Santa Anita notes: Lasix change advances in California

ARCADIA, Calif. - The likelihood that California’s rules regarding the administration of Lasix will be changed to allow only non-practicing veterinarians, not a horse’s personal vet, to give Lasix shots on race day moved one step closer on Thursday. The state racing board, at its monthly meeting, posted the rule change for a 45-day notice.

That administrative move means that the rule change would likely be set for a vote at the California Horse Racing Board’s monthly meeting in January. A number of states in the past year have changed their rules regarding the administration of Lasix, and California now looks set to follow.

At the meeting Thursday, racing board commissioners were adamant that when the rule comes back for final approval, that it be consistent for all tracks in California, and the language regarding who gives the Lasix shots is resolved. The board asked Dr. Rick Arthur, the board’s equine medical director, to work with the board’s medication committee, and racing board staff, to craft the language.

At the board’s meeting last month, it endorsed the Breeders’ Cup language barring Lasix from BC races for 2-year-olds.

TVG to show Santa Anita races

Also at the Thursday racing board meeting, Santa Anita’s license for its winter-spring meeting was approved after all parties signed off on allowing Betfair TVG to show Santa Anita’s races. Until now, HRTV exclusively showed Santa Anita.

The reciprocal sharing of signals by Betfair TVG and HRTV has been a racing board priority. For instance, the upcoming fall meeting at Betfair Hollywood Park, and next spring’s Hollywood Park meeting, will be shown on HRTV as well as TVG.

◗ Jockey Rafael Bejarano, whose mount McAllister Boys was disqualified from victory Oct. 18 in race 1, was handed a three-day suspension by track stewards for “failure to maintain a straight course in the stretch, causing interference which resulted in the disqualification of his mount from first to second position.” Bejarano, the second-leading rider at the autumn meet, is suspended Oct. 25-27.

◗ Linda Laird, who with her husband, Dick, raced several notable horses, including 2005 Iowa Derby winner Shamoan, died on Monday morning in Solana Beach, Calif. She was 73. The Lairds were married for 48 years, and, as residents of Solana Beach, were daily regulars during the race season at nearby Del Mar.

– additional reporting by Brad Free