W.Va. Horse Racing Officials Begin Examining Salix

A meeting served as a information-gathering session in light of ongoing discussion about furosemide use.
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The West Virginia Racing Commission (WVRC) heard the pros and cons of race-day furosemide use Sept. 17 and pledged to examine the steps necessary to implement mandatory administration of the anti-bleeding drug by regulatory or third-party veterinarians.

The three-hour meeting served as a information-gathering session for the commission in light of ongoing national discussion about use of furosemide, commonly known as Salix or Lasix. Race-day Salix is legal in West Virginia, but the commission has submitted to the legislation a rule that would ban use of adjunct bleeder medications on race day.

"One thing that is very apparent is there are both proponents and opponents," WVRC chairman Joe Smith said to begin the meeting in Charleston. "I have to think further research is needed to be done to find out if Lasix is performance-enhancing or performance-enabling. What’s best for the industry and the horse is the priority of the racing commission."

There were no surprises during the meeting, with horsemen supporting continued use of Salix and a few industry groups-The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA)-advocating for change. A representative of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, called for more drastic changes

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Tom LaMarra, a native of New Jersey and graduate of Rutgers University, has been news editor at The Blood-Horse since 1998. After graduation he worked at newspapers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania as an editor and reporter with a focus on municipal government and politics. He also worked at Daily Racing Form and Thoroughbred Times before joining The Blood-Horse. LaMarra, who has lived in Lexington since 1994, has won various writing awards and was recognized with the Old Hilltop Award for outstanding coverage of the horse racing industry. He likes to spend some of his spare time handicapping races.

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