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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 16 April 2008 07:28 |
EIPH and the Lasix Program
Exercise Induced Pulmonary HemorrhagingExercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhaging occurs when tiny tears in the horse's lungs due to exertion, cause bleeding. EIPH occurs in almost every horse occasionally, but can be much more serious in some. Signs of bleeding occur when a horse seems to be racing comfortably within its ability and then just slows down, (showing not more energy or no reason.)
Once a horse has been diagnosed as a bleeder, it is put on the medication LASIX. This is a diuretic that aids in the removal of excess fluids from the horse's system through urination, which reduces the pressure build up around the lungs.
LASIX is given to the horse by a commissioned veterinarian 4 hours before post. Any horse on the LASIX program has to stay on it for 120 days. Rules regarding LASIX usage vary mildly between racing jurisdictions.
Beyers Speed FiguresThe Beyer Speed Figure is a number assigned to the performance of every thoroughbred horse in North America for each race they participate in. This number is based on the time of the race and the inherent speed of the track over which it was run, permitting easy comparisons of efforts at different distances. The Beyer Speed figures appear exclusively in the Daily Racing Form.
A horse that earns a 90 has run faster than one who runs an 80. In this system of number, 1-1/2 points are roughly equal to one length in sprints, and 2 points to one length in longer races.
The very best stakes horses in the country earn Beyer Speed Figures in the 120's. Good allowance horses or low-grade stakes horses run around 100. A typical $25,000 claiming race would be run in the 90's, a $10,00 claiming race in the low to mid 80's. The average winning figure for bottom-level $2,500 claimers at smaller tracks is 57.
For additional speed figure descriptions and information, refer to the Daily Racing Form website.
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