LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Kelly Breen has a lot on his mind these days.
The trainer is trying to win his first Kentucky Derby on Saturday with Pants On Fire.
Breen is also deeply worried about the future of Monmouth Park, his home track in New Jersey.
However, the topic that has Breen most fired up is the possibility of federal legislation being introduced this week – days before the Derby – to ban all raceday medications.
Breen is concerned that the ban would sweep away commonly used drugs like Lasix, a diuretic that controls exercise-induced respiratory bleeding.
“Lasix is a therapeutic drug,” Breen said. “Studies have been done that show that Lasix works. As horsemen, we’re the last to find out about the legislation and we don’t have a leg to stand on.”
Breen believes banning Lasix would hurt racing.
“The backbone of racing is the claiming horse,” Breen said. “If you had a horse worth $50,000 and he just ran third after being in front the whole way and I called you up to say he bled and we can’t do anything for it, that horse is going to be running for $5,000 and bleeding anyway.
“You’re damaging the horse, you’re damaging our product and hurting the gambler in the long run.”
For more on this story: Kelly Breen worries about possible Lasix ban
