Chief Stipe

This is the chemical structure of Levamisole. 6-phenyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydroimidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole. Interestingly Levamisole is now being used in the successful treatment of human colon cancer. Levamisole is an anthelmintic drug. Co-administered with fluorouracil in the treatment of Dukes' stage C colon cancer, levamisole restores immune function through stimulating antibody formation, enhancing T-cell activity, and potentiating macrophage function. (NCI04)

BTW this is the chemical structure for aminorex (Organic Chemistry 401): 5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-amine. This is what testing assays look for.

No because not only are you slow on the uptake you are biased and blind. Duh! So you've conceded on the Levamisole/aminorex argument and now arguing that there are undetected drugs in use out there. Where did you read this crap about small changes to exising drugs can lead to avoidance of detection? A cite please. However your statement indicates a complete lack of understanding of how testing works. A test doesn't look for the whole drug it looks for a chemical structure within that drug that classifes it for example as an opoid or an amphetamine analogue. A bit like Covid RAT tests - the test looks for a structure that is common to all Covid strains - a very small part of that structure that can't change. When testing for drugs the tests do the same thing for example with opoids they may look for the 4,5-epoxymorphinan ring which is common to all opoids. If a spike occurs on the test assay results then they can further refine to find what the specific molecule is. As I've told you many many times before modern testing looks for anomalies - e.g. if an undefined spike occurs on a mass spectrometer then that triggers a futher investigation and isolation of what the molecule is and its chemical structure. You would fail as a scientist because you are connecting dots without a chain of evidence. Some of what was sold was indeed snake oil and would have had no performance impact. By far the majority of the drugs sold were relabelled drugs that were in common use for therapeutic reasons or were on the controlled substance list. That was the biggest crime that was committed - relabelling existing drugs and selling them at inflated prices and circumventing race code rules as well - there are laws against that both in racing and at Federal level. Many got done for that not because they threw positives with their horses but because they committed fraud. Akin to what intially got Al Capone - he was done for tax evasion not bootlegging, selling illicit drugs or murder. If the administration of these mostly legal drugs resulted in improved performance it was more likely because the health of those horses improved or pain was suppressed allowing harder training. I'm sure with the extensive reading you tell us all you have done on the subject you will know that there were strict administration time frames given by the sellers for the drugs. Why? So they would be within the withholding times for the drugs i.e. by the time the horses got to the races their systems were clear of the substances that could throw a positive. If I recall correctly one of the relabelled drugs was Clenbuterol. Clenbuterol is still able to be legally used but has strict timeframes around its use. I can't remember what the fraudsters relabelled it but it would be something like GoFast 99. Clenbuterol was clearly identified in the relabelled drugs and through positives. It is probably the lack of a legitimate chain of purchase that alerted the authorities to the fraud. So effectively they relabelled existing drugs, handed out detailed administration instructions and got idiots to buy the stuff. The drugs weren't illegal but the process was. Refer above. I've explained this before. The lab testing in the USA is archaic at best. If a lab scientist did indeed make those comments then they should be sacked because they are not up to speed with current technology. No 101 - try reading some Organic and Inorganic Chemistry 101 texts - 101 is the nomenclature used for first year university subjects. Really? So your theory is he got a bad batch of Levamisole? Yet the testing lab identified Levamisole? Do you actually realise how daft your logic is? I take it you don't give any weight to the other hypothesis that the horses that returned positives to Levamisole were recent imports from NZ to OZ and that they may have been treated before departure to boost immunity to cover the stress of transport?

If it (whatever it is) occurs then you predicted it? If it (whatever it is) doesn't occur then you didn't predict it? If whatever you predict is race fixing how is the race fixed? Asking on behalf of the ignorant amongst us.

What is your hypothesis? If the autopsy is inconclusive what do you suggest they do? Make it up?

You are talking about 30 years ago. Yep there has been no advancement in testing technology since then. Not to mention you are ignoring the fact we are talking about a totally different class of drug. I accept you haven't a clue about any of this. Aminorex is an amphetamine analogue. A class of drug that has been around since at least WW2. Not only that but easily detected down to less than a trillionth of a gram per litre. They were duped. It was largely a case of fraud - mislabelling of legitimate easily detectable drugs as well as snake oil that were used fraudently and within withholding periods. The majority were done for another them illegally in their possession. The fact is Levamisole and its metabolites such as aminorex are easily detected in testing. It is impossible to mask their presence. Anyone with a rudimentary understanding of the science involved in testing would be laughing themselves silly at what you write. Or groaning with pity. I can send you some 101 material to improve your understanding but I suspect you are so far down Alice's rabbit hole it would be a waste of time. Oh and your latest argument eluding to masking falls down because if it was so easy to mask why have there been so many positives?

Really? You're not winning anything. I just described what you write for what it is. You've provided ZERO science to support your hypothesis. Present a factual argument to support your opinion?

Right so testing according to you is a complete waste of time. You obviously have no idea. Synthetic EPO is detectable however it is a completely different class of drug that has natural analogues hence the difficulty in detecting it. Multiple doses take longer to clear for reasons that you seem oblivious to. Levamisole and its metabolites if not present aren't having any effect. Any number of legal therapeutic drugs have withholding periods I.e. the time it takes to clear the horses system. Are you going to completely ban everything? Correct and it levels out to near zero!!! So can't have a pharmacological effect!! It was pure aminorex that was being tested at quantities far higher than would be metabolised from Levamisole. What annoys me most about your bullshit is you had fuel to all the crap conspiracy theories about performance enhancing. You effectively bring racing into disrepute and you add a warped credibility to those pushing crap treatments that have no effect.

Rubbish. I see you are downloading the races on your PC or laptop or recording from your smart phone - hence the pixalation. Try looking at the YouTube video - its higher definition and you can still manipulate frame by frame. I fixed your post for you.

No threshold or withholding time for Omeprazole. Medication Thresholds Under LAC 35I1725 That Supersede ARCI Medication Schedule.pdf

Trainer: Vet's List Rule Could 'Destroy' Fair Grounds "One bully met another bully," Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen said of the LRC and HISA. By Eric Mitchell Today, 5:50 PM Sponsored By New restrictions put on racehorses shipped out of Louisiana to tracks operating under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority rules could decimate the quality of racing during the Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots' winter meet and perhaps endanger the New Orleans track's position as a key feeder onto the Road to the Kentucky Derby, according to horsemen and track executives. HISA announced June 5 a new policy, effective immediately, that all horses shipped from Louisiana to track in its jurisdiction would be placed on the veterinarian's list as "medically compromised and unfit to race." The shipping restriction was in response to the Louisiana Racing Commission making withdrawal times and testing limits less restrictive on multiple medications. Initially, the commission took action to significantly ease restrictions on clenbuterol and methylprednisolone acetate (also known by its trade name Depo-Medrol), but severe pushback regarding these often abused medications caused commissioners to restore the withdrawal times on these drugs during an emergency meeting June 4. The commission left in place, however, changes to the testing thresholds for several medications that are more lenient than what is endorsed by the Association of Racing Commissioners International. "Some of the changes contemplated in the emergency rule contradict the weight of scientific evidence and long-established industry standards for medication controls," stated HISA in its announcement of the Louisiana shipping rule. Trainer Keith Desormeaux, a Louisiana native and Fair Grounds stalwart, said the new shipping rule will destroy the Fair Grounds' winter meet because none of the major racing stables can afford to send horses there. "The rule effectively bans horses from going to Louisiana," Desormeaux said. Photo: Chad B. Harmon Trainer Keith Desormeaux in 2023 at Churchill Downs Once a horse is on the veterinarian's list, it cannot race until it satisfactorily has worked five-eighths in front of a state veterinarian, been jogged afterward to show it is sound, and gotten clean blood test results. Desormeaux said just getting everything scheduled can take a couple of weeks and at least a month—provided everything goes smoothly. "State vets are under a lot of pressure to scrutinize these horses and sometimes a sound horse is returned to the Vet's List and you have to start all over again," he said. "No trainer is going to send a horse to Louisiana and put their horse and their owner in that situation. "This decision effectively ends quality racing at the Fair Grounds. What you will have are the current horses stabled at the Fair Grounds, which are not Derby-caliber horses." Desormeaux noted that Churchill officials are now talking about greatly reducing purses for those races and eliminating Kentucky Derby prep races. "How much does that affect the investment by Louisiana owners in Louisiana if their horses can't race there?" Desormeaux said. "They will destroy the racing economy in New Orleans." Veterinarians list requirements for Louisiana shippers could add to the workload of regulatory veterinarians, who are already performing regular checks in the interests of equine safety. Desormeaux is foremost upset with the LRC for picking this fight by changing its medication rules through emergency procedures. But he also feels HISA has gone too far. "As with the ignorant, too-quick-to-move decision by the Louisiana Racing Commission that obviously was wrong and walked back quickly, HISA has done the same thing. They have made an over-reaching decision that affects thousands of horses' lives and horsemen's lives," he said. "I have to wonder if this is some kind of vindication for the lawsuit." Lisa Lazarus, HISA's CEO, said the new shipping rule has nothing to do with the legal challenge regarding HISA's constitutional standing, which is awaiting a decision in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, and everything to do with the state commission gambling with the welfare of Louisiana racehorses. "The federal lawsuit was filed over three years ago. This rule is a response to the detrimental effect on horse welfare caused by the LRC's emergency rule recently passed, which has been roundly criticized by the horse racing community and even the Louisiana state legislature," she said. While Desormeaux believes the pre-race examinations in place now are more than adequate to protect horses without forcing them onto a veterinarian's list, Lazarus disagrees. "Our veterinary team disagrees, as the Louisiana rules, which depart meaningfully from ARCI rules and are not consistent with the rules of Thoroughbred racing anywhere in the world. It believes that these rules place Louisiana horses in a medically compromised position," she said. For the veterinarian's list requirement to be lifted, Lazarus said the Louisiana commission would need to restore all thresholds to the ARCI standards they were before the emergency rule was passed. The commission has called its second emergency meeting in a week, to be held June 7 at 2 p.m. CT. Executives with Churchill Downs Inc., which owns Fair Grounds, also seem focused on seeing Louisiana commissioners restore the status quo. "While I understand this is a walk-back on two of these problematic medications, Churchill Downs wants to be on the record to state this entire emergency rule-making process that put us in this position is probably not the right way to go," said Oz Shariff, counsel for CDI, during the Louisiana commission's June 4 emergency hearing. "I think the best way and the best approach for the commission is to reexamine this process through normal rule-making so there is adequate time for public input, comment, review—all the industry stakeholders, which many are on this call—deserve to weigh in on this very important issue, particularly as Louisiana starts to deviate from well-recognized, and well-understood national standards. We are appreciative of the baby steps on these two medications but there is a much broader issue at play here that we want to be on the record as being opposed to." During the June 4 meeting Dr. Will Farmer, CDI medical director, attempted to address some issues with the other therapeutic medication threshold changes but was told by LRC executive director Steve Landry to limit his comments to clenbuterol and Depo-Medrol. "What we sought to express in that meeting is that CDI views the LSRC's actions in passing the remaining emergency rules as a credible risk to the reputation, safety, and integrity of Louisiana racing that will result in damages to the economics of the Louisiana racing ecosystem. Indeed with the announcement made Wednesday by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority...our initial concerns are no longer hypothetical," wrote Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen in a June 6 letter to Landry. Carstanjen wrote that with the shipping restriction in place he expects the Fair Grounds meet to be shorter and that its Kentucky Derby prep races may not be run at all. "It is our belief that the substantial impediment of automatic placement of horses on the Vet's List will cause many owners and trainers to elect not to send horses into Louisiana for the meet at Fair Grounds Race Course. Our goal at Fair Grounds is to showcase Louisiana racing on a national stage by delivering a racing product similar in quality to that which is offered in Kentucky, Arkansas, and New York," he wrote. "Under current circumstances, we are unlikely to have sufficient horses to conduct the full number of race dates for our traditional meet and will be forced to run fewer days. Under this uncertainty, there is a strong likelihood that we will not hold the Risen Star (G2), Lecomte (G3), or the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds, to name but a few key races." Carstanjen added that CDI would be reviewing the provisions in state law that address unforeseeable circumstances that might prevent a racing entity from being able to fulfill its contractual obligations. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who owns multiple leading trainer titles at Fair Grounds and is the leading North American trainer by wins, sees blame on both sides of the shipping restriction. Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt Trainer Steve Asmussen "I believe that (Louisiana) did it because they don't want outsiders to come in and racing against them. And then I think with what HISA has done has given them exactly what they wanted," he said. "One bully met another bully. The participants who have nothing to do with those dumb decisions are the ones who serve (the penalty)." Winter stabling at Fair Grounds has typically been a key component of Asmussen's operation. He believes training and racing horses there on a safe surface leaves them well-prepared for heading north in the spring. "We're trying to put them in the best circumstances possible, and if HISA thinks that eliminating horses legging up on the Fair Grounds surface so that they can go to the alternatives of that, it shows how much they are missing the point on horse safety," he said. Asmussen said there are other more effective options than forcing horses onto the veterinarian's list. "We're required to have a negative Coggins on every horse. How about to race anywhere you're required to have a negative hair follicle? Who wouldn't pay for that?" he said, referencing a test to identify any previous medication use. "Why avoid the obvious—why don't we do all this testing before they run? How about a negative hair follicle on every horse before they're allowed on the grounds of any racetrack. "But instead they want to play 'gotcha.'" Desormeaux said the impact on Fair Grounds is the tip of an iceberg that could do substantial damage to Louisiana's racing and breeding industries. He also cited problems that will surface with trainers qualifying for worker's comp through the Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and damage to the market value of Louisiana-breds if they are restricted from racing in high-profiles stakes out of state. "I've only just started to think about all the issues," he said. "I can tell you I'm scheduled to go to OBS next week to buy a couple of horses for a couple of guys in New Orleans. I'm waiting for them to call me and say, 'I don't want these horses if I can't run them in Louisiana.'" Even though stall applications for Fair Grounds' next meet are not due until Nov. 1, Desormeaux said he has to start working out his options for the winter now. "I'm thinking I need to sell my house in Louisiana and send my horse to Santa Anita for the winter," he said. "The trainers are not going (to Fair Grounds) under these rules. It is a no-brainer, and Louisiana started this all. They opened the door and allowed HISA to punish them. HISA can destroy Louisiana with their power, and they will." Dallas Stewart, who regularly races in stakes throughout the country off of races at Fair Grounds, said he is hoping for a quick resolution. "Hopefully cooler heads will prevail, and they'll sit down and work this out," he said. —Byron King and Frank Angst contributed to this story.

They seem to have a legally fairer more professional process in OZ than here.

A fair result. Again a trainer nailed for being proactive in caring for the health of their horse.

$175k Bonus Challenge and Public Slot Auction Headline New NZB Kiwi Initiatives New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is thrilled to announce a raft of new initiatives aimed at further enhancing the country’s first-ever Thoroughbred slot race, The NZB Kiwi, set to be run on 8 March 2025 at Ellerslie Racecourse. $175k NZB Kiwi Bonus Challenge In a move to further reward foundation Slot Holders for their support, NZTR will offer a brand new $175k NZB Kiwi Bonus Challenge for three-year-olds participating in the 2025 edition of the NZB Kiwi. Once a Slot Holder has nominated their runner for the 2025 NZB Kiwi, that horse will be able to accumulate points by placing in the top three in any race it enters leading up to Champions Day next year. The three horses who start The NZB Kiwi with the highest points accumulated before the race will earn a share of the $175k NZB Kiwi Bonus Challenge, with $100k awarded to the winner, $50k to second place and $25k for the third placegetter. NZTR Chairman Cameron George is excited to announce yet another incentive, boosting The NZB Kiwi in its inaugural year. “We are delighted to be able to offer another Bonus aimed at rewarding our foundation Slot Holders for their strong support of this new race in year one.” “This new Bonus will enhance the promotional activity of both the Slot Holders and their horses, building anticipation from the moment the runners are nominated for The NZB Kiwi, right up until they enter the starting gates on Champions Day. “Once a horse is nominated, we anticipate heated competition between our Slot Holders as they battle it out to score the highest number of points and a hefty prize,” George said. Points for the $175k NZB Kiwi Bonus Challenge can be earned in both New Zealand and Australia where a NZB Kiwi runner places in the top three of any race it enters and will be allocated as follows: NZB Kiwi Bonus Eligible Race Points 1st Place – 11 points 2nd Place – 7 points 3rd Place – 5 points Black-Type and Special Condition Race Points 1st Place – 8 points 2nd Place – 4 points 3rd Place – 2 points Non-Black Type Race Points 1st Place – 4 points 2nd Place – 2 points 3rd Place – 1 point View the full $175k NZB Kiwi Bonus Challenge Terms and Conditions here. NZTR Public Slot Auction NZTR is excited to announce a second initiative as part of the NZB Kiwi programme, including the public auction of NZTR’s year-one Slot for The NZB Kiwi. This auction will take place at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2024 Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds, held next November at the Karaka Sales Centre. The one-year Slot will be sold on behalf of NZTR, with 50% of the Above Reserve Fee ($125k) being donated to charity. Each current Slot Holder will nominate a charity aligned with a horse in the first New Zealand-based Bonus Eligible race next season, the Group 2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa Racecourse in October. The mechanics include: NZTR will receive 14 charity nominations from each Slot Holder for the race. The 14 Slot Holders will be randomly allocated a horse in the field. If there are less than 14 runners e,g., 12 runners in the field, the first 12 Slot Holders drawn will be randomly allocated a horse. The charity attached to the winning horse of the Group 2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) will be the beneficiary of NZTR’s Public Slot Auction proceeds in November. Cameron George commented on the public auction announcement. “Earlier this year, we saw plenty of fireworks in the Karaka sales ring at the inaugural NZB Kiwi Slot Auction.” “NZTR would like to offer another opportunity to those who missed out on a spot, giving them the chance to score a share of over $4.5 million in stakes and bonuses in year one we have implemented for next season’s race. “We know that spring three-year-olds will already be in full force, with potential buyers hopefully being able to identify their runner at the time of this auction. “We are also looking forward to donating a portion of our proceeds to a charity chosen by one of our current Slot Holders for the first year of the race,” George said. New Australian Bonus Eligible Races NZTR has announced the inclusion of two prestigious Australian races in the lineup of its iconic Bonus Eligible races. This expansion allows Australasia’s fastest juveniles to compete for their share of an additional $1 million in bonuses for The NZB Kiwi. The two newly included races will take place during Australia’s Spring Racing Carnival and feature the 2024 editions of: The A$1m Group 2 Callander-Presnell Stakes (1600m), held at the Australian Turf Club’s meeting at Royal Randwick on Saturday 26 October. The A$500k Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), held on Saturday 2 November, during the Victoria Racing Club’s Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington Racecourse. To be eligible for a share in the $1 million bonus pool, a horse must win one of the various Bonus Eligible iconic New Zealand and/or Australian races and also run a top three placing in The NZB Kiwi held on Champions Day next year. The full lineup of Bonus Eligible Races is provided below: Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) - Manawatu Racing Club at RACE Trentham - Saturday 6 April 2024 (Already completed). Gr.2 Callander Presnell Stakes (1600m) – Australian Turf Club at Royal Randwick – Saturday 26 October 2024 Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) - Waikato Thoroughbred Racing at Te Rapa Racecourse - Monday 28 October 2024 Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) – Victoria Racing Club at Flemington Racecourse – Saturday 2 November 2024 Gr.1 Barneswood Farm One Thousand Guineas (1600m) - Canterbury Jockey Club at Riccarton Park - Saturday 9 November 2024 Gr.1 Al Basti Dubai Equiworld New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (1600m) - Canterbury Jockey Club at Riccarton Park - Saturday 16 November 2024 Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Levin Classic (1600m) - Wellington Racing Club at RACE Trentham - Saturday 11 January 2025 Listed TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) – Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie Racecourse - Saturday 25 January 2025 Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Alamanzor Trophy (1200m) - Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie Racecourse - Saturday 25 January 2025 Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) - Waikato Thoroughbred Racing at Te Rapa Racecourse - Saturday 8 February 2025 View more information about The NZB Kiwi Bonus Eligible races here. Media Contact The NZB Kiwi | New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Emma Thompson +64 21 071 2929 emma.thompson@nztr.co.nz

I guess @the galah is still reading but it is clear in the paper that aminorex is cleared very quickly from the horses bloodstream and body. Which aligns with the other work done on Levamisole metabolism. So if Levamisole does improve a horses performance it likely to be from a therapeutic effect I.e. it makes the horse healthier by resolving detrimental health issues. Historically it was being used as an immune system booster prior to long distance transport. Many positives arose as an inadvertent by-product of that administration hence the advisory from the NZ Racing Vet in 2009. Isn't ironic that we prohibit and ban drugs that actually make horses healthier and thus improve their performance. The research I've read is that gut and digestive disease is the biggest impediment to performance. How many trainers and owners out there are popping Omeprazole or Losec for gastric reflux and ulcers?

But not old enough old hat to not bother you hence the throw a brick drive by. That said it isn't that common at all. Certainly much rarer in Australia. I say well done to them and the national award for a deserving up and coming under 40 year old woman in NZ racing. The way things are we need many many more of them because it is looking rather thin in the ranks.

How?

How is it race fixing? Which dog pulled up? Who gained on the tote?

Have a read of this science testing Aminorex on horses. ajvr-ajvr.69.5.675.pdf

If you call success posting a lot of scientific nonsense and leading to an unsubstantiated conclusion then yes you have been successful. Tautology at best. The biggest flaw to your argument is: At any level of concentration Levamisole and its metabolites can be detected therefore if it is being abused then it will be detected. If it does have performance enhancing properties then it needs to be present at a detectable level to have a pharmacological effect. If it is present then it can be detected. That in a nutshell blows your hypothesis apart.

But they would have collected all the dosh anyway. You can still have a TAB event with 4 or less starters.

Ok treat us all to a logical presentation of your rationale for arriving at the right final destination. So far you have failed.

Where's the conclusive evidence rather than speculation, supposition, innuendo and inference? Spend less time chuckling and come up with some solid science rather than trying to links pieces of disparate information to support your hypothesis. Aminorex MAY well be performance enhancing hence Levamisole is now a Class B drug with the associated restrictions. But it is easily detected so you can't use it and have it at levels that may enhance performance without returning a positive. So you keep maniacally chuckling away.

Alleged performance enhancer based on the fact that one of its metabolites may be present. Where is the research that it enhances the performance of a horse? Where is the research that it enhances the performance of a horse when it isn't detected i.e. it has been metabolised from the body? That'sr one reason where your dots fail to become a solid line.