The controversial issue of medicating horses before a horse race – and in this case before the Kentucky Derby 2012 race – has always been up for debate. On Monday, April 17th, there was a proposal to ban anti-bleeding drugs on race day. Kentucky, the Bluegrass state, has been divided as it tries to keep its reputation as the main thoroughbred racing track. It was at the Kentucky Racing Commission that the voting took place, however it did not turn out as expected. During the meeting, they set out to ban furosemide, the anti-bleeding drug, and the ban would take effect in as early as 2013, along with the 2 year old thoroughbreds. By 2014 it would be banned entirely at the 2012 Kentucky Derby, and by 2015 it was to be banned throughout the state.
The drug furosemide, also known as Salix or Lasix, is the only drug that is permitted on the day of the horse races, and only in the US. The reason other countries do not allow this drug to be used is because it enhances the horses’ performance, which does not allow for a proper horse race. Horses are given this drug, with the intention of treating haemorrhaging in the horses’ lungs. This can be caused by the extreme pressure and stamina that they must use during the races. As to follow suit with the other countries that ban this drug, Kentucky is the first state to step up and vote on this controversial issue. Even though the ban has many supporters, the vote failed on Monday with a 7-7 vote at the Racing Commission.
Although the ban proposal did not get voted through Bob Beck, the Commission Chairman did say that the issue could come up again as soon as next month. He also said that horse racing suffered due to the misunderstanding that people thought the sport was, to quote, “drug infested”. Everyone knows how drugs and sports do not mix, just like in the Baseball debacles. Race day enthusiasts that support the ban, state that the ban could help improve the public image of horse racing. This new found image could help bring in new fans, along with increased betting revenue as the sport has been struggling to gain gambling income. However, there are always two sides to the same coin, just like there are supporters of the ban, there are also opponents that defend the right to use the drug.
Opponents to the drug being banned have rallied and submitted a proposal that there would be a competitive disadvantage, and in the end could drive away trainers and horses alike. Even if Kentucky managed to get the ban through the commission and make it a state wide ban, they warned that other states are not as likely to follow suit. It would take a heavy toll on the horses that race without the use of Lasix, or Salix, since it could deeply hurt their performance; this could prompt the trainers to move to different states where the drug is still allowed. There are other reasons as to why the opposition defends the right to use the drug; one is due to medical reasons. Before the drug was used, Rick Hiles, president of the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, explains that horses have been seen collapsing while racing and dying in a pool of blood caused by internal bleeding. The drug, Lasix, has been proven to stop this from occurring. There have even been studies conducted by three major universities stating that horses that were injected with furosemide has less haemorrhaging in both the lungs and airways.
Both parties seem to think they have the sports best interest. Some of the trainers had some input in the controversy. One in particular, Dale L. Romans, stated that if the proposal had passed it could have been “the most drastic change to American racing ever.” He says the reason this ban would have been detrimental to the Kentucky Racing Commission, and the Kentucky Derby, is because it would scare away the last bit of revenue it has left. The commission will continue to debate this topic, and hopefully anything agreed upon will improve the state of horse racing in the Bluegrass state.
2012 Kentucky Derby Betting
With the upcoming 138th Kentucky Derby, fans are lining up to start betting on their favorite horses. For those people that have no experience on horse betting, this simple guide should get you on the right path. In order to appease those skeptical of the legitimacy, it is entirely legal to place bets on horse racing in the US, either in person or through online racebooks. When placing a wager on a horse race, it is important to know the terminology that goes with it. The main terms that are needed are Win, Place, and Show. Win refers to placing a bet on a horse to win, Place is a bet on a horse to come in 1st or 2nd, while Show is a bet on a particular horse to come in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. Other terms are Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Double, and Pick 3 through Pick 6. Exacta is a bet picking 1st and 2nd place winners; Trifecta is a bet picking 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Superfecta is picking 1st through 4th place winners, and Daily Double is a bet picking the winners of two races. Pick 3 through Pick 6 are where a bettor picks the winners of 3 consecutive races, and it goes up from there to picking the winners of 6 consecutive races.
After the terminology, the most important thing to know is the odds. Odds usually come in fraction form, 1/10 or 15/1; all it means is that there is a 90.91%, using the 1/10 odds, chance of the horse winning. If there is a 15/1 odds, it means there is a 6.25% of that horse winning; the other odds and win% can be found online. Once a Kentucky Derby bet is placed, in order to find out the amount you could win, there is a simple formula for that. A bettor must divide the numerator by the denominator, then multiply that number by the amount bet, and finally add to that the amount bet. If a bettor places a $2 bet on a horse with 15/1 odds it would be, 15 x 2 + 2, which would come out to be a $32 win. These are the basic ways to place a bet, and find out how much money a bettor could win depending on the odds.