§ 403.14. Furosemide (Lasix—Thoroughbred).
(a) The Commission recognizes that the diuretic Furosemide (Lasix) is helpful in the management of Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH). In regulating the race-day use of Furosemide (Lasix), the Commission has placed strict controls on the dose, route and time the medication is administered. All of these measures are designed to provide a thorough regulation of Furosemide (Lasix) and prevent the misuse of the drug.
(b) A horse is eligible to race with Furosemide (Lasix) if at least one of the following occurs:
(1) The horse is on the Commission’s Furosemide (Lasix) list and has complied with the provisions of subsection (c);
(2) The horse is on the Commission’s Bleeder List and has complied with the provisions of subsection (d);
(3) The trainer provides the Commission Veterinarian or the designee with evidence that the horse in on the Furosemide (Lasix) list or the Bleeder List in another jurisdiction. Acceptable evidence shall be a Furosemide or bleeder certificate approved by that jurisdiction’s official veterinarian.
(4) The trainer provides the Commission Veterinarian or the designee with evidence that the horse has been running consistently, up to the last start, with Furosemide (Lasix) in other racing jurisdictions as shown on official past performance records from Equibase or Racing Form.
(c) Furosemide (Lasix) list—Furosemide (Lasix) shall be administered to a horse that is entered to race only after the Commission Veterinarian has placed the horse on the Furosemide (Lasix) list. To be placed on the Furosemide (Lasix) list the following process shall be followed:
(1) After the horse’s licensed trainer and licensed veterinarian determine that it would be in the horse’s best interests to race with Furosemide, the trainer or licensed veterinarian shall notify the Commission Veterinarian or designee using the prescribed form, requesting that the horse be placed on the Furosemide (Lasix) list.
(2) The form must be received by the official veterinarian or his/her designee by the proper time deadlines to ensure public notification.
(3) A horse placed on the official Furosemide (Lasix) list must remain on that list unless the licensed trainer and licensed veterinarian submit a written request to remove the horse from the list. The request must be made to the Commission Veterinarian or designee, on the proper form, no later than the time of entry.
(4) After a horse has been removed from the Furosemide (Lasix) list, the horse may not be placed back on the list for a period of 60 calendar days unless it is determined to be detrimental to the welfare of the horse, in consultation with the official veterinarian. If a horse is removed from the official Furosemide (Lasix) list a second time in a 365-day period, the horse may not be placed back on the list for a period of 90 calendar days.
(d) Bleeder List—To obtain approval for the administration of Furosemide (Lasix), the horse shall be placed on a bleeder list which shall be maintained by the Commission Veterinarian. An up-to-date Bleeder List shall be maintained and posted in the racing secretary’s office by the Commission. Only the following horses shall be placed on the Bleeder List:
(1) External evidence of exercised induced pulmonary hemorrhage from one or both nostrils during or after a race or workout, as observed by a Commission’s Veterinarian;
(2) Internal evidence of exercised induced pulmonary hemorrhage by means of endoscopy reported by a licensed practicing veterinarian on a Commission approved form.
(3) A confirmed bleeder, regardless of age, shall be placed on the Bleeder List and be ineligible to race for the following time periods:
(i) First incident—14 days;
(ii) Second incident within 365-day period—30 days;
(iii) Third incident within 365-day period—180 days;
(iv) Fourth incident within 365-day period—barred for racing lifetime.
(4) Once a horse is place on the bleeder list, it must continue to race with Furosemide (Lasix) unless the removal from the list is approved by the Commission Veterinarian. The horse may be removed from the bleeder list upon written request of the trainer, if the horse’s performance is negatively affected by the use of Furosemide (Lasix) or if the horse has an adverse physiological reaction to Furosemide (Lasix).
(i) Prior to removal, the horse must perform a workout, without bleeding, to the satisfaction of the Commission Veterinarian. The Commission Veterinarian may witness an endoscopic examination of the horse to confirm that the horse has not bled.
(ii) Once removed from the bleeder list, a Thoroughbred horse shall be ineligible to participate in a race for a minimum of 30 days. Prior to starting in a race, a horse must participate without Furosemide (Lasix) in official workout without bleeding, to the satisfaction of the Commission Veterinarian.
(e) Furosemide (Lasix) shall be the only authorized bleeder medication and shall only be administered on the licensed racetrack grounds.
(1) The use of Furosemide (Lasix) shall be permitted under the following circumstances on association grounds where a detention barn is utilized:
(i) Furosemide (Lasix) shall be administered by the official veterinarian, the racing veterinarian or a properly appointed designee no less than 4 hours prior to post time for the race for which the horse is entered;
(ii) Any veterinarian participating in the administration process must be prohibited from working as private veterinarians on the race track or with participating licensees;
(iii) A horse qualified for Furosemide (Lasix) administration must be brought to the detention barn within time to comply with the 4-hour administration requirement.
(iv) The dose administered shall not exceed 500 mg. nor be less than 150 mg.
(v) Furosemide (Lasix) shall be administered by a single, intravenous injection.
(2) After treatment, the horse shall be required by the Commission to remain in the detention barn in the care, custody and control of its trainer or the trainer’s designated representative under association or Commission security supervision, or both, until called to the saddling paddock.
(3) The use of Furosemide (Lasix) shall be permitted under the following circumstances on association grounds where a detention barn is not utilized:
(i) Furosemide (Lasix) shall be administered by the official veterinarian, the racing veterinarian or his/her designee no less than 4 hours prior to post time for the race for which the horse is entered.
(ii) Any veterinarian participating in the administration process must be prohibited from working as private veterinarians or technicians on the race track on or with participating licensees;
(iii) The Furosemide (Lasix) dosage administered shall not exceed 500 mg., nor be less than 150 mg.
(iv) Furosemide (Lasix) shall be administered by a single, intravenous injection.
(v) After treatment, the horse shall be required by the Commission to remain in the proximity of its stall in the care, custody and control of its trainer or the trainer’s designated representative under general association and/or Commission security surveillance until called to the saddling paddock.
(f) In the event a horse listed on the Furosemide (Lasix) list races without Furosemide (Lasix), the horse shall be disqualified and any purse money earned by the horse redistributed. The Stewards may impose a fine, suspension, or both, upon the trainer or veterinarian.
(g) Test results must show a detectable concentration of the drug in the post-race serum, plasma or urine sample.
(1) The specific gravity of post-race urine samples may be measured to ensure that samples are sufficiently concentrated for proper chemical analysis. The specific gravity shall not be below 1.010. If the specific gravity of the urine is found to be below 1.010 or if a urine sample is unavailable for testing, quantitation of Furosemide in serum or plasma shall be performed;
(2) Quantitation of Furosemide (Lasix) in serum or plasma shall be performed when the specific gravity of the corresponding urine sample is not measured or if measured below 1.010. Concentrations may not exceed 100 nanograms of Furosemide (Lasix) per milliliter of serum or plasma.
(h) The practicing veterinarian shall be responsible for administering the proper Furosemide (Lasix) medication and dose at the proper time to the proper horse and providing the Commission or its staff, upon request, with any necessary documentation related to the horses under the veterinarian’s care relating to Furosemide (Lasix).
Cross References This section cited in 7 Pa. Code § 401.4 (relating to substances of therapeutic value); and 7 Pa. Code § 403.3 (relating to treatment restrictions).
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