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How the betamethasone got into Medinas system may mean the difference between taking away an earned win from an athlete who used an OTC corticosteroid for a bug bite, and an athlete who received an injection to a joint too close to the 72-hour period to clear from the system. The horses trainer, Bob Baffert, initially denied any wrongdoing but released a statement Tuesday blaming the positive test on an anti-fungal ointment Otomax used on Medina Spirit to treat dermatitis. However, the one that I think is one of the hardest to answer, and one that is honestly not asked enough, is What happens to the horses after they are finished racing?. Among them is Thyroxine, which is used to treat hypothyroidism and speed up metabolism, and Lasix, a diuretic designed to help keep the weight off and which has been used to mask the administration of other banned substances. Judge Heather Welch Is there an unusual amount of heat in one leg? Not Jack Mehoff. Even with the limited retraining that some of these Thoroughbreds had (a few had only been ridden off the track a handful of times), they seemed like promising mounts and I cant wait to see how they shape up for the Makeover. This is not the first such case at the Kentucky Derby. But yeah, those wagerers got ripped off. 24 K. McGee et al., Characterizations of Horses at Auctions and in Slaughter Plants, Colorado State University Department of Animal Sciences, 2001. The Stronach Group Joins PETA in Urging Ban on Sale of Horses to South Korea, Americas Secret and Brutal Horsemeat Trade, Responses of Horses to Trailer Design, Duration, and Floor Area During Commercial Transportation to Slaughter, Tell Blood Bank of Alaska to Stop Sponsoring This Deadly Dog-Sled Race, Donkeys Are Still Suffering in SantoriniHelp PETA End Donkey Rides, Add Your Support for Strengthening Regulations Under the Animal Welfare Act, TAILGATE! Finding an American racehorse trained on the traditional hay, oats, and water probably would be impossible, commented one reporter.15, There are trainers pumping horses full of illegal drugs every day, says a former Churchill Downs public relations director.16 With so much money on the line, people will do anything to make their horses run faster. Which drugs are legal varies from state to state, with Kentucky holding the reputation as the most lenient state.17 The New York Sun explained that because thoroughbreds are bred for flashy speed and to look good in the sales ring the animal itself has become more fragile and that to keep the horses going, theyre all given Lasix (which controls bleeding in the lungs), phenylbutazone (an anti-inflammatory), and cortiscosteroids (for pain and inflammation).18 Those drugs, although legal, can also mask pain or make a horse run faster. Text STOP to end, HELP for more info. Please bet responsibly. Horses do not handle surgery well, as they tend to be disoriented when coming out of anesthesia, and they may fight casts or slings, possibly causing further injury. 1 Ted Miller, Six Recent Horse Deaths at Emerald Downs Spark Concern, Seattle Post-Intelligencer 8 May 2001. Photos confirm that Medina does in fact suffer from dermatitis, a common problem in humid areas, especially for thin-skinned, sensitive Thoroughbreds. Australian Veterinary Journal 92:303311 doi:10.1111/avj.12204, [4] Flash ML (2015). The views expressed in this piece are the authors own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire. 33 Michigan State University, Twenty Eight Hour Law, Animal Legal and Historical Center Mar. Survey results like these are likely to underestimate the number of horses that are sent for slaughter for three reasons. He did not have an advantage with such a trace of betamethasone in his system. This activity brings down their heart rate and dries them off while giving them time to mentally unwind and relax. Whos going to give all the Trump and RNC donors our money back, The reason is that the rules ofKentucky Horse Racing Commission control and those rules mandate that the bets and payments are final despite a later showing that it was a ripoff for gamblers. "They experienced cardiac issues, overexertion leading to leg fractures, increased risk of injury and, in some cases, death." One drug, erythropoietin, known as "epo," boosts a horse's red blood. Horse racing in the United States is a nearly $4 billion industry. 8 Medina Spirit won the 147th Kentucky Derby at odds of 12-1, meaning a $10 win-bet returned $120. Sadly, that isnt the case in America, where Jason Servis isnt the only high profile trainer to be guilty of doping. Hay can be introduced, as soon as its heart rate and temperature has come back down to normal levels. Washing down usually involves using a horse shower to wash off all of the sweat and lose hair, and helps to prevent overheating. Otomax is a drug used to treat canine ear infections, but its regularly used for horses. Palpable Error: What are Your Rights When a Bookie Offers You the Wrong Odds? Medina Spirits Kentucky Derby victory is up in the air after it was reported last Sunday that the horse had nearly double the legal limits of betamethasone a banned performance-enhancing substance. There is no single person of knowledge of the facts thinks the detection level effected the performance of the animal. Yes, some to go stud farms, some become riding horses in other disciplines, some become steeplechasers, some go retire on a farm. Approximately 1,000 of these foals will never register for racing, 600 will go into breeding and 2,400 adult Standardbreds will exit harness racing each year [2]. IMHO, the penalties should be so severe, not just financial, but also criminal, that those tempted to cheat will be deterred. [Assistant trainer] Jimmy [Barnes] can handle it.. Feeding a horse too soon after a race should be avoided. How Many English Football Clubs Have American Owners? Either way, the owner and managers of Medina Spirit cost a class of gamblers millions. . 2008. Horse Heaves Symptoms and Treatment. And that wont put an end to the controversy. The primary reason for horses being withdrawn from racing is poor performance, with other reasons including illness, injury or behavioural problems. Text UGLY to 73822 to tell UGGs to choose vegan materials and stop supporting the mutilation and violent killing of sheep! Courts could clearly rule that this is unforeseeable as a consequence, particularly in the negligent use of a rub. Ridden by James . Anheuser-Busch Amputates Budweiser Clydesdales Tailbones. Know what to look for, as early treatment is the key to managing this chronic lung . [5] Doughty A (2008) An epidemiological survey of the dentition and foot condition of slaughtered horses in Australia. Its a fun trip, Baffert said. He'd been written off by most of the racing industry . The number of Standardbred (harness racing) foals born has also fallen from over 10,000 in the late 1980s to below 4,000 in 2016. Baffert claims that he only just now found out that Otomax contains betamethasone. 2003. Will he be used for breeding, gelded, have a second career in eventingPeople have no idea of the factory churning out thoroughbreds for the express purpose of a brief career at the track, and then incredibly vulnerable as to whats next. Bob Baffert, one of the most illustrious trainers in US racing history, has been found guilty of doping in the past, giving his horses thyroxine to help improve their performance. Racing to the Grave Hes going to be sued, where they will quarrel over whose job it was to know this contained a prohibited substance. Some bookmakers do pay out on first past the post, which means that your bet lands even if there is a subsequent stewards enquiry for interference and such like. Drug therapy. We also support the mandatory collection and publication of comprehensive life cycle and injury statistics and the development of a national identification and traceability system for racehorses. Since this investigation, the Stronach Group, a company that manages North American racetracks, has endorsed PETAs efforts to ban the sale of thoroughbreds to South Korean racing interests and is encouraging all North American auction companies, breeders, and owners to develop policies that prohibit the sale of Thoroughbred racehorses or brood mares to South Korea without the meaningful and binding assurances that these noble animals will be protected after their racing and breeding careers.30, Most horses who are sent to those slaughter are forced to endure days of transport in cramped trailers.31 Usually, there is no access to water or food, and injuries are common: A University of California Davis study of 306 horses destined for slaughter found that 60 of them sustained injuries during transport.32 While veterinarians recommend that horses be offloaded for food and water every four hours while traveling, the USDA allows horses to be shipped for 28 hours without a break.33 Horses are subject to the same method of slaughter as cows, but since horses are generally not accustomed to being herded, they tend to thrash about in order to avoid the pneumatic gun that is supposed to render them unconscious before their throats are cut.34. One cant conclude, yet, that the presence of the drug was due to doping, rather than an innocent mistake in a skin cream. A racehorse costs about $30,000 a year to keep in training . The horse's trainer, Bob Baffert, initially denied . If the findings are upheld, it will be the first time since 1968 that a Kentucky Derby winning horse has been disqualified from the race for a banned substance, with Dancers Image being the last. Bob Baffert releases new statement in which he says, Oops, I guess I did do it pic.twitter.com/Yn30EolMjQ, Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) May 11, 2021. Yesterday, I was informed that one of the substances in Otomax was betamethasone. If you are a bookie, you clean up on the lost bets on the best horses and pay little on the dark horse. This is a condition where the hooves become painful and hot. Horses will be walked in hand until theyre dry and no longer blowing (breathing heavily) from the exercise. 14 Associated Press, Runner-Up Eight Belles Breaks Front Ankles, Euthanized on Track, 3 May 2008. However, this seems a far more credible claim when a gambler actually won a race but was denied the winnings due to the conduct of an owner. With growth of both the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and the Retired Racehorse Project and their promotions of aftercare; contributions from racing organizations such as the partnership between Kentucky HBPA, Churchill Downs, and Keeneland; the increasing number of riders registered in the Thoroughbred Incentive Program; and a recent anti-slaughter bill introduced in Congress, I think were building a solid foundation for Thoroughbred aftercare. If you are a bookie, you clean up on the lost bets on the best horses and pay little on the dark horse. No. You first have to prove that the drug caused horse #1 to win, a very dubious proposition. Ultimately, the court said that when an incident happens that does not ordinarily happen if proper care is used and when the instrumentality of the victims injury was under the exclusive control of the defendant, this is all that the victim needs to prove in order to meet his burden of proof. According to ESPN, Baffert will not head to Preakness with Medina Spirit in order to avoid being a distraction in the wake of scrutiny following the colts failed post-race drug test., I go to Baltimore to have a good time. But the Korean racing industry discards as many horses as it brings in, and while it retires more than 1,600 horses per year, they admit that only about 3% end up at other equestrian facilities. Which British Racecourses Offer the Highest Prize Money? Couldnt resist the Trump reference Could you? Developmental diseases are non-infectious and range from angular deformities in foals that might be remedied by age to crippling cervical vertebral malformations (also known as wobblers). 6 Bill Toland, Horse Racing Has Grim Underside, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 10 Jun. This is a fascinating dilemma. As may come as a surprise to some, if you lose money on a rigged game or disqualified horse, you are not entitled to a refund. One year ago, at 18:30 BST on 22 April, 2013, the shock news broke - a major doping scandal at the heart of horse racing's biggest global thoroughbred operation. PETA exposed the horse-racing industrys breezes for 2-year-old horses in trainingshows in which auction companies show off young horses to potential buyers by pushing them to run a furlong (one-eighth of a mile) at faster speeds than they would ever run in actual races. How Does Hot Weather Affect Horse Racing? For Thoroughbred horses exiting racing completely, 19% were rehomed to other equestrian pursuits, 18% for breeding, and 6% were sent for slaughter. I already got paid and they cant take it back. The runner-up, Mandaloun, would be declared the winner if the positive test is confirmed. As such, I wanted to be forthright about this fact as soon as I learned of this information. It will be interesting to see if there are lawsuits filed.