Tzipi, this isn't the first positive for sildenafil. Last summer at Delaware Park a trainer was ruled off for only two years, nothing more than a slap on the wrist. He should've, along with this guy, been thrown out of thoroughbred racing for life. At least, this guy got 16 years.
http://www.drf.com/news/delaware-par...redient-cialis
Many people aren't aware that Viagra, Cyalis, Levitra, etc, are all brand names for Sildenafil--the basic generic. As all men know, its high dollar stuff, and used for the treatment of E.D. under these brand names.
Back in the 90s, when Sildenafil was formulated as a vasodialator and tested in the U.K., scientists were attempting to treat heart and lung disease, primarily angina, high blood pressure and pulmonary hypertension. The drug increased blood flow by further opening blood vessels to the heart and lungs. Allowing both to perform better, while at all times, under less pressure. Too, equalizing the pressure in both sides of the heart. The right side would stabilize, where without the drug, it would continue to be under strain and result in further damage.
During the clinical trials for these patients,
a big bonus (good choice of words here, Grits) was discovered. While the realization was noted that the drug wasn't helping angina in heart patients, those same patients were quite happily walking into the clinic reporting, "hey doc, look what I got." EUREKA!! Increased blood flow had traveled downward. And, gentlemen, the rest is history.
What pharmaceutical giant now gave a tinker's damn about heart and lung disease? In their hands, they had a gold mind, the greatest selling chemical compound in the history of man.
So, literally, they said,
"hell with angina, someone else can figure that one out.
Thankfully, it does successfully treat pulmonary hypertension, equalizing pressure in the lungs, therefore, allowing the heart to function at its normal rate. In this use, its prescribed under the name, Revatio. Some of you may be familiar with it.
So, any trainer that says,
"I use it to decrease bleeding in my horses" doesn't know a thing about the drug or its effects. Its use is to INCREASE blood flow. Yes, it can strengthen the heart, but this hasn't been determined in horses, and certainly not healthy racehorses without heart problems. Again, because it is so powerful, both trainers should've been thrown out of racing, never allowed on racetrack property or allowed near another horse.
