Pricci's Saratoga Diary
John Pricci's Saratoga Diary, the oldest continually running journal covering the Saratoga racing scene, is celebrating it's 33rd anniversary season. Since1978, Pricci's Diary has kept you up to speed on what's happening at the Spa, from the first race on opening day to the final bell. So keep up with the cold exactas, hot issues, and build your own stable of live horses, all from John's unique perspective, exclusively at HorseRaceInsider.com.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Vet: “Racing Better Served Without Salix”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, August 24, 2011--Everyone who is tethered to thesport of Thoroughbred racing is aware that the matter of race day medication,principally Salix, is one issue that could bring the industry to its knees. As previously stated here, the continued use of race day medication is anextremely emotional and complex subject with serious considerations and consequences on both sides.Advocates for the continued use of Furosemide on race day insist that for all practical purposes the American racing industry would disappear if a ban were enacted. Proponents calling for its prohibition on race day argue that the game wouldvirtually disappear if it’s not. In short, it’s a battle of the present against the future.
I received this e-mail from a retired veterinarian who takes a surprisinglyanti-Salix position. Those who oppose this will try to discredit the messenger by arguing: “Sure, now that he’s no longer practicing…etc., etc”Per usual, we will allow our readers to decide for themselves, and we inviteSalix proponents to state their case here as counterpoint, which also will beprinted without the kind of editing that would alter context in any way.The following, then, are the words of Rod Cundy, D.V.M., Calgary, Alberta, Canada:
“I am a recently retired racetrack veterinarian who worked as a groom for 10years in the 60’s before starting practice in 1971.I have been intimatelyinvolved in the use of Salix during its evolution from not being used in racing to today’s norm of it being an almost universal treatment. That being said, Ifeel that racing was better served without Salix.“I have little doubt that Salix helps “bleeders,” but only because it is a performance enhancer which by definition reduces the chance of bleeding.One of the ways that it enhances performance is that it is tantamount to“soda doping”- a proven performance enhancement that is banned most everywhere. I came to this conclusion when I found out from our local authorities that when they test for bicarbonate (soda) they allow horsesrunning on Salix to have a higher level presumably because of the dehydration effect. “Racing did quite well in the pre-Salix days and I think it will do quite well once Salix is totally gone. Not only will the public perception ofracing improve but I think
all those owners now infavor of Salix will eventually realize that over all the cost of losing the fewhorses that cannot run without Salix will be outweighed by the money saved (millions of dollars) from not using it.“I think a lot of the controversy aboutFurosemide and other bleeder medications use stems from the perception that bleeding is a “disease” that drugs can “fix.” In my humble opinion bleeding is not a “disease” but rather a simple result of horses running out ofair late in a race. Let me explain: “There are only two basic ways for muscles to receive the oxygen they need to continue running late in a race. Either they have to take more air into the lungs, or the heart has to send more blood to the lungs to pick up moreoxygen. Given that horses cannot breathe any harder- and indeed many horses have their air intake drastically reduced when they displace their softpalate (choking)- they can/must revert to the heart pumping more blood to the lungs. This in turn causes blood vessels to “pop” and “bleeding” ensues. Inother words “bleeding” is a sign of a problem and not the cause of it. I like to tell my clients that, for the most part, horses do not stop because they bleed theybleed because they stop!”
MY RESPONSE TO THE ORIGINAL EMAIL:‘Thanks very much [Dr. Cundy] for contacting me and foranticipating my question. I'm sure HRI readers will appreciate theinput, as well as certain segments of the industry. Very interesting,indeed.Question: Is soda doping the same as milk shaking; it soundssimilar? If not, could you briefly explain the difference? That couldbe very illuminating.Another element: Testers would allow for more Salix if they knewsoda doping was going on? Wouldn't they just prohibit the sodadoping, or am I missing something here? Thanks again!’
Dr. Cundy’s response will be printed here tomorrow. All having an opinion are invited to comment, of course. As previously stated, HRI will provide equal time for industry representatives with an opposing view, starting tomorrow.
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Retired Vet Speaks Out on Lasix, Part II
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, August 31, 2011--While the sport’s two premiere destination meets reaching their zenith this past weekend, the matter ofrace day medication enjoyed a reprieve, a summer vacation of sorts. But the issue has not disappeared, nor should it. It’s odds-on to be reprised inthe coming weeks, months, maybe even years. It’s what happens when battle lines are drawn over a matter of economy and ethics.As previously stated, the continued use of race day medication Salix, or Lasix, is an emotional and complex subject with serious considerations and consequences on both sides. Approximately a week ago, I received an e-mail from a retired veterinarian who takes an anti-Salix position. Dr. Rod Cundy, D.V.M., Canada, was practicing medicine before and after Lasix became a legal medication forrace day use. Cundy believes the industry would be better off without it in the long term. Proponents believe it’s a humane way to treat Exercise Induced Pulmonary Edema, and that it's cost efficient for owners. Cundy disagrees with this notion, too. We hope that HRI's readers will decide for themselves and give voice to the issue. Pro-Salix industry members are encouraged to respond, to have theirvoices heard, their positions stated. HRI will run that response in its entirety with no edits altering context in any way. Organizations can speak as one, ifthat's the tack they choose to take.The first of Cundy's emails appeared yesterday. Today is the second, asCundy explains how some illegal substances work, the difference betweenthem, and in what context those substances are analogous to raceday Salix use: “Soda doping and milkshaking are one in the same. It entails administeringbicarbonate- usually by tubing baking soda via a stomach tube- a few hours before race time. At one time it was legal in our racing jurisdiction and found that it improved most horse performance substantially- much like blood doping (another serious issue facing racing) is doing today “It first started with only a few trainers and their horse would stand out in arace. Eventually, like Salix, almost all starters were using bicarbonate and any advantage was gone. We as veterinarians asked the Commission to outlaw its use but it took another year or so for them to see the light. Today they regularly check blood levels of bicarbonate in enough horses each race day just prior to race time to deter its use.
“In reference to the level ofbicarbonate allowed in Salix horses, I assume that regulators have seen that
horses using Salix have a higher blood level of bicarbonate than non-Salix horses so they must allowsome difference in legal levels, but in essence are allowing a form of soda doping in Salix horseswithout the trainer having to administer any external forms of bicarbonate “EPO and its various related compounds that enable a horse to "finish"because of the enhancement of their own oxygen carrying capacity is a veryserious issue facing racing as it is in human sports such as the Tour de France.Substitute some high percentage trainers name for Lance Armstrong and the recent “60 Minutes” episode could be all about horse racing instead of cycleracing.
{Ed. Note: According to the latest Uniform Classification Guidelines for Foreign Substances and Recommended Penalties and Model Rule, revised in August, 2011 and released earlier this week, Erythropoietin (EPO), manufactured under the trade names Epogen and Procrit, is a Class 2 Drug classified under Penalty A. A Class 2 Drug is defined by the Association of Racing Commissioners
International as having “a high potential for affecting the outcome of a race. Most are not intended to be used as therapeutic agents in the racing horse...”Under Penalty A, a first offense for trainers carries with it “a minimum one year suspension absent mitigating circumstances. The presence of aggravating factors could be used to impose a maximum three year suspension...”}.
“Since the useful effect of these drugs take several days after administrationto display themselves, last for weeks or months afterwards, and yet can onlybe detected for a few days after administration, it makes it very difficult withpresent testing procedures to deter their use. The only way this problem isgoing to be successfully dealt with, and abusers effectively deterred, is through rigorous "out of competition" testing.“Unfortunately if other racing jurisdictions are like they are here in Alberta,this is not being done. Although we have the legislation to do “out ofcompetition” testing, in practice little is being done. Hopefully people like youwho have the ear of racing's participants and the public will pursue this issuemuch the same way the Salix issue has been pursued until the problem isresolved.”
Proponents, Dr. Cundy has stated his case in approximately 1,000 words. You are afforded equal time whenever you wish.
Written by John Pricci