Friday, 15 June 2012: The Asian Racing Federation has welcomed the move by the Kentucky Racing Commission to eliminate Lasix.
“The approach we take in the Asian region is that racing must be drugfree. This is fundamental. Accordingly we applaud the decision of the
Kentucky Racing Commission to eliminate Lasix.” Said Dr Koji Sato, chairman of the Asian Racing Federation
Dr Sato said that the profile of Kentucky within US racing is such that the decision by the Kentucky Racing Commission will hopefully encourage other States to follow its example.
“In addition to being a great step forward for Kentucky itself this development carries the prospect of having wider influence in promoting drug-free racing in North America.
"Kentucky plays such a prominent role within US racing and breeding that I am hopeful that other States will follow the example which has now been set by the Kentucky Racing Commission.
“It is the Asian Racing Federation's strongly–held belief that drug-free racing is essential.
"Ensuring the welfare of our horses, achieving a level playing field for competitors, keeping the trust and confidence of the public, protecting horses and jockeys from injury, promoting the strength and soundness of the breed - these are all very powerful considerations and they all point in the one direction, namely that horses must race free from the influence of medication," Dr Sato said.
