RICK VIOLETTE ON LASIX

[Claimboxx]

Want to eliminate Lasix??

Eliminate year round racing and have racetracks open on weekends only.. Have thoroughbred races run at a cantors pace, no sprints where they bust out of the gate at full speed throughout...

Lol...obviously you're poking fun at European racing but I don't agree with you on two points:

1. Not positive that sprinting causes EIPH more so than route (cantering) races.
2. European race horses - even though most meets are only open weekends or a couple of days a week, run just as often as US based horses (who do get to run on Lasix).

Vince P

Actually Vince, I think it is the all-out tempo of American racing, running all out from the second the bell rings to the wire by comparison to the leisurely paced races everywhere else that causes bleeding. I think training and teaching a horse to blast off from the second the gates open to the second the race is over is overly strenuous for many horses and that is a big culprit .

As for point number two, as stated above, it isn't only about how often they run, but how they are trained. For the most part, horses are overtrained in the US. So while they might run the same amount as horses around the world, the way they are trained in the interim is vastly different. I believe that is a big reason horses bleed more here. In Europe horses gallop hard most days because they need to be fit to run the whole way. In most other countries, horses relax and cantor when they train, it is far different than our style of training. The problem is, if you train like that and then run in the US, you generally aren't as tight and able to do that as horses who have been trained harder.

However, there are horses that no matter how easy, hard, etc. they train, they are more prone to bleeding....

[Vince P]

If you knew that wearing a knee brace playing football would reduce your chance of knee injury by 50% would you wait until you blew out your knee to wear one?

No, I would use the knee brace to protect my knee beforehand. I'd also probably use a front wrap to protect my leg too.

What I would not do is inject any drugs into my body that might help me perform better and rouse suspicions to the fans and other players as to what my intent is by using those drugs.

Vince P

[Vince P]

Want to eliminate Lasix??

Eliminate year round racing and have racetracks open on weekends only.. Have thoroughbred races run at a cantors pace, no sprints where they bust out of the gate at full speed throughout...

Lol...obviously you're poking fun at European racing but I don't agree with you on two points:

1. Not positive that sprinting causes EIPH more so than route (cantering) races.
2. European race horses - even though most meets are only open weekends or a couple of days a week, run just as often as US based horses (who do get to run on Lasix).




Actually Vince, I think it is the all-out tempo of American racing, running all out from the second the bell rings to the wire by comparison to the leisurely paced races everywhere else that causes bleeding. I think training and teaching a horse to blast off from the second the gates open to the second the race is over is overly strenuous for many horses and that is a big culprit .

As for point number two, as stated above, it isn't only about how often they run, but how they are trained. For the most part, horses are overtrained in the US. So while they might run the same amount as horses around the world, the way they are trained in the interim is vastly different. I believe that is a big reason horses bleed more here. In Europe horses gallop hard most days because they need to be fit to run the whole way. In most other countries, horses relax and cantor when they train, it is far different than our style of training. The problem is, if you train like that and then run in the US, you generally aren't as tight and able to do that as horses who have been trained harder.

However, there are horses that no matter how easy, hard, etc. they train, they are more prone to bleeding....

You made some excellent points - many of which I have read in several articles dealing with Lasix usage by American based horses.

However, we have to be very careful and not go overboard with the concept that American horses are (trained) so much different than European horses and that is why Lasix is necessary here.

I'm not completely buying that theory. Matter of fact, I bet many top European trainers think it's a wonderful excuse.

Vince P

[Andyc]

No, I would use the knee brace to protect my knee beforehand. I'd also probably use a front wrap to protect my leg too.

What I would not do is inject any drugs into my body that might help me perform better and rouse suspicions to the fans and other players as to what my intent is by using those drugs.

Vince P

So prevention for humans is OK but not for horses?

I am amazed at the people who think that the "suspicions" of fans is the problem with racing. If Mother Theresa had run a racetrack the gamblers would have found something to be suspicious about. If some fans couldn't complain about drugs they would be suspicious of the jockey, trainer, owner, groom, etc., not that they aren't already. It's the nature of gambling. So do what's right/best for the horses.

[Fredo]

If you knew that wearing a knee brace playing football would reduce your chance of knee injury by 50% would you wait until you blew out your knee to wear one?

No, I would use the knee brace to protect my knee beforehand. I'd also probably use a front wrap to protect my leg too.

What I would not do is inject any drugs into my body that might help me perform better and rouse suspicions to the fans and other players as to what my intent is by using those drugs.

Vince P

Things have drastically changed in the last 30 years about what college and pro athletes put into their bodies. I was fortunate enough to play hockey at the college level.Your body cannot sustain playing a 30 game season plus playoffs without some medication.Even though your in tip top shape you still get aches and pains that muscle relaxers, aspirin or Tylenol cannot heal.So I accepted shots given to me in my knees,elbows hips and shoulders.
At the time we were told it was safe with very little side effect. Had I known then what I know now I wouldn't have taken as many shots.When you have the option of playing in pain or not playing at all its an easy decision.Then you have to worry about losing your starting job and letting your teammates down.I'm glad things have changed and more information is out there.I do know a lot of the NFL+NHL players still play with concussions and injuries without letting the coaches know.

[Hollywoodmike]

I am despondent over the current NHL lockout Fredo. Even Federal mediators cannot help settle the dispute.