Federal Oversight Threatens Thoroughbred Racing Self-Governance

re: Federal Oversight Threatens Thoroughbred Racing Self-Governance

Needler in Virginia — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 02:58:00 GMT

Had racing not ignored the gorilla in the room, the situation would not be what it is now. This issue has been "on the agenda" for years and all we've gotten is wringing of hands, "we MUST do something" and 37 separate racing entities....none of which can agree with any other about anything except what year it is. The racing industry has no one else to blame but itself for this mess, and I'd bet the rules it will have to eventually accept will NOT be pleasant. The chances for repair have been many, the options considered were many, the steps that racing might have taken were obvious but difficult....and STILL nothing happened. It's time to attempt to work a deal with the fed so that racing can keep a little control over itself. That's all that's left to do.

re: Federal Oversight Threatens Thoroughbred Racing Self-Governance

fb0252 — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 19:55:05 GMT

i'd say this is a statement of how "stupid" the lasix issue is. We need fed oversight because of lasix. Good grief.

re: Federal Oversight Threatens Thoroughbred Racing Self-Governance

kincsem — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 19:22:49 GMT

Right on, Dooquila! The other thing the ROW (rest of the world)does is train at a facility like Fair Hills. No more "free" board at the track, which just promotes trainers to race horses that might have small issues, icreasing the chances of larger issues down the road. There is so much pressure to fill races under this structure, it is no wonder we have more fatalities. I have seen this first hand and know of which I speak.

re: Federal Oversight Threatens Thoroughbred Racing Self-Governance

Dooquila — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 16:35:55 GMT

I am assuming Sceptre is pro lasix. Dear oh dear. The USA is way behind, not in front in the terms of racehorse management. Its amazing that the rest of the world, which does NOT validate raceday medications are functioning just fine and with lower fatality rates than the USA. It makes me want to cry when I read comments like sceptres. You are killing off the USA racing industry, US sires are no longer the most desired in the world. You breed clean you get racehorses like Frankel, So You Think, Danedream and the Japanese superstars, you allow drugs you get Ill Have Another, Union Rags and the list will go on and on, all injured and unable to complete even two campaigns.

re: Federal Oversight Threatens Thoroughbred Racing Self-Governance

Pedigree Ann — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:09:37 GMT

Sports is an area where federalism doesn't work. Would the PGA and its national network of tournaments exist if each state independently determined which clubs were legal and which weren't? Could the NASCAR circuit work if different states had different displacement limits? How about if every state had its own definitions of football penalties?

State racing commissions are the biggest obstacle to progress in creating a national racing organization. They are minor kingdoms where political appointees, often with little knowledge or understanding of the sport, can throw their weight around to gain political capital, with no concern about the health of the sport in question. (see New York)

I have another question along the same lines that Avalyn indicated. Bute was legalized some years before Lasix was. Bute, like every NSAID (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.), has side effects that vary from individual to individual. Don't know if most of you remember, but buffered aspirin (Bufferin a major brand) to prevent stomach upset had a big presence in pre-Tylenol days. Prolonged use of NSAIDs can also produce kidney changes leading to high-blood pressure. Could the increase in bleeding from the lungs observed in recent times be a result of Bute overuse? This may be a simplistic idea, but using drugs to counteract the side-effects of other drugs is not uncommon in human medicine.

(A similar situation: I have serious mold allergy problems. Because of phlegm drainage while sleeping horizontally gave me acid reflux symptoms, I was put on omeprazole. However when I changed decongestants and started sleeping with my upper body elevated, the symptoms went away and I could toss the tummy pills.)

re: Federal Oversight Threatens Thoroughbred Racing Self-Governance

sceptre — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:40:43 GMT

There are all degrees to which one can be "concerned about ...their animals..." , and there are various degrees of ignorance. Many/most of these untreated Salix race-day 2 yr.olds may not initially evidence/manifest the harm done to them by withholding this efficacious treatment, but the damage is cumulative. Choosing to INGNORE present day scientific knowledge is not the course taken by those who truly have "deep concern" for the health and well-being of the racehorse.

re: Federal Oversight Threatens Thoroughbred Racing Self-Governance

erz213 — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:07:17 GMT

Good grief, do we need more government in our lives. They're like a plague that just can't leave us alone. Go away. No more government. They can't get our country right; do we need them messing around with horse racing. Look what the BLM is doing to the wild horses. They don't have a clue about them.

re: Federal Oversight Threatens Thoroughbred Racing Self-Governance

Dooquila — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:43:03 GMT

Its all very well to say Racing should govern itself but it has missed every opportunity to do this. If those inside American racing are unable to see they are out of step and behind the rest of the world with their medication policies than perhaps major decisions should not be left to them? It seems the horseman will have to be dragged into behaving ethically.