In advance of an expected vote by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) June 13, the American Graded Stakes Committee (AGSC) reaffirmed its desire to ban all race-day medication in graded stakes for 2-year-olds.

The KHRC already has prepared a draft regulation that will be discussed and most likely voted upon. It calls for a three-year phase-out of race-day furosemide, also called Salix or Lasix, in graded and listed stakes from 2013-15. Furosemide is used to try to prevent or lessen the effects of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage.

The regulation is in keeping with a KHRC proposal that would allow race-day administration of the anti-bleeding drug to all other racehorses. The Salix phase-out was discussed during a town hall meeting June 5 in the state capital.

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, which oversees the AGCS, earlier this year backed away from mandating a race-day Salix ban in graded stakes for 2-year-olds. The organization in April said it still supports the ban but would prefer to work with regulators

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