Beginning with the upcoming Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields winter/spring meets, California became the latest state banning the use of Lasix (furosemide) in the majority of stakes races. The ban starts Jan. 1, 2021.
On Dec. 17 the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) unanimously approved the terms of the medication agreement between the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) and management of Santa Anita, Golden Gate Fields and Del Mar.
The drug, however, may be used in California-bred stakes races for 4-year-olds and up as long as the TOC and the host track for that stakes race agree in writing to the exception.
This past March, the CHRB also passed a rule that Lasix is banned in California in 2-year-olds races.
Lasix is an anti-bleeding medication used in the majority of racehorses to prevent respiratory bleeding in a horse’s longs known as Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhaging (EIPH).
In November, Churchill Downs announced a Lasix free rule for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) along with all the Road to the Kentucky Derby points races. Horses get points toward the Derby or Oaks only if they run Lasix-free.
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