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Breeders’ Cup ‘Win And You’re In’ Races To Prohibit Lasix

As 2021 kicks off with stakes races being run without Lasix at the leading racetracks and Thoroughbred racing events across the country, including the 2021 World Championships, Breeders' Cup is pleased to announce that this year's “Win and You're In” Challenge Series races will be run without Lasix. Additionally, Graded Stakes points for the purpose of selection into a Breeders' Cup World Championships race will only be awarded in Lasix-free graded stakes races.

As an operator of world-class racing with the highest safety and integrity measures in place, these initiatives are in keeping with Breeders' Cup's efforts to lead by example to move towards elimination of race day medications and to better align the industry with the rest of the world. Breeders' Cup welcomes others to join these efforts to bring the U.S. further in line with international standards.

2020 saw a successful year of 2-year-olds running Lasix-free, including on Future Stars Friday at the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland. In addition, the groundbreaking passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), which was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, has provided a critical framework for the industry going forward. Under HISA, Lasix-free racing will be the general standard as of July 1, 2022.

“Even before HISA was signed into law, running the World Championships Lasix-free was a goal of Breeders' Cup,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. “Extending this standard to all races associated with the Breeders' Cup World Championships will hopefully set an example for other racetracks and stakeholders to embrace forthcoming safety and integrity measures, including the elimination of race day medication, as a new, safer era for our storied sport approaches.”

Aligning Breeders' Cup's year-round “Win and You're In” program with the World Championships by modifying the Field Selection Process and allocation of Challenge Race designations to races that prohibit Lasix further strengthens Breeders' Cup commitment to this effort. The safety of human and equine athletes and the integrity of our sport must always come first, which is why Breeders' Cup, like so many others around the world, supports eliminating Lasix in racing.

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Breeders’ Cup Prohibiting Lasix In Challenge Series Races

The 2021 Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Series races will be run without Lasix, it was announced Wednesday. Breeders' Cup officials also revealed that graded stakes points for the purposes of selection by committee into a Breeders' Cup race will only be awarded for graded races that are contested Lasix-free.

Horses that raced on the 'Future Stars Friday' program of the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships were forbidden from running on Lasix, in addition to a large number of juvenile races across the country over the course of the racing season. The passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) last December presents a framework for the American horse racing industry going forward. Under HISA, Lasix-free racing will be the standard as of July 2022.

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Breeders’ Cup Delaying 2021 Ticket Sales ‘Until We Have Greater Clarity’

The 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships are scheduled for Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar in Southern California, but CEO Drew Fleming revealed on Monday that the Breeders' Cup is delaying ticket sales for the event, according to Fox 5 San Diego.

“We are working closely with Del Mar, local officials and public health experts to safely plan the 2021 World Championships,” Fleming said. “To ensure we have the most up-to-date safety protocols in place in compliance with CDC guidelines, including the permitted levels of attendance, we are delaying ticket sales for the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships until we have greater clarity on the ever-changing landscape. Rest assured, it is our strong intent to safely host fans at the 2021 World Championships.”

Fans were not allowed at the 2020 World Championships, hosted at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Thoroughbred Safety Coalition Adds Reforms to Platform

Members of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition Steering Committee voted unanimously to adopt four new medical and operational reforms to further reduce the use of medication in racing, enhance consistency across racing jurisdictions and promote transparency, according to a press release from the organization Monday.

The Thoroughbred Safety Coalition is an industry-led effort to advance safety measures in Thoroughbred racing.

“These new reforms set the stage for another productive year of advancing meaningful changes to strengthen the culture of safety in thoroughbred racing,” said the release.

The following recommended reforms have been added to Coalition's platform:

Prohibit intravenous, intramuscular, transmucosal, topical, nasal and oral administration of medications and substances that are not specifically authorized within 48 hours of racing
Impose requirements for the identification and treatment of hypothyroidism in horses
Adopt testing and maintenance standards for racetrack surfaces
Advocate for the adoption of all facility specifications outlined in the RMTC's Test Barn Best Practices for onsite test barns and follow the protocols consistent with the Best Practices for sampling occurring at another location

“Building out our reform platform remains the Coalition's top priority as we continue to advocate for uniform measures that will protect the well-being of our horses and the integrity of our sport across state racing jurisdictions,” said Shannon Arvin, President and CEO of Keeneland Association Inc. “Testing, whether it's for racing surface consistency, hypothyroidism or controlled substances, strengthens accountability and ensures an even playing field.”

“HISA marks a significant achievement for our community and will benefit horses, participants and fans alike by implementing uniform anti-doping, medication control and racetrack operation measures. The Safety Coalition's mission directly complements the Authority's efforts and we look forward to working together,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited.

“The work that goes into ensuring our athletes are racing under the safest and most transparent conditions possible is constant and requires collaboration across the thoroughbred community,” said Martin Panza, Senior Vice President of Racing Operations at the New York Racing Association. “The racetrack surface maintenance and testing protocols are the direct result of such collaboration led by the NTRA and the members of this coalition and will serve as the basis for HISA's racetrack operations program.”

Coalition Steering Committee members include Breeders' Cup Limited, Churchill Downs Incorporated, Keeneland Association Inc., the New York Racing Association Inc., Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and The Stronach Group.

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