The History of Drugs in American Racing

[twogunsid]

So, you’ve had it with drugs and wish racing was like it used to be – just hay, oats, and water. Well, we hate to disillusion anyone, but America was never the way it used to be.

From its very beginning, racing in America has been plagued by drugs, most of them a great deal more potent than the ones that have received all the headlines the past several years.

All the inconsistencies in drug policy that we’re experiencing now are nothing new to the sport. With race-day medication rules about to go through a major change, it is a good time to go back and look at its roots.

The innocence of the 1960s was rudely disrupted in 1968, about the same time America was experiencing its own drug renaissance. We can still see the large, bold-faced headlines in a major New York tabloid – “Derby Winner Drugged.”

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse-racing-steve-haskin/archive/2012/07/01/the-history-of-drugs-in-america.aspx

The issue of medication is coming to a head in American racing. It's an issue that should have been dealt with earlier but no one wanted to make the hard choices. No matter how it all turns out it is going to change the sport forever. - tgs


***ON EDIT: I'd be interested in knowing what anyone in this forum, from the old railbirds to the casual fans think about the issue. All opinions are welcome. - tgs

[era veteran]

1. All of racing should get on the same page.

Different places, different rules, are not factored in The Daily Racing Form are they?
I think it makes the sport look a bit crooked.

[twogunsid]

2. DRF notes if a horse uses Bute and Salix and 1st time Salix....

I agree with you that they should have standardized med rules in all jurisdictions. I would even go as far as a national commissioner of racing with the power to discipline any infraction of the rules.

Do you feel like all racing is crooked, even the big stakes races i.e. TC, Breeders Cup?

[era veteran]

5. No I don't, but the rules are so different that it makes it look bad.

Is there crooked racing? Man will be man, so yes but perhaps more so at the Trots than with real racing.
I was investigated when I worked as a chef at Keeneland, I did take the jockeys their soup. Shady people will always work an angle.

[JonLP24]

3. As a very casual fan

A commissioner and uniform rules seem like a good idea. Other than that, I have no clue about the issue.

[twogunsid]

4. OK....

as a casual fan, do you feel that racing is crooked? Would you take a more active interest in it if they standardized med rules and was over seen nationally by a commission are commissioner that had real power?

The reason I ask is: the sport needs more fans, casual or fanatic.

[JonLP24]

6. I never felt

that it was referring to actual racing, I don't know enough about the issue to feel that horses are being doped or what not.

I felt that the racing business was crooked. I've read & seen things on TV that owners would take insurance on the horse then hire someone to kill the horse and collect the insurance. Also that it was somewhat common that crooks would sell "regular&quot rather than racing) horses to unsuspecting rich people.

However, I haven't heard anything like that recently, what I've known was around 20-30 years ago and no idea if it was widespread or that those were uncommon examples.

So a commissioner/standardized rules probably wouldn't make a difference to me since it is not the thing holding me back. Other sports are more interesting so I'll probably watch a horse race as long as the NBA Playoffs don't conflict (NHL doesn't because they air nationally on the same channel - NBC).