Gulfstream Park owner Frank Stronach’s desire to outlaw the raceday use
of Lasix will not go into effect during the upcoming meeting, track
president Tim Ritvo said on Wednesday.
Stronach sent a letter to state regulators last month asking for their
help to implement a program that would ultimately phase out all raceday
medications at the track, including the elimination of Lasix at its
2011-2012 meet, which begins Dec. 3. But after conferring Tuesday in
Tallahassee with members of the Florida Department of Business and
Professional Regulations, which oversees all parimutuel racing in
Florida, Ritvo said the state is not yet ready to make such a
commitment.
“Our company’s position is to phase out raceday medications,” said
Ritvo. “Frank’s beliefs are basically the same as those being echoed
recently by the Jockey Club, Breeders’ Cup and Graded Stakes Committee.
We asked the state to help us implement this program in the best
interests of racing and they said they’d be willing to take up the
matter at a later date following an open forum on the subject.”
Ritvo said he offered to hold that forum at Gulfstream Park during the upcoming meet.
Read More