Race-day Lasix banned at Santa Anita
When The Stronach Group (TSG) announced last week that it intended to ban the race-day use of Lasix at its two California tracks, Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields, it left out an important detail: when the new policy would take effect.
The answer came on Monday. As a result of an agreement between TSG and Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), the Lasix ban will commence with horses foaled in 2018. Horses foaled prior to 2018 – which of course includes all horses currently in training – can be legally treated with the medication for the remainder of their careers. The permitted dosage for pre-2018 foals, however, will be reduced by half, from 10 ccs to five ccs.
Lasix is a diuretic that is commonly used to prevent and treat
bleeding from the lungs (exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, or EIPH) in racehorses.
The Lasix ban is a bold move, marking the first time since 1995 that raceday use of the drug will not be allowed throughout the U.S. That was the year the New York Racing Association, the last holdout, finally consented to allow race-day Lasix at its tracks. The use of the medication on race days continues to be banned in virtually every racing jurisdiction outside North America, in part because it is considered a performance enhancer.
TSG’s initiative raises all sorts of questions. To begin with, will the company successfully implement the same policy at its tracks in Florida (Gulfstream Park), Maryland (Laurel and Pimlico) and Oregon (Portland Meadows)? Will other North American racing organizations follow TSG’s lead? What if, as seems likely, they don’t – and racing once again finds itself with race-day Lasix allowed at some tracks and not others?
In the meantime, Santa Anita is attempting to get back to normal. There have been no reported breakdowns during training since March 14, and live racing is scheduled to resume on March 29. The Beholder Mile and Kilroe Mile will be run on March 30, with the Santa Anita Handicap, Santa Anita Derby and Santa Anita Oaks to follow on April 6. Derby chatter Upsets continue to highlight this year’s road to the Kentucky Derby. Last weekend, West Coast shippers Game Winner (a 1-2 favorite) and Improbable (2-5) went down to defeat in the two divisions of the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The two previously undefeated colts were edged, respectively, by Omaha Beach (4-1) and Long Range Toddy (8-1), both of whom recorded their first graded victories.
Considering everything, Game Winner and Improbable lost little in defeat. They were only beaten a nose and a neck, and both were making their first start of the year. When Santa Anita was shut down and the San Felipe Stakes cancelled,, trainer Bob Baffert had to work his two charges at Los Alamitos and then fly them halfway across the country to Arkansas for the Rebel.
On Saturday, the prep focus shifts to Fair Grounds, where War of Will will attempt to win his third straight graded stakes in the $1 million Louisiana Derby. If successful, the son of War Front will become the fourth horse in 47 years to sweep the three Louisiana graded preps, a feat last accomplished by International Star in 2015.