The Constitution of a Horse: Not All It’s Cracked Up To Be

• Author: MyHorseRacingSpace Team
• Filed under: Horse Racing News
• Date: Jun 3,2008

Here’s more news on 4-hoofed wonder, Big Brown. Both he and another contender, Tale of Ekati, are expected to run on the anabolic steroid Winstrol (also known as Stanozolol) this Saturday at the Belmont Stakes - the very same steroid, in fact, that got Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson stripped of of his gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Though performance-enhancing drugs have been causing a stir in human athletic competitions, it’s not at all entirely strange for horses to still be using steroids. Surprisingly, steroids are still legal in horse racing – that is, in 28 of the 38 states that host the events. Anabolic steroids serve the purpose of increasing weight and appetite in horses, as well as to promote recovery for certain injuries or illnesses, especially among castrated horses where the natural source for such steroids are taken away. The drugs are also used to encourage aggression to help the horse withstand rigorous training.

However, since the death of Eight Belle at the Kentucky Derby, there has been some serious questions about steroid use on racehorses, though trainer Larry Jones denies such a thing. Experts are increasingly blaming steroid use, as well as other factors like breeding for speed, of the dimishing standards of thoroughbreds. Last year, steroid use was only banned in Iowa, but 9 states so far have followed suit this year – and it looks like more are on the way. In fact, the state of New York’s racing board has already announced their proposal to limit steroid use by next year, possibly earlier with this fall’s Breeder’s Cup as the target. A Congress hearing this month is already in place to consider the issue of steroid use in horses, as well as other safety questions.

Indeed, it’s starting to look like this Saturday’s Belmont Stakes will be the last horse racing event to allow the use of anabolic steroids. Big Brown’s trainer, Rick Dutrow Jr., however, isn’t fussed about stopping the use of steroids on Big Brown or any of his horses if they were banned. And judging from Big Brown’s final workout yesterday, he’s already a winner, steroids or no steroids.

One question remains, though. If you say somebody has the constitution of a horse, is it likely he’s on steroids?