Page 53 - Speedhorse August 2018
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The debate over clenbuterol has been a heated one as Ventipulmin, the FDA-approved bronchodilator medication, is highly effective for equine respiratory issues when used properly.
When used as labeled, its a great drug, agreed Janet VanBebber, a former trainer who is now Chief Racing Officer at AQHA. The problem
is when given long-term, it has what we call a repartitioning effect, where it mimics the use of a steroid and horses gain muscle mass. It becomes a performance-enhancing drug.
being used in an aggressive fashion in their state, started doing a more selective testing, a targeted analysis, if you will. That testing resulted in a lot more positive findings,” VanBebber said of the nearly 100 positive tests that popped up at Louisiana Downs and Delta Downs. “The result of this mass influx of bad tests was twofold. First, it really opened the commissioners’ eyes that clenbuterol is, in fact, being misused, as
we had been telling them all along. Second, the horsemen said, ‘We want to even the playing field. Let’s go zero tolerance.’”
VanBebber spoke at a Louisiana Racing Commission meeting in April, then served
on a subcommittee that examined the state’s clenbuterol rules. At the Commission’s
next meeting on July 16, the vote to make clenbuterol a banned substance was unanimous.
“I am very happy that AQHA’s efforts to partner with the commissions has effected positive change in the industry,” VanBebber said.
“We all want clean racing. That’s where we need to go and that’s how our industry is going to survive - with clean racing, where it’s fair to everyone,” Robicheaux said. “Louisiana has been looked down on because we were still using clenbuterol. I think zero clenbuterol is going to help us in that situation. Plus, I think we need uniformity across the country.”
Different areas needed different medications, and Ventipulmin helps horses, especially down here. Thats kind of why we fought it, Robicheaux said of the LQHBAs prior reluctance to support stiffer clenbuterol rules. But the problem is the compounded one that these guys are giving and the amount that they are giving. So thats what changed our mind, as far as an association.
Robicheaux expects the decision to bolster Louisiana’s racing industry by making it easier for out-of-state horsemen to compete in Louisiana and for Louisiana horsemen to race in other states.
“The Lee Berwick and the Firecracker Futurity used to be steppingstone stones to
the All American Futurity,” Robicheaux said, mentioning horses such as Jet Black Patriot and JLS Mr Bigtime. “We haven’t had a Louisiana- bred horse win those races and go to the mountain in five or six years because they can’t. Now it opens that door. You can take all of these horses and we can go from state to state without any problems.
“I think it’s a big positive for us,” Robicheaux added. “We want to look good. We’ve got a good breeding program, good stallions, and good mares over here. Let’s clean all this up. Let’s do what the rest of the country is doing and join forces with the AQHA and try to make racing better.”
Texas remains the last major Quarter Horse racing jurisdiction to allow the therapeutic use of clenbuterol. However, change is in the air. The Texas Racing Commission’s medication com- mittee has been discussing a new clenbuterol policy, which is expected to be presented at the Commission’s next meeting on Aug. 14.
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