Circumstantial Evidence

[miff]

Sight,

I\'m a little surprised at Chuck, who is obviously not stupid, others are just plain clueless or blind followers.

Mike

[JR]

Can you comment on the use of steroids in horse racing? To your knowledge, are they used at all? Sporadically? Routinely? Do you think they have any affect on the performance of race horses? And, finally, are they regulated by law within the industry?

Thank you.

[ditz]

This  is only my uneducated opinion,I believe steroids are used routinely in most cases.I feel they certainly affect the performance of a race horse.I think in some cases small amounts of certain steroids are not harmful,but I feel some misuse them,and the affects of withdrawal,which I have seen after  someone claims a horse from  one that might be routinely given steroids are awful.Usually the horse is finished...

[miff]

There are strings here on steroids, they are legal and used by MANY outfits. Jurisdictions are now trying to put forth a list of LEGAL steroids going forward. From what I understand, there are certain steroids that are legally used today that will be banned in the future.

It ain\'t rocket science, just look at the bodies of many of the runners from certain outfits, most look like the animal equivalent of Barry Bonds.


Mike

[P.Eckhart]

Here\'s a Florida statute as an example...

4) Synthetic corticosteroids are permitted to be administered to a horse providing:

   (a) Only prednisolone sodium succinate may be administered on race day no closer than four hours prior to the officially scheduled post time of the race for which the horse is entered.

   (b) All other corticosteroids (natural, synthetic, or precursors) shall not be administered closer than 24 hours prior to the officially scheduled post time.

[lfe2211]

P.Eckhart Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here\'s a Florida statute as an example...
>
> 4) Synthetic corticosteroids are permitted to be
> administered to a horse providing:
>
>    (a) Only prednisolone sodium succinate may be
> administered on race day no closer than four hours
> prior to the officially scheduled post time of the
> race for which the horse is entered.
>
>    (b) All other corticosteroids (natural,
> synthetic, or precursors) shall not be
> administered closer than 24 hours prior to the
> officially scheduled post time.

For clarification purposes, the general term steroid refers to many different types of drugs. There are 3 general types of steroids. One type, corticosteroids, an example of which is prednisone , has anti-inflammatory properties and is used to treat medical conditions like joint arthritis, asthma and certain allergic conditions.

A second class is referred to as anabolic-androgenic steroids-- AAS-- which is related to the hormone testosterone. AAS increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in anabolism or build up of cellular (e.g. muscle) tissue. The anabolic steroids are the drugs which have caused so much controversy in the human sports world (see Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire et al). Long term use of AAS drugs (of which there many) have been linked to many different harmful side effects including low sperm count/infertility, back acne and \"roid\" rage to name a few. This side effect profile is different from those associated with corticosteroids, the most notable being susceptibility to microbial and viral infection due to the anti-inflammatory nature of these drugs.

Finally, I will repeat a recent drf quote I posted previously:

The American Graded Stakes Committee, which is overseen by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, moved to add the anabolic steroids to the post-race testing regimen after receiving reports that anabolic steroids were present in at least half of the post-race samples of horses that won 30 graded stakes last year, according to Andrew Schweigardt, the secretary of the committee and an official of TOBA.


The regulation of steroid use has become a major topic of discussion in the U.S. racing industry in the past 18 months. The U.S. is the only major racing jurisdiction in the world that allows the unregulated use of anabolic steroids, which can build muscle mass, restore a horse\'s appetite, and help horses recover from strenuous exercise.

[NoCarolinaTony]

Who are you referring to here Miff?

NC Tony

[alm]

I\'ll stop believing foul play is afoot when I find it difficult to predict TAP outcomes in the races.

I told friends to take a big stand against English Channel at Saratoga today, believing he would flatten in the drive.

I\'ll take another stand: English Channel will win the BC Turf at Monmouth.