Medications Used in Race Horses to Increase Performance - Literature review Example

Medications Used in Race Horses Medications Used In Race Horses to Increase Performance Medications Used in Race Horses 2 Thesis: The use of medications such as Lasix, or Erythroprotein or speedballs etc.in race horses to enhance its speed or performances had been in the earlier days of the racing and in recent days the situation has changed a little leading to issues in detecting the presence of drugs in the race horses and steps have been taken to avoid the drugs usage as completely as possible as scientists feel that some of the drugs would penetrate into the hemoglobin of the blood and as a result detecting becomes a bit difficult. The point is that whether this system is being accepted as a partially a considering factor or is still under the controversies, have to be analyzed. Second would be to review the effect of the medications in terms of health problems and how these in turn affect the younger horses. Medications are generally used to improve the health conditions, but the same is employed for reverse purposes also. During the earlier days horse racing was conducted only with the view of creating the sports interests in the people, if we go through the betting patterns of previous years most of the betters would be form rich class, but day by day this sport has become more like a business, now a days the controversies raised against the horse racing is that horses are exploited for money by using medications, without analyzing the effect of the medicines will really work in the safe way or not. There are many horses racing committee which works for the safety of the horses do recommend medications, but those are recommended either by the veterinarians licensed by the respective committees or by the racing control boards. Medications Used in Race Horses 3 As horse racing has become a complete business that gives more money in return the necessity for having a horse of a high speed performance is equally increasing as a result the people who own race horses make use of the approved as well as unapproved drugs, but there are quiet a few who think of the side effects which these horses witnesses. Due to this kind of situations prevailing the councils working in favor of the race horses have brought some rules which involve the inspection and monitoring of the race horses before and after the race. In Addition to this many of the councils and committees do insist on the medications that have to be given to the race horses only by the licensed veterinarians or it should be a prescription drug with the concerned name mentioned over the labels. The effect of the medications if used without the consultation of the veterinarian might result in unusual symptoms such as “unusual sweating, behavior, lethargy of uncharacteristic nervousness” says Medications Rules and regulations [ 1999] The point that why these drugs are used in large amount has to be considered. Drugs such as Lasix has been used in a race horse but then literatures argue that people who own race horses, and even veterinarians do suggest this drug as effective in enhancing the performance of the race horse. This could be explained through words of Pagons, Rachel[2004] who has noted that “ in Kentucky , any horse can race on lasix…because many people, including most trainers and some veterinary authorities , believe lasix can improve a horse’s performance regardless of whether it suffers exercises include pulmonary form for bleeding” [para 1] Medications Used in Race Horses 4 While considering the use of medications in a race horse, the health conditions of the race horses should also be analyzed. There are horses that develop that contain the problem of bleeding either from both the nostrils or internal bleeding as some medications like lasix or medicines mixed with steroids or inflammatory chemicals. So keeping this mind the ARCI on cals.arizona.edu website has given certain instructions such as 1. The potential of the drugs to influence a horse’s racing performance 2. Whether the drug found was one for which the horse was receiving a treatment as determined by the medication report form 3. Whether the drug had been approved by the licensed veterinarian 4. Whether the drug is a prescription drug etc. The uses of accepted therapeutic medications are generally approved by the committees since those medications would act as a pain relief for the horses which gets wounded while riding. The types of approved drugs: The Medication Rules and Regulations [1999] says that “not more than one of the following authorized non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug {NSAID} substances may be administered to a horse which is entered to race” The drugs they mention are “phenylbutazone[not more than .5miocrograms]”, “flunixin[not more than .5micrograms]”, “ketoprofen [not more than .5 nanograms]”. These are the drugs that are given as regular therapeutic medications to the race horses. Medications Used in Race Horses 5 But there are some drugs that are used either without the chemicals mentioned above or the chemicals used in unequal proportion. People spend millions of dollars in horse races the more they keep their dollars for betting the more they get back , so the horse racing has become a big business. And to day the use of medications to increase the performance of the race horses has been done by administering illegal drugs than using drugs in the other legal way. This has resulted in increase of monitoring and testing the race horses before and after the race. Literatures give a lot of proof concerning the illegal use of illegal drugs, and the percentage of users are also seem to be increasing. Hopkin, Herald [1984] says that “the drug, isoxsuprine sold under the brand name circulon, is illegal for veterinary use in this country [ U.S], but is legal in Australia as a vasodilator [it opens the blood vessels ] in treating lameness. It is said to have the side effect of stimulating a horse’s cardiovascular sustem” [p-2] The website called Cals.arizona.edu [2006] has given a review on the “Medications and Prohibited Substances” has covered a wide range of medications that are used in race horses to enhance its racing performances. It has categorized the medications to different classes, to be very particular they have mentioned which are permitted drugs and which are not , and the effect both type of drugs that are used by the trainees. It has found out that “Opiata, opium derivatives have no generally accepted medical use in the race horse” and their potential to enhance the performances are very high. Medications Used in Race Horses 6 It also adds that “The use of Flerosemide can be permitted only with the direction of usage by a licensed veterinarian” further the argument focuses on the usage of “accepted therapeutic medications” which has a ‘prescription labeling” and “non-opiate drugs ‘could be suggested for best use, as these type of medications would not have a bad side effect for the race horses. Otherwise the effect of the medications would lead to bleeding in the horses and other cardiovascular diseases. Though the performance might seem to increase the horse would be affected very badly. In general many reviews suggest that anti-inflammatory drugs and non-steroidal drugs would have a mild effect on the horse and they will also help the horses to perform in a better way. On the other hand the increase in using drugs of the trainees own choice is also there. For example Beyer, Andrew [ 1999], has noted that “Last week a trainer at Keenland equipped a 2-year old with a nasal strip similar to the Breathe Right strips that human athletes use, and the horse won at 33 to 1 Florida and Oklahoma also have allowed use of the strips , and trainees have began using them there, too, though the devices are so new that nobody knows if they are effective” [para – 11] These kinds of usages are found in many parts of the world where horse race is considered as a serious business. This attitude of testing the race horses with different medications is still under practice, it is probably worth mentioning one more argument suggested by Pagones, Rachel [2004] .He quotes Peter Webbon, the British Jockey Club’s Veterinary director , Pagones, Rachel [2004] says that “Peter Webbon, the British Jockey Club’s veterinary Medications Used in Race Horses 7 director, is convinced that Lasix improves performance, but not usually because of its effect on bleeding. ‘It’s the weight effect. You give the horse a diuretic and immediately it loses several pounds of weight. “he says .he told me that while most horses bleed occasionally, only “ a tiny number” bleed enough to bother them.” [ p-15]. But in contrary Gale, Thomas [1995] has noted that “Kentucky breeder Arthur Hancock III says Lasix is polluting the gene pool, because horses are running on chemically induced ability instead of their natural ability. In another 20 years our children probably won’t be able to breed a sound horse in America” [p-11] The issue is still running on whether lasix could be supplemented as a drug to enhance the oerformance of the horse. Neff, Craig [1989] p14 has to say that “Years ago, some thoroughbred trainers juiced up their horses with prerace “speedballs”, potent mixture of heroine and cocaine that supposedly made the horses run faster. Speedballs gave way to scores of other cheaper drugs – some legal, some not –that also boosted performances in one way or another” This kind of illegal business still runs in the sports society, as racing has become a money yielding business the use of drugs has come under the arms of rich people, by the thing is that how many of them do really think in terms of what could happen to the horse if it undergoes such illegal and random medications by the trainees, and also the fact that people tend to think in terms of earning not in terms of affectations. Literatures give us the opinion that day by day the use of drugs would be increasing and though the councils working if favor of the reducing the illegal drug usage the business will continue. Medications Used in Race Horses 8 While this goes on one direction the post-racing testing is revised in many ways to deduct the drug usage in race horses in amounts. Some of the post-racing testing are found out to be very difficult in detecting the drugs as some of these drugs are found to be mixing in the blood so it becomes quiet difficult to detect what kind of drugs they have given to the horse exactly. The deductions says Cheman Publishers Ltd [1990], “The two interrelated key limitations of analytical success, then , are: [1] detection limits of the method and instrumentation and [2] concentration of the unknown substance in the animal’s blood” [p-14]. The post and pre race testing for horses done with the help of the licensed and proposed veterinarian needs three main steps extraction of the urine and blood samples of the respective horses , analysis of the samples and finally finding out the amount of needed and unwanted chemicals in the samples. But these tests have to be undergone to conform whether the race horse had been given proper medications at least for therapeutic relief from pain or just to enhance its speed. While many race sport organizations object the drugs used for improving the performance of the race horse as a illegal business where the sportive aspect would be missing absolutely. Forney, Mary [2006] has noted that ,“Urine is tested for drugs of abuses and some therapeutic medication violation. Blood tests are predominantly used for the regulation of authorized medications “[p- 13]. The California testing program is found out to be one of the most advanced and useful programs for testing the drugs in race horses, this testing program was formulated by the California Horseracing Board. The Laboratory Medications Used in Race Horses 9 Information Management System, works under the CHRB and which is the main functioning unit in testing the samples taken from the racing horses and the results remain secrets or undelivered till it gets confirmation from the CHRB. The test samples of urine and blood of a racing horse will undergo a mass spectrometry and chromatography in which the presence of illegal drugs could be guessed adds Forney, Mary [2006]. The CHRB also recommends other disease testing in the horses and highly recommends the participants or trainees to undergo these testing to find out whether the horse is really fit for racing or not, and whether proper prescription medications had been given or not. The Medications Rules and Regulations [1999] say that “ The Certificate of Foal Registration, Eligibilty Certificate Registration Certificate for a horse must be submitted to the Racing Secretary of the Race meeting where you intend to participate” [p-22] It also adds that a racing horse should be immediately reported to the concerned or licensed veterinarian in case of the horse showing any symptom of other diseases. One more important rule proposed by the CHRB is that “Any licensee who does not display their license bandage will not be allowed into the test barn. Owners and trainers are not exceptions from this” Medications Rules and Regulations [1999] [p-14]. Though in some places like Illinois, Kentucky and Australia etc drug usage had become an accepted one particularly the lasix is found to be one of the common drugs used for racing horses, but the fact that how many of the trainees and owners do indeed think of the horse’s health becomes quiet doubtful. Medications Used in Race Horses 10 So far we have seen what are the medications approved by the councils for racing horses as therapeutic medications and what are the medications that are still under big issues, the literature review clearly gives the opinion that many people administer the use of illegal drugs and some do a trail by trying different medications to racing horses that are used in human beings without understanding the reason whether the horse’ health accepts the medications or not. On the whole the drug usage is found to be mostly illegal given mainly with the intention of improving the performance of the horse, this could be clearly due to the reason that racing is considered only as business sport but spirit of sport is found to have lost its hold. The scope of business which seems to increase in the betting windows and the feeling toward the horse as an animal is one more reason. Though in some places horses are treated as domestic animals, when it comes to sport the respect and smooth tendency towards animals becomes very less. Racing horses in future has the chance of becoming a complete business oriented event not a sport. The human tendency towards these racing horses seem to be harsh as he tries those medications that are given to human beings or taken by human beings in the form of illegal drugs. Though the CHRB and other committees or organizations work in favor of stopping or finding out the amount and type of drugs that are use for horses , some people who take part in the sport do follow misguidance in terms of using the horse as a trial for new medications. Medications Used in Race Horses 11 The point that organizations like CHRB should insist on not only testing before and after the race but concentration should also be focused on treatment of horses in the case if it does not perform well. References: Cheman Publishers Ltd Hopkin, Herald.” Drugs used to Soup up Race Horses”. Online available from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1370/is_v18/ai-3290530/pg 2 Beyer, Andrew. “Horse Racing, Drugs, and Sports, State regulation Disclosure” online available from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=45851486&sid=2&Fmt=3&clientId=2606&RQT=309&VName=PQD Medications and Prohibited Substances ARCI – 025-020 online available from http://cals.arizona.edu/rtip/INDUSTRY/Mode%20Rules%20PDFs/ARCI-025-020.doc Neff, Craig .”Racing Cocaine Mystery “. Sports Illustrated Vol. 70 n.9 [ Feb 1989 ] pp 14[1] Pagones, Rachel. “Drug Use Breeds Controversy” May 2004 online available from. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=63569031&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=2606&hqT=309&vName=PQD Schulz, Rudiger."Tracing Horse doping with GC/MS. [gas chromatography/mass pectrometry" Canadian Chemical News v42.n9 (Oct 1990): pp14(2).  State of California , California Horse Racing Board . Mary Forney “California’s Medication Testing Programs :The Levelest of Playing Fields . State of California , California Horse Racing Board Horseman’s Handbook Concerning Medications Rules and Regulations. Revised version . January 1999 . . Gale, Thomas [1995 Read More