Page 21 - April 2009 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
TheGame Health & Nutrition 2009 Special Advertorial Feature Beware of so-called ‘powdered EPO/ powdered blood builder’
The Good
The Game, April 2009 21
Toronto, ON – Investigators attached to the Equine Medication Control and Drug Task Force have received information about individuals offering for sale and/or using so- called ‘powdered EPO’. It also has been referred to as a powdered blood builder.
improve performance by increasing the blood’s oxygen carrying capacity. However, in horses the main problem is EPO can lead to the development of an auto-immune disease whereby the horse attacks its own red blood cells, thus putting its health at risk.
A few weeks ago, Brian
Williams, the NBC news anchor, made
a plea to the public after one of his newscasts on Wednesday March 4. Tired of having to report bad, depressing news night after night, Williams begged his audience to send him some good news, something to lift people’s spirits. David Bauder, from the Huf ngton Post writes: “So he made a plea seconds before the end of NBC’s newscast on Wednesday: We’re looking for good news. Nominate people doing good work, perhaps a random or regular act of kindness in a cruel economy, and we’ll tell some of their stories. He’s heard about a man who keeps a full can of gas in his trunk and gives it to people who have run out of gas, asking only that they do the same for someone else. One woman goes up to strangers on the street and gives them money. A man nominated his landlord, saying he reduced the rent and even helps pay his bills. “It really told me something,” he said. “I have learned a lot. I thought I knew all there was about the good nature of Americans, and this was a ood.”
We can get pretty hardened here
on the race track. Let’s face it, we’re competitive by nature, after all, sometimes we’re running against other horse people who are barely one stall away. (Can you imagine if the Maple Leafs and the Canadians went back
to the same locker room between periods?). Last Tuesday at Chapel Service, Roy Dwight, a hot walker
for Julia Carey and a race track lifer, shared a modern day story of a Good Samaritan. Now, for those of you living under a rock, here’s a quick update of Jesus’ story of kindness:
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,”
he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26”What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27He answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love
your neighbor as yourself.’ “ 28”You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when
he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after
him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36”Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Acquisition, possession or use of EPO in any form is illegal and contrary to the Rules of Racing. However,
an investigation has revealed that
this particular substance being sold
is nothing more than cobalt sulfate. Cobalt sulfate is a water-soluble cobalt salt with a variety of industrial and agricultural uses, including being
used as an ingredient in feed and mineral supplements. Used in safe
and appropriate formulations, the substance is known to have certain blood building qualities.
Evidence presented at ORC hearings over the past year has con rmed that EPO/DPO has no legitimate use for a horse that is racing. It not only places the horse at risk, it imperils the future of the horse racing industry.
Now, all of us are somewhat familiar with the Golden Rule, which Jesus described as “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Easy to know, hard to follow. At Chapel, Roy shared how he took
Nonetheless, according to
Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) Veterinarian Supervisor Dr. Bruce Duncan, horse people should be very cautious. “When administered in excess, this element can be toxic to horses. As a general rule, you need to be aware of all the ingredients being administered to your animals, and
a quali ed veterinarian should be consulted prior to introducing any new product.”
The use of medications or products that are not properly prescribed may not be in the best interest of the horse. Medications or products that have no label, or are labeled in a suspicious way (e.g. “home made” label), or have no manufacturer’s name, should never be used.
Roy went to security, went through the garbage and nally resigned himself to the joyous task of canceling his credit cards. On Sunday, before dinner, we asked God if after trying to save the
lost and preparing for March Madness, He could help Roy nd his wallet. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Monday, Roy and I went
to the 23rd Division Station and were assisted by a lovely woman named Barb, (“Your PASSPORT was in your wallet?!”), in reporting the loss of his wallet and all the contents. By this
time, all hope for the $100 bill was the furthest thing on his mind. We were about to leave for Square One to report a lost or stolen passport, when we were overcome by the urgent business of eating. As we nished at Tim Horton’s, Roy’s phone rang. It was his boss Paul from the Fur Factory. A man called saying he found Roy’s wallet. Paul had it in his possession. As Roy hung up we stared at each other in disbelief and then sped to get his wallet.
Roy’s Good Samaritan turned out to be a man named Ante Ruzic, 73 years old. Turns out Ruzic went to an old apartment address on one of the ID’s but was repulsed by the super. He then found Roy’s other work ID, called
Paul and Paul was gracious enough to drive over and get the wallet. Reward? “You owe me $40 for a bottle of Crown Royal, that’s all Ante wanted,” said Paul. Everything was still in Roy’s wallet, including,(don’t ask), his passport. When Roy called Ante, his Good Samaritan shared that when he rst came to Canada in the 1960s, he too had lost his wallet, with $240 in it. Despite inquiring at the Police Station and Consulate, Ante’s wallet was never returned. $240 in the 60’s would be worth a longshot trifecta in today’s economy. Rather than keep the money as form of frontier justice, Ante did the right thing and returned the wallet.
Good news. Brian Williams would have been proud.
The ‘real’ erythropoietin (EPO) triggers the horse’s body to produce more red blood cells and is thought to
For more information, contact: Rob McKinney
Deputy Director
Ontario Racing Commission
The racing community is reminded that a basic aspect of good medication control is ensuring that you only
use products that are properly manufactured and clearly labeled,
and that have been obtained from an authorized distributor. In the case of medications, you should ensure that these have been prescribed and/or dispensed by a licensed veterinarian. Page 2
his wallet out of his pocket while at
the grandstand on March 14, and put it down. In his wallet were his credit and bank cards, ID from work (Roy works at the “Fur Factory”, as well as the track), a $100 bill, and, don’t try this at home kids, his passport. Yes, I know, his passport, don’t ask. Discovering
his wallet missing, Roy was frantic. If there’s one place you don’t want to lose your wallet, it’s the second oor of the grandstand.
Samaritan Circa 2009
The Parable of the Good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-37
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The Game April 2009.indd
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