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Medication Ban
Santa Anita’s only real mistake was the track maintenance during the period of extreme rain. The repeated sealing of the track was a mistake. I realize the quantity of rain in a short time period was almost unprecedented but anyone with even a rudimentary grasp of energy control and dissipation would have realized the potential for negative effects on the horses. However, they did it to please the horsemen and betting public, who always want a fast track.
I think they realize the mistake but are reluctant to publish and expose them to liability. Shutting down the track was the correct political move. However, the horsemen do not like their horses remaining idle and pushed for permission to train. The result was the breakdown of Princess Lili B on national television. Game over. Any arguments they just need to fix the track and move on are moot. Period. The track is probably fine now but the damage is done.
Santa Anita has no choice but to make a radical move in an attempt to defuse the outrage against racing. PETA and allies have the upper hand and it’s not all Santa Anita’s fault. Simply follow the nationwide trend against animals being used and arguably abused for our entertainment to see this was inevitable.
Arguments that the drug restrictions should have been phased in are hypocritical. The horseman have adamantly opposed previous efforts to limit race-day medication. As many have stated, arguments this affects your livelihood may be true but are irrelevant. If the public sees it as a choice between animal welfare and your ability to continue making a living in the perceived abuse of same, you will lose.
Many countries do not allow race-day medication and the horses do just fine. Yes, there may be a period of screening out horses that have become addicted to racing with Lasix or other medications but that is the price to be paid for years of relying on them. Some trainers may exaggerate the degree of horses returning bleeding when running without Lasix to prove their point. This will only play into the position that if a horse can’t race without drugs, it shouldn’t be racing at all. If enough claims of bleeding are noted then the conclusion will be horses should not be racing. It will not bring Lasix back but drive another nail in the coffin.
We are well past the “let’s be reasonable” arguments.
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