In a nutshell, that is also the problem with our nation's healthcare system: overuse of drugs to replace diet and exercise. Diet and exercise fix 80%+ of problems in horses and humans, but if you go too far down the drug road, you cannot get back the 'clean' way.
I see actual HR/GPS charts on horses trained here vs overseas every week. Ours get 9-12min of exercise a day, theirs get 45. I can understand why a trainer with 200 head follows this path, but not Joe Blow at Turfway with 12.
Lower level guys SHOULD be the backbone of the sport, as they by definition have smaller stables and can devote more individual attention to each horse - but many don't do it in my experience, they merely copy the Pletcher Protocol.
Regardless of what you and I think are the reasons: starts per horse moved from 12 to 6 in years where drug use is allowed. Do nothing and it will soon be 4, synthetics failed to stem the loss so far.
You would certainly think using Lasix to address EIPH would create the opposite effect, and that is precisely what was promised by the vets in the 80s, but they have failed to deliver, now it's time to give the other (non drug) camp a shot.
Smaller money owners and trainers will always lose out to the deep pockets crowd if they continue to play the game in the same manner from a conditioning standpoint.
Mike de Kock, leading Dubai trainer says it best: "Conditioning is the one way you can beat pedigree, it is the smaller guy's edge."
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