Sure, it’s a performance-enhancer, Baffert said.

[andymays]

http://blogs.courier-journal.com/racing/2011/08/25/eye-on-the-debate-over-therapeutic-medication/

Excerpt:

Instead, very good therapeutic medications which help keep equine athletes in one piece – and which have nothing to do with masking illegal drugs, blocking pain, acting as a stimulate or weakening the breed - are being inaccurately portrayed as performance-enhancing drugs that allow horses to run faster than their talent.

Here was Baffert’s motivation in using atropine: “I was trying to save his eye.”

Sure, it’s a performance-enhancer, Baffert said. “It allows him to see. He doesn’t have to try to run with blurry vision in one eye.” That indeed would help a horse’s performance.

[Robert Fischer]

care to shed some light on Atropine, and any side effects beyond vision therapy that may be PE???

[Hanover1]

Here we go again....glad Baffert cleared it up for us.....

[Citation1947]

Here is what im trying to figure out. The two photos that Baffert "supplied" for this article dont jive. The first photo appears to show the left eye, while the second photo(which he claims was taken a few days later), shows the right eye?
And what about the fact that Coil is a chestnut, yet, im not convinced the first photo is of a chestnut horse.

[Robert Fischer]

ok i gave in and read the stupid article

the drug atropine is abused by some trainers to inject in joints so it has to be on the banned raceday list at a certain level(not bothering to verify if there is a level or zero tolerance, but logic suggests level given withdrawal timelines)

same drug is something Baffert says he was using as an eyedrop for one of his horses

seems to be a tone in the article that they don't think it's fair for this drug to be banned.

Seems pretty clear that Baffert and and the doctor that was quoted in the article should be upset with human nature - specifically the innability of these trainers to resist cheating with Atropine. The unethical trainers are to blame for ruining the ability to use Atropine as an eye drop medication closer to race day than 7 days out. Not sure why they are complaining about the testing. :confused::confused:

[Hanover1]

Here is what im trying to figure out. The two photos that Baffert "supplied" for this article dont jive. The first photo appears to show the left eye, while the second photo(which he claims was taken a few days later), shows the right eye?
And what about the fact that Coil is a chestnut, yet, im not convinced the first photo is of a chestnut horse.

Only other mystery to clear up here is the vet quote alluding to how clever the testing labs have gotten. We can't detect ITTP and a host of other drugs currently in use, allowing trainers to bat .400+, who were nobodys until the latest cocktail came along.......many of us know who they are.

[Stillriledup]

http://blogs.courier-journal.com/racing/2011/08/25/eye-on-the-debate-over-therapeutic-medication/

Excerpt:

Instead, very good therapeutic medications which help keep equine athletes in one piece – and which have nothing to do with masking illegal drugs, blocking pain, acting as a stimulate or weakening the breed - are being inaccurately portrayed as performance-enhancing drugs that allow horses to run faster than their talent.

Here was Baffert’s motivation in using atropine: “I was trying to save his eye.”

Sure, it’s a performance-enhancer, Baffert said. “It allows him to see. He doesn’t have to try to run with blurry vision in one eye.” That indeed would help a horse’s performance.


Interesting side effects.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropine

[peeptoad]

This is a very old thread...

Atropine is a peri-operative drug that is commonly used in veterinary medicine. The main reason it is used is to dry secretions (salivary, bronchial, etc). The main times I've used it have been either peri-operatively, or pre-op to prevent aspiration of saliva, etc. (Or if an animal has not been fasted adequately, it might reduce the possibility of aspiration pneumonia). It can also improve heart function on an animal too deeply anesthetized (or having an adverse anesthetic event). It does have other uses, but it's an anticholinergic, so mainly dries up secretions in the body.

Seems like it would make an eye issue worse since it can cause blurry vision as a side effect (dry eye) and is actually contraindicated in cases of galucoma, for example.