Tragedy At Belmont
Contributed By Dave "Daily Double" WildermuthPosted on 6/8/15 8:46 AM
Photo By John Roca
It was an exciting finish to the Belmont Stakes where American Pharoah won the first Triple Crown in 37 years! American Pharoah's finish was the 6th fastest all-time at Belmont and 2nd fastest among the Triple Crown Winners. (Secretariat was the fastest ever). However, with this incredible feat propelling the Horse Racing World into the mainstream limelight, there was also a controversial and tragic event which occurred lurking in the shadows at the end of the 4th race of the day.
A colt from France was making his first start in the United States by the name of Helwan. During the backstretch, he broke down and had to be euthanized. Helwan had broken his left front cannon bone. His jockey, Jose Ortiz was able to pull the horse off the track and stated that "He was making a perfect run. He made two jumps and then switched lead and broke down. There's nothing else to say about it." Helwan's Trainer, Chad Brown refused to comment on the matter.
Helwan won 37.5% of his races, (3 out of 8). This was the first time in Helwan's racing career that he was running on Lasix. Lasix is a diuretics also known as Furosemide. It is used in races to prevent horses from bleeding through the nose. Along with some other diuretics, furosemide is also included on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned drug list due to its alleged use as a masking agent for other drugs. Which then one can wonder just how many drugs are horses possibly on while racing?
Horse racing has strict rules about bleeding. In the United Sates of America, horses that bleed form the nostrils three times are permanently barred from racing, (for their own protection). This rule is not consistent with other countries laws and governing body of horse racing. After clinical trials commenced, many states started using Lasix on race horses. New York was the last state to allow this drug on race horses. On Sept 1st, 1995, New York become the last state to approve such use, after years of refusing to do so.
Lasix can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance which includes loss of potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium. This drug should not be used in horses that are dehydrated. Excessive Furosemide can lead to seizures, lethargy, kidney damage, change in drinking patterns, gastrointestinal problems, coma, and collapse.
Helwan was 4 years old and had a short racing career. One can only speculate as to why this tragedy occurred. Was it a freak accident or was this death a direct result of Drug Use & Lasix? We have to ask ourselves that if Lasix is banned from the World Anti-Doping Agency for our professional human athletes, why is not be banned for race horses? Rest in Peace Helwan.
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