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Podcasts Take Two
Breeders' Cup backs away from plan to expand ban of horse racing drug Lasix
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May 3, 2013
Listen • 4:36
Breeders' Cup backs away from plan to expand ban of horse racing drug Lasix
The Breeders' Cup World Championships banned Lasix for two-year-olds, and planned to expand it to all ages. But the race's leaders decided not to expand the ban.
Groomer Byron Vasquez of Cerin Racing Stables washes a racehorse after a run on Friday morning at Hollywood Park Race Track. Each season, the team moves their staffers and horses to a different track. Cerin Stables just transported their 35 racehorses from Santa Anita.
Groomer Byron Vasquez of Cerin Racing Stables washes a racehorse after a run on Friday morning at Hollywood Park Race Track. Each season, the team moves their staffers and horses to a different track. Cerin Stables just transported their 35 racehorses from Santa Anita.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Trainers and owners watch as exercise riders take each racehorse out for a two-mile run. Trainer Vladimir Cerin said races are as physically taxing for horses as marathons are for humans. "They put so much into it," he said.
Trainers and owners watch as exercise riders take each racehorse out for a two-mile run. Trainer Vladimir Cerin said races are as physically taxing for horses as marathons are for humans. "They put so much into it," he said.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Jesse Rodriguez, left, and his father, Jesse Marquez, are exercise riders for Cerin Racing Stables. Marquez has worked for Vladimir Cerin for 30 years. Every morning riders from all the racing stables at Hollywood Park take racehorses onto the track.
Jesse Rodriguez, left, and his father, Jesse Marquez, are exercise riders for Cerin Racing Stables. Marquez has worked for Vladimir Cerin for 30 years. Every morning riders from all the racing stables at Hollywood Park take racehorses onto the track.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
After a morning exercise, groomers bathe each racehorse. After a race, horses spend three days off to recover. Most of the Cerin Racing Stables horses are two-year-olds.
After a morning exercise, groomers bathe each racehorse. After a race, horses spend three days off to recover. Most of the Cerin Racing Stables horses are two-year-olds.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Cerin Stables staffers clean bridles at the end of the day. Vladimir Cerin and his staff start each day at Hollywood Park before 4 a.m.
Cerin Stables staffers clean bridles at the end of the day. Vladimir Cerin and his staff start each day at Hollywood Park before 4 a.m.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Assistant Trainer Ramon Gonzales stands in a stall with Top Knot, who is preparing for an afternoon race. Gonzales has worked at Cerin Racing Stables for 25 years.
Assistant Trainer Ramon Gonzales stands in a stall with Top Knot, who is preparing for an afternoon race. Gonzales has worked at Cerin Racing Stables for 25 years.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Exercise rider Joe Vacca takes off his riding boots for the day. Each rider takes out around six horses each morning.
Exercise rider Joe Vacca takes off his riding boots for the day. Each rider takes out around six horses each morning.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Farrier and horseshoer Wesley Champagne files down a horseshoe on Top Knot, hours before a race.
Farrier and horseshoer Wesley Champagne files down a horseshoe on Top Knot, hours before a race.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Cerin has a stable goat that calms the horses, and sometimes sleeps in a pen with one of the fillies.
Cerin has a stable goat that calms the horses, and sometimes sleeps in a pen with one of the fillies.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Trainer Vladimir Cerin founded Cerin Racing Stables 33 years ago. Before becoming a trainer, Cerin worked in kinesiology with athletes like Bill Walton and Jamaal Wilkes.
Trainer Vladimir Cerin founded Cerin Racing Stables 33 years ago. Before becoming a trainer, Cerin worked in kinesiology with athletes like Bill Walton and Jamaal Wilkes.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Groomer Arsenio Hernandez fills buckets with feed. The horses have two meals in the morning, at 4 and 10 a.m. After exercises, each horse gets hay.
Groomer Arsenio Hernandez fills buckets with feed. The horses have two meals in the morning, at 4 and 10 a.m. After exercises, each horse gets hay.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)

The Breeders' Cup World Championships banned Lasix for two-year-olds, and planned to expand it to all ages. But the race's leaders decided not to expand the ban.

Horse racing's Triple Crown starts tomorrow with the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby. But as fans focus on that, industry insiders are talking about how another race series backed away from its plan to further restrict the use of a popular drug. KPCC's Stephanie O'Neill has the story.