Horsemen’s Meeting
July 17, 2015
10:30 am
Horsemen’s Lounge
All interested trainers and other horsemen were invited to a presentation and Q & A session with Dr Stephen Selway, D.V.M. Approximately 25 people attended.
Dr. Selway’s proposal is provided at the end of these notes.
Background provided by Dr. Selway: He sees this project as an opportunity to get real time data on horses in lasix’ races vs. no-lasix races. The information will be made available to the trainer at the time of scoping, but each horse’s results will be anonymously numbered for the purpose of the study. The State of Florida will have no access to any of the information gathered. Blood will be drawn to verify that each horse has not been administered lasix. Scoping will be done 1-1 1/2 hours post race by Drs. Selway, Hay, and Carabajal; trainers are welcome to be present and/or have their personal vet available at the time of scoping; pictures will be numbered and grading and interpretation of findings will be done by a group of unaffiliated vets who will have no knowledge of which horses’ information they are grading. All vets are volunteering their time. Owners and trainers will not be charged for these services. Statistical analyses, scopes and any other necessary equipment or procedures are being donated.
A question was raised about the fact that these initial races are only 4 1/2 furlongs and bleeding is less likely to occur in these shorter races. The plan is to continue the study throughout 2015 so that longer races will also be included. Trainers reinforced the critical importance of the timing of the scoping being between one and one-and-a-half hours post race.
Dr. Selway plans to publish the results in a well-respected medical journal.