Demons Begone Gary Contessa Lasix

Trainer Gary Contessa tells New York regulators why Lasix is so important for race horses, including 2-year-olds. And Pat Day explains on national television what happened when Kentucky Derby favorite Demons Begone bled profusely and was eased.

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The problem starts in the breeding shed. In other parts of the world, if a horse is a known bleeder, they don't get to pass that on. Here in the states, we've put the dollar and speed over breeding horses with sound respiratory systems. If a horse like Demons Begone, who was champion two year old and a very good three year old, wouldn't have been allowed to pass that trait on, we wouldn't be in this mess where we have to use lasix. But then his owners, and the people invested in him would have lost a considerable amount of money.