I WROTE recently about heart attacks in horses and why these happen – one of the underlying reasons being the huge blood pressure generated by the horse heart at full gallop. A major blood vessel may rupture with fatal consequences. Alternately, more minor vessels burst in the lung leading to bleeding – the proper name being EIPH – Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage. At Breeders’ Cup time we commonly hear of this issue - of ‘bleeders’ - and whether racing should permit medication aimed at reducing its incidence. The drug in question is Furosemide commonly known by the trade name under which it was first marketed – ‘Lasix’.

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