Horse-Race-Handicapping.Com

Wednesday September 21, 2005
The HRH Racing Digest
A Free Newsletter From Horse-Race-Handicapping.com

"The Uglier Side Of The Sport of Horse Racing"

by Jim Lambert
Founder Horse-Race-Handicapping.com

What is erythropoietin?

The common name for erythropoietin is epogen, or EPO for short. EPO is a human drug, a synthesized hormone, which increases the production of red blood cells in people or animals. Darbepoietin, also known as Aranesp, is a similar drug. There is no reason to administer EPO or Aranesp to a horse. They are for humans who have anemia, cancer, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). EPO and Aranesp are prohibited substances for racing in many jurisdictions around the world. In September 2002 the Kentucky Racing Commission added EPO to its list of banned substances. Texas, Louisiana, Delaware, California, Illinois, Florida, New Jersey and New York have moved forward with testing for EPO antibodies as well, some before Kentucky, and some after.

So what is all the fuss about?

Let's just say it is strongly suspected that EPO is being administered to races horses and has been for ten years or more beginning in the mid 1990s. The use of EPO is generally suspected of the less reputable practitioners in the sport. By no means are the vast majority of trainers guilty. But there are a few who taint the sport with use of banned substances, including EPO.

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What happens to a horse getting EPO?

Think about what happens to a horse when he gets EPO injections over a period of eight to twelve weeks. Every day his body produces more and more red blood cells. Red blood cells are the key building blocks to endurance for athletes. And there is no finer athlete than the thoroughbred racehorse. Red blood cells are tiny oxygen-generating machines. The more red blood cells a horse has flowing through his veins, the more oxygen he can produce during his training, and of course during a race. The more oxygen that is released to his muscles, the longer he can operate at maximum efficiency. This is a great advantage in a horse race, particularly in a grueling route race.

A good horse getting EPO can be transformed into a great horse under the proper care. He can compete with other horses that were once his superior, and he can dominate horses which were once his equal.

Is there any danger to the horse?

There is a problem with prolonged administration of EPO. Over time, EPO "turns blood turns into sludge." Red blood cells add thickness to blood, and an unnatural concentration of red blood cells can lead to a dangerous thickening of the blood. This dramatically increases the risk of heart failure, laminitis, blood clots, and a host of other debilitating conditions. There can be no doubt as to the seriousness of the threat to the health and well-being of innocent racehorses. And, of course, this is all done in homage to the mighty dollar.

Is there a way to detect EPO?

This a very tricky area in which to maneuver. In fact, EPO occurs naturally in humans and horses. There is a test to detect the antibodies to erythropoietin (EPO). This is one of the Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) tests. There is not, however, a test to definitively detect the presence of abnormal concentrations of EPO itself. The implications are far-reaching.

Racing commissions require that a banned substance be identified in the bloodstream of a horse in order to register a violation against the trainer. There is no such analog for the discovery of the antibodies of a banned substance. In this case, the owner and trainer of the horse which tested positive for EPO antibodies are notified, and asked not to race the horse until the connections submit a "clean" test with no evidence of EPO antibodies in the bloodstream. No penalties are assigned, though, because EPO antibodies can remain in the horse's bloodstream as long as 120 days. It is, therefore, impossible to pinpoint who applied the EPO and when. The EPO may not have been administered by the horse's current connections at all, although it may be likely.

There is hope for a new test to detect the presence of EPO. It focuses on detecting plasma transferrin receptor activity, which occurs within hours after administration of EPO. If the new test is perfected, it can be used to hold violators accountable if a horse receives the drug on their watch.

What is a "milkshake"?

"Milkshakes" are on the list of banned substances for race tracks. Milkshake is backstretch slang for a mixture of bicarbonate soda and a liquid force-fed to a horse before it competes. The "milkshake" serves as an alkalizing agent to neutralize the lactic acid produced in the muscles of a fully extended horse. It is commonly known that the "burn" in an athlete's muscles after prolonged exertion emanates from lactic acid, a substance naturally produced by the body. It is thought that lactic acid is part of the body's natural warning system to cease exercising the overworked muscles before permanent damage results. The milkshake serves to neutralize the lactic acid, which in effect neutralizes the defense system of the body. The horse will continue to run hard long after his pain threshold has been reached. The muscles continue to work hard longer, and a horse can run faster for longer this way. And a horse can break down this way as well, because the warning signals from the body are being effectively masked by the milkshake.

Is there a way to detect milkshakes?

An effective test has been developed to detect the administration of milkshakes. Blood samples are taken pre-race and post-race in order to measure the level of carbon dioxide present in the bloodstream of the horse. If the concentration exceeds the threshold reading of 37 millimoles per liter of blood, a violation is declared. Harness racing has been testing for milkshakes since the 1990s. Major thoroughbred tracks and racing jurisdictions have only recently made such testing a priority.

What about anabolic steroids?

Anabolic steroids have been used on some horses in order to develop muscle strength and an aggressive stance towards competition. Testing has existed for some time to detect the presence of anabolic steroids, but only recently has the racing industry taken a firm stance on enforcing policy.

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What is the good news?

The good news is that major thoroughbred tracks and racing jurisdictions are taking the threat of performance enhancing drugs seriously. Testing has improved dramatically in recent years and so has the attitude of the state racing commissions. Without proper enforcement of the banned substance policies the sport will implode and be rejected by the fans that still remain.

We must hope that the future is bright for the world of thoroughbred racing that we all love. But as fans we must remain vigilant and allow no free rides for violators of the banned substance policies in any state hosting thoroughbred racing.

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