Interview

[BH]

Very informative interview with Dr. Wayne McIlwraith in Friday\'s TDN re/ nasal strips.


http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/restricted/pdf/tdn/tdn140530_1.pdf?CFID=96117353&CFTOKEN=57479254

[TGJB]

Don\'t get me started.

[jerry]

Certainly sounds like a performance enhancer but, strangely, Dr. McIlwraith concludes, \"Science has shown that you make it easier for the horse to breathe, but does this enhance performance? I don\'t think so.\"

[Flighted Iron]

Q: According to its website, AFLAIR Equine Nasal Strips
were designed to support the soft tissues of the nasal
passages to help maintain the integrity of the airway
during exercise. By doing so, university research has
shown that FLAIR Strips reduce airway resistance,
speed recovery after exercise and reduce exercise
induced pulmonary hemorrhage (E.I.P.H.) or bleeding in
horses lungs.@ Has there been scientific evidence that
you can point to that backs this statement up? And if
so, why haven=t they proven to be more popular?
A: There is quite a bit of science and published work
on nasal strips. There was a study done by Dr. Howard
Erickson=s group at Kansas State University that
showed that there was a significant reduction in
E.I.P.H. with nasal strips, and there was another
conducted by Dr. Ray Geor of Kentucky Equine
Research (who has since retired), which also validated
this.

Seems to be safe for the ones doing all the (leg) work !
more importantly the reduction of EIPH. gamblers however must
be made aware of equipment change for racings continuity.


flighted

[Michael D.]

NYS has determined that breathing does not matter. this is a race, a mile and a half race, and the New York racing commission has determined that it does not matter how well a horse breathes. it does not matter that one horse uses a medical device that allows him to breathe easier.

breathing. doesn\'t matter. in a race.

[johnnym]

Bottom line all horses are allowed to use them,we have a level playing Field..
Only thing I would say is their should be a note somewhere in the forum saying the horse is using them.

[P-Dub]

Michael D. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> it does not matter that one horse uses a medical device that
> allows him to breathe easier. breathing. doesn\'t matter. in a race.

Does bleeding matter in a racehorse?

Wasn\'t there a time Lasix wasn\'t permitted??  Wasn\'t that changed?  New York was the last jurisdiction to change their stance on Lasix, at a time everyone else allowed it.

Everyone can use Lasix, even if a horse isn\'t a bleeder and doesn\'t need it.  Some see that drug as a performance enhancer. Any horse can use it.

When a horse doesn\'t bleed, yet uses Lasix, nobody cares. Its allowed by rule.

Yes, the stewards may be bending the rules. They aren\'t breaking any.  Any horse can use a nasal strip. If it helps breathing, and by extension helps performance, then use it.

We have a problem here because of the timing of the ruling.

Seems the issue is with the stewards allowing the strips, which they have the power to do.

[Michael D.]

jerry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Certainly sounds like a performance enhancer but,
> strangely, Dr. McIlwraith concludes, \"Science has
> shown that you make it easier for the horse to
> breathe, but does this enhance performance? I
> don\'t think so.\"


but the doc says:

 \"There was a treadmill study done by Dr. McDonough
of Kansas State University that also showed that nasal
strips were equivalent to Lasix. They had groups with
and without nasal strips, with and without Lasix, and
another with Lasix plus nasal strips. That study showed
that nasal strips could do as well as Lasix and could
increase endurance.


endurance. that\'s a good thing, right?

also note that the Dr does a lot of work for Sherman.



http://pdfs.thoroughbreddailynews.com/generic_upload/pdf/FLAIR_QnA.pdf

[moosepalm]

Do they harm the horse?  Can they be used covertly or in any manner that would avoid detection?  Can any other horse use them?  Does wearing blinkers aid performance?  If so, should they be banned?  If the horse has a foot problem he gets shod with bar shoes. If he has a breathing problem, he gets a nasal strip.

The only problem I see is that, to the extent they make any difference in performance, and I\'m still waiting on something conclusive, they should be noted in the racing program.

[TGJB]

That\'s a problem, but it\'s not the only problem.

If you look at CC\'s sheet in the Archives, imagine if there was a first Lasix or trainer change to a move-up guy, or blinkers on, next to that December race where he jumped out of his skin. After he stayed at that level, we would be sure there was a cause and effect relationship, and I think it\'s extremely likely there is now. Yes, I\'m pissed we didn\'t know that\'s when he added the device until after the Preakness. But more importantly, you\'re talking about adding yet another variable that is unhandicappable-- those who know a specific horse is training much better with the strip will have a huge edge over those that don\'t.

[P-Dub]

TGJB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That\'s a problem, but it\'s not the only problem.
>
> If you look at CC\'s sheet in the Archives, imagine
> if there was a first Lasix or trainer change to a
> move-up guy, or blinkers on, next to that December
> race where he jumped out of his skin. After he
> stayed at that level, we would be sure there was a
> cause and effect relationship, and I think it\'s
> extremely likely there is now. Yes, I\'m pissed we
> didn\'t know that\'s when he added the device until
> after the Preakness. But more importantly, you\'re
> talking about adding yet another variable that is
> unhandicappable-- those who know a specific horse
> is training much better with the strip will have a
> huge edge over those that don\'t.

What about horses that changed bits, shoes, or any number of things that may improve performance?  There are those that know that information, but it isn\'t published.

[TGJB]

Shoes (turn downs) used to be a big issue in NY, Miff can probably fill you in. I would think it\'s unlikely a bit can make that big a difference. But as much as possible should be published, and as little as possible allowed.

[P-Dub]

I agree with your premise JB.  This is a tough enough game already.

[Michael D.]

TGJB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Shoes (turn downs) used to be a big issue in NY,
> Miff can probably fill you in. I would think it\'s
> unlikely a bit can make that big a difference. But
> as much as possible should be published, and as
> little as possible allowed.


yeah, an entire breed of horses addicted to medical devices that widen the nasal passages is not what we need. we once thought treating a few bleeders with lasix was harmless enough. not that nasal strips are on the same level as lasix, but look at the mess we\'ve now created with lasix.

[moosepalm]

What we have is a woeful lack of science on this matter, and one dramatic example of what it might be doing.  It\'s a likely suspect in Chrome\'s jump, but absent examples of other horses doing the same, it\'s not conclusive.  That\'s the difference between examples of move-up trainers who have a similar pattern or blinkers.  There\'s a body of data to support such suppositions.  Until there\'s more evidence of similar jumps in other horses (which is why the main problem right now is absence of documentation), this is speculative, and would not be creating more than a minor ripple if it had been a 25K claimer moving up to Grade 3 company at Arlington.