The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council approved an expenditure of up to $30,000 in funding for a new study of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in 2-year-olds. A study proposal from Washington State University's Dr. Warwick Bayly would have at least sixty 2-year-olds in Kentucky scoped post-race to check for signs of EIPH, and would also allow data collected from those horses to be used as part of a national study on the immune response to exercise in 2-year-olds.
Dr. Bruce Howard, equine medical director for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, said Bayly has gotten commitments from at least eight entities to help collect data that can be used in the study. Across those entities there are three different furosemide withdrawal time regulations on the books: four hours pre-race, 24 hours pre-race, and 48 hours pre-race. Bayly will hope to have at least 60 or possibly more horses sampled from each set of conditions.
“We feel this study is integral part of understanding EIPH evaluating the impact changes in furosemide administration may have,” said Howard.
Bayly may expand the number of horses studied to improve the strength of data.
Howard is hopeful the data could help provide the commission with useful comparisons to other jurisdictions. Earlier this year, Kentucky enacted the first step of a partial phaseout of furosemide, backing up pre-race administration time to 24 hours for 2-year-olds.
Howard said Keeneland began scoping 2-year-olds post-race at its July meet and has continued to do so in October, and Churchill Downs had expressed interest in gathering similar data. This proposal will provide the funds for those efforts to become part of a bigger scientific picture.
Earlier this year, the Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association announced a similar survey of 2-year-olds racing there beginning Aug. 7. The cut-off time for furosemide administration for 2-year-olds in Maryland is now 48 hours pre-race.
The post Equine Drug Research Council Approves Funding For Study On EIPH appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
