Lasix-Free 2-Year-Old Races Approved in Maryland
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Medications at the racetrack
The Maryland Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review Committee approved the Maryland Racing Commission's emergency regulation on use of race-day Lasix in 2-year-olds Aug. 2, a decision that will facilitate the carding of races for 2-year-olds at Laurel Park.
No 2-year-old races have been run in Maryland this year. There are no such races in the current Laurel condition book, which runs through Aug. 22, so the races will be listed as extras on overnights.
Maryland Jockey Club president Sal Sinatra said there will be two late-breaking extras for Aug. 7: X7 Lasix-free 2-year-old maiden special weight at five furlongs and X8 Lasix-free filly 2-year-old maiden special weight at five furlongs.
On July 16, the MRC approved—subject to adoption of an emergency rule—an agreement between the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and The Stronach Group/MJC for a Lasix-free pilot program through 2023. The pilot program was subject to the approval by the AELR Committee of the revised Lasix regulation, which states that no 2-year-old can be administered Lasix within 48 hours of a race; the remainder of the regulation will not be changed.
In a related matter, the MRC Equine Safety, Health, and Welfare Advisory Committee authorized a veterinary survey study July 31 of all 2-year-olds who race in Maryland through Dec. 31 of this year. The objective, as directed by the MRC, is to track the incidence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in 2-year-olds racing without Lasix.
Under the survey study, veterinarians will take video endoscopies of all starters in 2-year-old races through Dec. 31. The MRC emergency regulation was approved for the standard six-month period—July 31, 2020, through Jan. 26, 2021.