Lasix and the Horse Race – How Lasix Affects the Horse Race
Horse races have entranced spectators for centuries, and while many of the traditions surrounding the sport are rooted in ancient history, modern technology and an increased awareness of animal welfare are influencing its future. The balancing act of maintaining these traditions while embracing change is the challenge facing today’s racing industry, and the answer will determine its success.
On a cool morning in March 2020, at the Santa Anita racetrack in California, the horses were lined up for their workouts. The management and trainers were adamant that the first priority was to keep their “equine athletes” safe. They flooded the training zone with veterinarians and expensive imaging equipment, scanning each of their horses for preexisting conditions. They repeatedly tested them for banned substances. During morning workouts, the horses were given large doses of Lasix, a diuretic that is listed on the race forms with a boldface “L.” Lasix is used to prevent pulmonary bleeding, which is the consequence of hard running for a lot of thoroughbreds. It’s the kind of thing that could kill a horse, and it’s why — despite the fact that only a tiny percentage of the horses that die on tracks do so because of Lasix — almost every thoroughbred in America gets it before each race.
Lasix works by encouraging horses to urinate, which in turn makes them drink more water. At the track, each of the forty-three horses got a gallon or so of it, which made them very thirsty. The hydration was good for the horses, but not so good for their jockeys, who often had to stand in ankle-deep mud to get the horses from one end of the track to the other. They also had to deal with a lot of sweat.
The muddy water, the thirst, and the sweating made the horses bloated and agitated, which was bad for them and for their trainers. Some of the trainers had started to panic. They had flooded the Santa Anita racetrack with doctors and vets, but it wasn’t enough.
One of the most significant changes in the sport over the past few decades has been a shift in ownership. Instead of a single rich guy owning his or her own stable, racehorses are now owned by a variety of people who split up the shareholdings and form syndicates. It’s a more democratic way to own a horse, and it might even improve the animals’ chances of survival.
In the earliest days of organized racing, before the Civil War, speed was the key. But stamina became more important after the war, as well as a sense of fair play, which has become the cornerstone of American racing. Regardless of its changing nature, horse racing is still a hugely popular spectator sport, with fans at racetracks and watching TVG, which airs on a lot of sports cable packages. In addition, it is a major event in many countries that celebrates national pride and heritage.