The NY Times continues its amazing coverage of abuse in the racing industry.
Based on NY Times research, Dr. George Maylin, a veterinarian and longtime head of New York State’s testing laboratory for racehorses, said it was clear that “osteoarthritis has been with this horse I'll Have Another for a period of time,” adding that “the tendon problem has also been existent for some period of time.”
New York authorities had access to the records only because they insisted that O’Neill, who has had repeated drug violations, provide them if they were going to license him in New York for the race.
Dr. Sheila Lyons, a veterinarian who is testifying before the Senate panel Thursday and has examined many top-quality racehorses, said that osteoarthritis was not something a doctor expects to find in a relatively young horse like I’ll Have Another.
Lyons said the seriousness of the colt’s condition was evident in what occurred in the two days leading to the Belmont. First, she noted, I’ll Have Another received two large doses of anti-inflammatories and a synthetic joint fluid. Then, the next day, O’Neill, in announcing the horse was being scratched, said I’ll Have Another showed signs of heat and swelling after an early-morning gallop.
“The fact that response was able to present itself in the face of those two powerful anti-inflammatories is just evidence that this was a very significant injury,” said Lyons, the founder and director of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Unfortunately many young horses pushed to the top of the game will show that kind of damage. Of course you don't want to see it, it shouldn't be common, but it's not rare. When there aren't millions at stake, generally the answer is that the horse can't do it, when there are...inject 'em and go.
that horse wasn't given any illegal or extraordinary treatments. He was diagnosed with arthritis and treated appropriately. I'll bet that if you looked at the medical records of competition three y.o.s in any discipline, being treated with bute and joint supplements, and the bute within legal limits of the race, would be the minimum.
yep - much ado about nothing
Posted by 3 Bay Ranch on 7/14/2012, 7:29 am, in reply to "But" 216.57.70.101
I don't like that they race 2 & 3 year olds - but nothing done out of the ordinary with this horse.
other athletic disciplines all take a two year old and run em rough. Nothing unusual at all for the proticol and treatments. I don't like that 2-3 yr olds are treated this way, and not done with mine.
