NYRA to Ban Lasix in Stakes Beginning Jan. 1

The New York Racing Association announced Dec. 23 that, in accordance with its commitment to eliminate race-day medication, the use of Lasix will be prohibited within 48 hours of all stakes races conducted at NYRA tracks beginning Jan. 1, 2021.

In April of 2019, NYRA was part of a coalition of leading racing organizations founded to address race-day medication in a uniform and consistent way throughout the sport. The initiative commenced this year with NYRA prohibiting Lasix in all 2-year-old races at the three NYRA tracks—Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course. Now with the new year, the same prohibition will extend to all horses participating in any NYRA stakes, including New York-bred and New York Stallion Stakes Series races.

"NYRA is pleased to honor the commitment we made to our coalition partners by greatly expanding the ban on race-day medication to all stakes races in 2021," said Martin Panza, NYRA senior vice president of racing operations. "We look forward to working with racetracks around the country who share our desire to achieve uniform and consistent rules that advance safety and integrity. As evidenced by the passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, there is significant appetite for positive change that will benefit the sport."

NYRA conducted a total of 127 stakes races in 2020, with the exception of New York-bred and NYSSS races, accounting for approximately 25% of all stakes run in the United States, according to NYRA figures. Ninety five of those stakes were of the graded variety, representing 25% of all graded stakes run across the country. NYRA hosted 33 grade 1s in 2020, or 35% of all domestic grade 1s. (Due to the myriad impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the reorganization of the stakes calendar, 36 stakes races scheduled for 2020 were not run, with 17 of them graded.) 

NYRA's 2021 stakes program kicks off on New Year's Day at Aqueduct with the $150,000 Jerome, a one-turn mile for sophomores offering 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) qualifying points to the top four finishers.

The New York State Gaming Commission rules prohibit the use of Lasix, which is used to treat exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in racehorses, 48 hours before the scheduled post time of the race in which the horse is to compete unless a waiver is obtained for the horse to race with the medication. This rule remains in effect and no waivers will be granted for 2-year-olds or horses entered in stakes.

Current NYSGC rules will allow for horses previously entered in stakes who are dropping down to non-stakes competition to apply for a waiver seeking permission from the NYSGC to utilize Lasix after documenting EIPH. 

NYRA is a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, a group of the nation's leading racing organizations working collaboratively to advance safety and medication reforms across the sport.  Other coalition tracks such as The Stronach Group-owned Gulfstream Park have also recently announced medication changes in 2021.