Lasix for horses?
Category: Lasix
Questions and Answers
How big of a difference does Lasix make?
I always bet horses that have raced before and then end up on Lasix for the first time later in their career. I also like to play horses that have blinkers on when they didn't in their previous races.
Using Lasix in horses can definitely make a big difference. A lot of horses will always bleed, severely, during their races, and if severe enough, it can actually kill them as the bleeding generally comes from the lungs. I do believe a champion Australian race mare called Let's Elope successfully raced in the United States whilst on Lasix, something she could not have done had she still been racing in Australia.
What is meant when a racehorse has/does/wears Lasix ?
I was watching TVG the other day when someone said "number three has first-time Lasix. What is Lasix and what does this do for the horse's performance?
Lasix (since re-named by its manufacturer as Salix, don't ask me why) is a medication that is thought to reduce the risk of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeding from the respiratory tract) during a race. It's been estimated that 15-35% or all racehorses have experienced an episode of bleeding at least once during their career.
There are a number of handicappers who believe that first-time Lasix users, horses being run on Lasix for the first time, will move up and run better than their prior form would indicate that they should-- thus a better bet than the form shows.
There is some data that seems to indicate that Lasix has an effect of enhancing performance in horses over and above the diminished risk of bleeding. This is why some trainers will have every horse in their barn race on Lasix, whether the horse has bled or not.
Administration of Lasix is controlled in most racing jurisdictions, with requirements that it be administered by an approved vet within a specified time limit prior to the race. Dosage is controlled and exceeding the dose, or administering the drug outside the time limit specified, can cause a trainer to be fined and/or suspended for a period of time.
There are some concerns that because of the diluting effect Lasix has on a horse's urine specimen, administration of Lasix might mask the presence of other, perfomance-altering drugs. There is also a concern, which I believe is valid, that administering Lasix to bleeders is increasing the genetic predisposition of Thoroughbreds as a population to have bleeds. In the normal course of events, horses that were chronic bleeders would be sub-par performers and as such wouldn't be bred.
(Only a small fraction of bleeders are observed to bleed externally, from the nostrils. The remainder are identified by "scoping" the airways following a race or work-out. If you read accounts of some of the great racehorses of early days that would experience an unaccountably bad race or have a sudden slump, I think it's reasonable to believe that some of these horses had bleeds that were inapparent but would have been discovered if the endoscope had existed back then.)
General belief is that first time Lasix users move up. After a horse has been on Lasix for a while, the form is established and you can ignore the use of the drug.
Lasix for Thoroughbreds?
Do you feel that a horse has to prove itself to be a bleeder before being put on lasix?
or
Do you feel that the trainer should be able to put a horse on lasix at their own discretion?
As I have worked in the horse racing industry for 5 years I would have to say I feel the trainer should be able to put a horse on lasix at their own discretion. Some horses seem to run better on lasix even some non bleeders.
Continue reading here: Diethylstilbestrol Risk Summary
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