Another Thinker! I Like It!!

     The other day I posted Glenn Thompson's uniquely insightful ideas on how to bring about real reform and change in the thoroughbred racing industry. Today I have had the pleasure of being "friended" by yet another thoughtful and reform-minded racing fan. Here is a link to Walt Gekko's ideas about phasing out the use of Lasix over 5 years until the goal of a complete ban is achieved. After the link I will post my response to him that I just posted (more or less) on Facebook as well (And then his response to that, and then my response to him, etc.etc.etc. ;o).

http://www.toosmarttofail.com/forums/showthread.php?61

     Hi! Thank you! That is great. So glad to hear other thoughts on this. I have a few concerns, but they are not at all antithetical to your idea. I'd like some infrastructure to be in place that will prevent the bleeders from going to slaughter, if they are in fact as numerous as many in the industry say that they are. It's hard to know what would prove to be true...either way there is a huge problem - nationwide - with finding homes for unwanted equines. However big or small the number of bleeders turns out to be, it could only be a good thing to have something concrete to ensure that the non-racing thoroughbred and other unwanted horses will have a place in our society. 

     Every time there is an awful shooting we hear about this mental health care crisis that we have. Yet nobody wants to leave Obamacare alone and in place, so where exactly is the mental health care solution going to come from? Well, I think a big chunk of it could come from an as yet mostly-untapped source of healing: equine assisted therapy. I think we should set up partially state-subsidized, and partially privately subsidized facilities, where low cost equine assisted therapy can be provided to those who are suffering from ill mental health. During my last semester of graduate school I found numerous studies showing significant improvements among various afflicted populations after participating in equine assisted therapy. I'll have to dig them up.

     These facilities would also provide unwanted thoroughbreds and "other"-breds with a new vocation - one that is not limited by the length of time that they are able to perform physical feats at a particular level. It would provide them a home where they would be much appreciated, while fulfilling a social need and promoting a social good. What do you think? 

     I also wonder if your plan could incorporate a schedule for incrementally decreasing the allowable dose of Lasix as well, so that perhaps the bleeders would have a greater chance of success in the gradual absence of Lasix as their bodies are able to adjust. I do think that the key to solving racing's problems lies in wiping out this drug culture - and it is perpetuated by Lasix's ability to mask other drugs while enhancing the thoroughbred's performance. Perhaps if there are any good racing vets left, they can do research into natural substances that are free of side effects, that can help mild bleeders during this phase out as well. Who knows. 

     All I know is we have to try to get this reform through somehow, because the various powers that be will always prefer the status quo. They want to keep their bread buttered nice and thick - as it has been for such a very long time.

Walt responded: 

     My plan Beth is to have it so the overwhelming majority of the horses who have been racing on lasix would still be able to until their careers end.  The main purpose is that LATER generations would not be racing on it at all in most cases.  Keep in mind, we did not race on Lasix for many years and horses were much more robust as a whole back then.  I used to be PRO-Lasix until the last several years, especially when I found out one of the reasons horses don't race as much and in my view are "babied" too much (to where that causes more injuries the same way pitchers being "babied" in baseball seems to cause more injuries to them) is that Lasix takes so much out of a horse that it takes much more time to recover from Lasix than racing without it.

     Also, there is public perception that Lasix masks other drugs, which is a secondary reason it needs to be phased out.

Now me again:

     Good stuff, right? :o)