The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association is the latest organization to respond to the New York State Racing and Wagering Board with its opinions on the use of the anti-bleeding medication furosemide on race day.
TOBA, along with its American Graded Stakes Committee, outlined its position in a May 10 letter to NYSRWB chairman John Sabini. The letter, which can be viewed here, says, among other things, that graded-stakes status in the United States is threatened by use of the drug, which is also called Salix or Lasix.
TOBA supports a ban on race-day Salix in 2-year-old graded stakes, with an assessment to be made after the results are in.
Other groups such as the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and Thoroughbred Owners of California have prepared form letters for their members to send to the NYSRWB. Those two groups opposed a race-day ban on Salix.