Hancock, Lukas deliver testimonials for
cleanhorseracing.org website
Seth Hancock of Claiborne Farm believes that horses do not need race-day
medication and Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas believes that many horsemen
now rely more on furosemide and other drugs than on training and conditioning,
and they make those points and several others in a series of video testimonials
that have just been posted on the new
cleanhorseracing.org
website.
The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA)
launched the advocacy website in April. It is dedicated to the reform of
medication rules.
In addition to Hancock and Lukas, the site features similar testimonials from
Thoroughbred owners Gary Biszantz, Bill Casner, Barry Irwin and Peter Willmott
as well as a segment with Hall of Fame trainer Leroy Jolley.
In part one of a four-segment package, Lukas says, “Because of the liberty of
having Lasix and drugs, I think that it’s a lot easier to maybe just bypass some
of the old horse truths of training and conditioning and diet and just say,
‘Well, hell, he bled, let’s give him a shot of Lasix and roll on.'”
Lukas also stresses the need for uniform medication and proper funding of
drug-testing labs throughout the country.
Hancock recalled the training practices of longtime Claiborne Farm trainer
Woody Stephens. “What I learned from Mr. Stephens was (that) you didn’t need
race-day medication,” he said.
Features of the new educational website include news, videos, scientific
studies and commentary in support of medication-free racing, as well as several
action-oriented sections that enable industry participants to pledge their
support for clean racing by contacting state racing commissions and signing
petitions regarding medication reform.
“There is growing support for medication reform and we are grateful to all of
the prominent individuals who have been willing to share their thoughts on
camera for the cleanhorseracing.org website,” said James L. Gagliano, president
and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club.
“We can no longer ignore the fact that our sport is hampered by a public
perception problem when horses compete under the influence of medication,” said
Dan Metzger, president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
“These testimonials, and all other information on this website, will bolster our
medication reform efforts in a valuable manner.”
Additional information about cleanhorseracing.org can be obtained by
contacting info@cleanhorseracing.org.
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