The Battle of Salix - By Eric Mitchell

Another battle over the medication Salix is brewing. We say “another” because Thoroughbred racing has been wrestling with this drug on and off since the 1970s when there was a mixed bag of prohibition and acceptance among the racing states. New York was the last state to fall, lifting its ban in 1995.

Today, debate is heating up again over the effectiveness of the anti-bleeder medication (formerly known under the brand name Lasix) and more importantly whether it should be allowed on race day since research has shown it is a performance-enhancing drug.