Race Horse Welfare and Safety

Subcommittee hears racing industry testimony TB Times 6/19/08 Excerpt: “Greed has hurt the health of the horse, the safety of the jockey, the strength of the breed, and the integrity of the sport,” said Whitfield, whose wife, Connie, is chairwoman of the Kentucky Equine Drug Council. “Horses race more on drug-induced ability than natural ability. It’s not who has the best horse but who has the best veterinarian.”

Kentucky panel won't rush steroid rules DRF 6/16/08

Report of Horse Deaths Creates More Questions NY Times 6/15/08 by Joe Drape

Deaths in racing (numbers by racing jurisdiction) NY Times 6/15/08

5K horse deaths since 03 AP 6/14/08

Racehorse deaths by state in 2007 AP 6/14/08

Big Brown's trainer to testify at hearing on horse safety, drugs Lexington Herald-Leader 6/11/08 Arthur Hancock, Jess Jackson, Rick Dutrow are among those testifying...

About those steroids and Big Brown The Rail by Sid Gustafson 6/10/08 Excerpt: As days lengthen the endogenous anabolic steroids, those produced internally by intact male horses, are increasingly secreted into their bloodstream. When the dosage is excessive, or sometimes even with small dosages, difficult behavioral issues often arise. The biggest problem is that horses become hard to manage and handle. They act rank. With horses control is essential to safety and performance. It seemed Big Brown was plenty frisky as he broke out of the gate for the Belmont. Behaviorally and physically, there appeared to be little appearance of a lack of steroids in the big horse’s system.

Racing Faces New Drug Problem As Steroid Use Troubles Breeders NY Times Published: July 15, 1990 Old article, from 1990!

Drugs and Racehorses The Rail (NY Times) by Sid Gustafson 6/4/08

In Horse Racing, Test of Beefed-Up Champions 6/2/08 NY Times Excerpt: “They give them to all these young horses at the sales and they develop muscle while they don’t develop their bones.You see these yearlings come through the ring and they look like 2-year-olds. Absolutely, this is one of the reasons all these horses are getting hurt and breaking down.”

Cracking the Whip: It's time to come clean on shortcomings of racing industry. by Sean Clancy 5/30/08

CHRB: Trainers Should Stop Steroids Now Bloodhorse 5/24/08

Congress joins debate on racing, thoroughbred troubles Courier-Journal 5/24/08 Excerpt: Citing concerns that "leading officials in the sport" have failed to address longstanding concerns over the welfare of thoroughbred racehorses, a House panel has demanded that state racing commissions provide information on breakdowns, drug use and breeding.

A Veterinarian’s Take The Rail (NY Times) 5/22/08 by Sid Gustafson

For breeders, market dictates method DRF 5/16/08

Eight Belle's breakdown - a predictable tragedy ESPN.com 5/16/08 by William Nack

Horse racing industry must try harder to reduce on-track deaths The York Dispatch 5/14/08

Protecting the health of our equine athletes Baltimore Sun 5/14/08 by Edgar Prado

Racing Industry Is Stuck in Perpetual Post Time NY Times 5/11/08

Jockey Club to Study Safety The Rail (NY Times) by Joe Drape 5/8/08

Safety Panel Needs an Independent Voice The Rail (NY Times) by Alex brown 5/8/08

Eight Belles' death may be wakeup call Union Tribune (San Diego) 5/6/08

Changes will start with tracks DRF 5/7/08

Horse racing at a sadly familiar juncture The Philadephia Inquirer 5/7/08

Dirt and drugs undermine American racing's big day The Guardian(UK) 5/6/08

Injured Horses You Didn’t See The Rail (NY Times) by T. D. Thornton 5/6/08

Are Things Rosier in Europe? The Rail (NY Times) by Gina Rarick 5/6/08

The Sport Is Here to Stay The Rail (NY Times) by Paul Moran 5/6/08

Racing can't sweep drugs under the rug Courier-journal 4/30/08 by Rick Bozich

Industry reps argue prevalence of cheating in racing TB Times 2/20/08

RMTC: Regulate Steroids Uniformly Bloodhorse 2/1/08 Excerpt: “Our entire board firmly believes that the regulation of anabolic steroids in racehorses is essential to the integrity of horse racing and the welfare of the horse,”

'ROID TO TROUBLE HALL OF FAMER VAN BERG: DRUGS RUINING RACING New York Post 1/27/08 Excerpt: "I think we should be racing with absolutely no medication whatsoever. Zero. Stop it all. If the horse ain't right, turn him out instead of running (him) until he breaks his leg off."

Testing for Steroids Slow to Begin Bloodhorse 1/21/08

One Steroids Test Requested at Sale Bloodhorse 1/14/08 ...new policies allowing buyers the right to request testing for exogenous anabolic steroids

Illinois adopts model rule for anabolic steroids TB Times 1/8/08

Steroids Discussed in Washington Bloodhorse 1/9/08

HOPA Reorganizes Board, Focus Bloodhorse 12/20/07 Excerpt: “HOPA would like to see a policy of zero-tolerance, and full transparency, regarding drugging or medicating horses, and disclosure of any treatment, condition, or procedure that affects the performance or appearance of a horse.”

Kentucky Moves to Regulate Steroids Bloodhorse 12/17/07

Fund for Retired Horses Approved Bloodhorse 12/14/07 California Retirement Management Account approved

Commentary: Another World Bloodhorse 12/11/07 An interesting perspective on why International race meets are truly International except for the absense of US-based runners

CHRB to Tackle Steroid-Free Cup Bloodhorse 11/29/07

Pennsylvania Approves Steroids Ban Blood-Horse 11/28/07

Trainer Biancone Suspended One Year by Kentucky Stewards Blood-Horse article 10/5/07

Commentary: Culture Change Blood-Horse 9/24/079 (One man's opinion why racehorses aren't as TOUGH anymore...)

Indiana to Regulate Steroids; Questions Raised Blood-Horse article 9/30/07

5 year suspension given to Stewart Article & discussion in ABR Sep. 17, 2007

Biancone Fined for California Medication Infraction Sept 7, 2007

Synthetic surfaces have helped decrease horse deaths across country

A Lesser Breed?

Horseracing's Black Eye

Horse Owners Raging Over Steroids

CHRB Discusses Medication Issues