Derby Day

I’m not much of a horse person, even though I have a degree in animal science. However, I do pay attention to the Triple Crown races every year. As with many people of my generation, the singular horse was and always will be Secretariat. His victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes is unmatched in any sport, human or equine. (If you don’t believe me, here’s the video.) And I freely admit to crying when I heard that beautiful beast had to be euthanized because of a hoof infection.

Sadly, the “Sport of Kings” has its seedy side. Betting scandals. Jockeys having to do outrageous things to maintain their weight, similar to other athletes. Then there are drugs. When I was in grad school, one of my professors was a veterinary pathologist who documented widespread use of injected cortisone into the joints of horses and the damage it caused. Although an isolated cortisone shot can ease inflammation in horses, as in humans, repeated use can damage the surrounding bone. Shattered leg bones often lead to euthanasia in horses. (Exhibits A and B: Ruffian in 1975 and Barbaro in 2006.)

Yesterday on NPR, a new drug issue received airplay. Many thoroughbred race horses receive injections of Lasix (furosemide, a common drug used for high blood pressure in humans) to prevent bleeding into the lungs during the intense activity. Lasix has the effect of increasing urination in horses, just as it does in humans. This can result in as much as 25 pounds of weight loss. A lighter horse may be a faster horse. (The lost water can also lead to dehydration, which can adversely affect performance.) A bill has been introduced in Congress to standardize equine drug testing across the country and establish a single authority for these tests. This bill is controversial, particularly in Kentucky. I heard the article on my way to work yesterday and was struck by the following quote from a trainer: “I don’t like calling Lasix a drug. It’s a medication.” To the average person, all drugs are medications. It’s a matter of legality or potential for abuse.

Although I’m not a horse person, I do believe in making sure these animals get proper care. Research is needed to delineate the causes and potential treatments for lung bleeding in race horses. Veterinary scientists should study risk factors for lung bleeding, and if Lasix is the proper preventive measure. This would probably be difficult, as horse breeders and trainers would not willingly submit their prized animals to a rigorous randomized trial. Perhaps retired or less speedy horses could be recruited for such studies. Testing may also be performed to see if a particular gene is related to bleeds. Since thoroughbreds are quite inbred, such a gene could be widespread in comparison to horses with “hybrid vigor” (genetic speak for mutts). Maybe a little outbreeding could be beneficial to the long-term health of horses and horse racing.