Gulfstream to Experiment With Non-Salix Races

Blood-Horse

Gulfstream Park in July plans to experiment with at least two 2-year-old races that will be written for horses that don’t compete on race-day furosemide, officials said June 11.

The Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association said track management indicated the first of the races will be included in the condition book that begins July 1. Furosemide, also called Salix or Lasix, is an anti-bleeding medication administered to most Thoroughbred racehorses on race day.

“The incentive to run Lasix-free will be high,” Florida HBPA president Bill White said. “These two events will carry purses of $65,000 each–substantially more than most average maiden special weight races.”

In the current Gulfstream condition book, a maiden special weight event for 2-year-olds carries a purse of $48,000.

Gulfstream is owned by The Stronach Group, whose chairman, Frank Stronach last summer said the Florida track would begin carding non-furosemide races for 2-year-olds in 2015. He made the comments at the Saratoga Institute on Racing & Gaming Law in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Stronach supports medication-free racing on race day. At last year’s law conference, he said “most of the races will be Lasix-free” for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream. “I think we can learn and demonstrate that Lasix isn’t needed. Race-day medication should not be used.”