Report: Maryland, home of Preakness, bans Lasix from graded stakes

The Maryland Racing Commission unanimously voted on Wednesday to ban Lasix from all stakes races in the state during a Wednesday meeting.

The state previously barred use of the anti-bleeding medication known as Lasix in 2-year-old races, but the new rule will add all graded stakes to the ban. The premier graded stakes race in Maryland is the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, the second leg of racing's Triple Crown.

According to a report in Thoroughbred Daily News, the question was raised as to whether the current juveniles who have not received the drug this past season will be able to use it in non-stakes races. This will be allowed.

The Maryland Jockey Club entered into a pilot program this July that it said would lead to an elimination of Lasix from 2-year-old races, graded stakes and a minimum number of racing days per week from any MJC meet.

That agreement was to eliminate the drug for 2-year-olds in 2020 and graded stakes in 2021 through 2023 and do a study with regards to Lasix-free racing during that time period. That study began on Aug. 7 at Laurel Park.