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Public perception a key to race-day medication debate

Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 1:02 PM

by Frank Angst

As the industry considers changing race-day medication policies, it is clear public relations lessons learned in its recent abolition of anabolic steroids in racehorses will factor heavily into any decisions.

Presenters at a race-day medication conference not only outlined uses of Salix (furosemide) in the treatment of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) and the impact of any policy changes, but also examined the public relations and political impacts of current policy and potential changes.

Presenters at the “International Summit on Race-Day Medication, EIPH, and the Racehorse” on Monday at Belmont Park emphasized that racing can no longer make decisions in an industry vacuum.

John Della Volpe, of SocialSphere Inc., said a poll showed dramatic improvements in fan confidence following sweeping changes that followed the breakdown of Eight Belles in the 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

Those changes included eliminating anabolic steroids, standardizing equine injury reporting, the launching of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance, and increasing equine aftercare efforts. Della Volpe said those initiatives were made possible because horsemen, tracks, and industry leaders came together.

“Racing made significant progress on integrity issues with the fans from 2008 to 2009,” Della Volpe said. “We saw 23%, 24% shifts in positive public opinion. I believe the reason we’ve seen such significant progress is because many in this industry acted with clarity and a unified voice.”

Della Volpe said racing cannot afford to be insular with increased media scrutiny and social media access. While presenters outlined studies that show Salix does reduce EIPH, Della Volpe said the public opposes drug use in race horses and makes little delineation between performance-enhancing drugs and therapeutic drugs.

“This is the era of transparency, the era of sunlight,” Della Volpe said. “Consumers expect and demand authenticity and transparency.”

Greg Means, a decade-long industry lobbyist, outlined current legislation being considered that would address race-day medications. He said the proposed legislation could stall behind more important issues but cautioned the industry that it could face some unwanted regulation if it does not take the lead.

“A divided industry will have a much more difficult time achieving its goals in Washington compared with a unified industry,” Means said.

NTRA President Alex Waldrop said it was important to include international insight on the issue. Most non-U.S. racing jurisdictions do not allow race-day Salix, which is administered to about 95% of U.S. horses. Waldrop said the consequences, good and bad, of any policy change would be weighed, noting potential impact on racing, regulation, breeding, and sales.

About 200 people attended the open summit session on Monday, including many horsemen who generally favor the current Salix policy.

For Kelly Breen, race-day medication issues were important enough that the trainer addressed the topic moments after saddling Ruler On Ice to a Belmont Stakes (G1) victory.

“We have a horse that ran in the Kentucky Derby, Pants On Fire, that bled through Lasix [Salix]," Breen said. "And I know it seems like everybody talks about the problems with medication and horses, but when you have a horse that you think that highly of, and you have something that we know stops horses from bleeding in Lasix, I don't understand why they're trying to take it away.”

Tom Albertrani, who has trained in the U.S. and internationally, said the need for early speed in dirt racing makes U.S. racing different than most of the world. He said the elimination of Salix would result in EIPH for many horses asked to compete.

While many horsemen favor current policy and have pointed to studies that show Salix is effective in treating EIPH, the Association of Racing Commissioners International said race-day medications create both real and perceived integrity problems. The RCI has called for an end of race-day medications within the next five years.

The regulators appear to be attempting to take action before any action advances federally. U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Kentucky) and U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) proposed legislation in May that aims to end race-day medications.

Compared to the rest of the world, many industry leaders believe U.S. racing is losing ground with the continued use of Salix. Barry Irwin, president of the Team Valor International partnership that campaigns Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, said he has favored purchasing horses outside of the U.S. because he does not trust racing performance of U.S. horses because of race-day medications.

International buyers are turning their backs on U.S. breeders. Exports to Europe from the U.S. have declined 50% from 1,604 in 1990 to 906 in 2010.

Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times