Chief Stipe

Adding some more information to the debate. Microchips have some downsides: they can migrate in the body, they have a life of 20 years which may not be enough for horses and they or the systems upstream of them can be hacked.

Columbus, OH - Beginning with the harness racing foal crop of 2019, the primary means of USTA horse identification will be the microchip. "Microchipping provides a more safe, efficient and reliable way to identify horses," said USTA Director of Registry T.C. Lane. "The microchipping process is less stressful for the horse than freeze branding or a lip tattoo. In addition to its identification capability, the Merck microchips also can read the horse's body temperature quickly in a non-invasive fashion, which is a great benefit in monitoring the horse's health." To watch a video explanation and demonstration of the microchipping process hosted by the USTA's Wendy Ross with Midland Acres' doctors John Mossbarger and Bob Schwartz, click here. Not all horses will need to be microchipped immediately, but by 2021, all horses that race in the United States at all USTA member tracks (including county fairs) will be required to be identified with a microchip. All USTA ID Technicians are trained to implant microchips and will also continue to collect a DNA sample from each horse to send to the approved laboratory. All horses that have been previously freeze branded by the USTA will be required to be microchipped by a USTA ID Technician. Horse owners have the option to microchip stallions as well as broodmares. For foals of 2019, the microchipping fee is incorporated into the registration. All others with an existing freeze brand (racehorses, broodmares, stallions, etc.) can be implanted for a fee of $35 per head. The USTA has agreed to allow those that choose to continue to freeze brand the foals of 2019 to do so. That $75 fee must be prepaid to the USTA in addition to the normal registration fee and there are no discounts for multiple horses at any location with this arrangement. All USTA extended pari-mutuel racetracks will be equipped with readers to identify horses and county fair officials that will be responsible for identifying horses will be required to have them as well. As a USTA Member Benefit through our partnership with Merck Animal Health/HomeAgain, Bio thermal Scanners are available at the discounted, introductory rate of $279 for a BlueTooth model and $69 for the smaller standard unit. Industry participants (tracks/individual members/associations) can purchase a universal scanner for their own purposes at a reduced rate via our supplier by contacting the USTA at 1.877.800.8782 or by ordering via myaccount.ustrotting.com. In addition, Merck has agreed to partner with the USTA, for free, a lifetime subscription to their HomeAgain rescue services, which is a proactive network of veterinarians, rescue facilities and volunteers who are immediately notified in an attempt to help locate lost animals. The program maintains owner contact information that proactively prompts owners to update it during the annual membership renewal process and through other member communications. This is an added benefit for horses that are in need of rescue or connected via the USTA's Full Circle program. There are multiple reasons why microchips are a superior means of identification including: • Microchips in general offer a faster/more efficient and less stressful means of identification and require less time to implant than freeze branding or lip tattooing, providing greater convenience for farm visits. • Can measure a temperature in only a few seconds compared to rectal reading that might take several minutes. • Is a safe, unobtrusive way to uniquely identify individual horses. • Provides a less stressful way to alert owners of health problems through temperature sensing (EHV-1), which makes preventive care easier. • Allows for monitoring temperature during and after surgery or procedure, where minimal disturbance is desired. • Alerts owner to possible sub-clinical indications of potential infectious diseases. • Ideal for both young and pregnant stock. Improved technology has eliminated the concerns about the microchip moving after implantation. With Merck’s patented Bio-Bond® process, the microchips are encased in an insert micro-capsule made of bio-compatible material. The process enables the animal's tissue to permanently anchor the microchip at the desired anatomical site. HomeAgain/Destron Fearing microchips stay where they should for the health of the animals and for reading convenience. Any registration or identification question can be addressed by contacting the USTA Member Services team at

The biggest issue with your posts that pisses people off is they are always negative and fail in terms of humour. There are alternatives to freeze branding but you post negatively and in an alarmist fashion. See the next post.

You are the only one that has this problem. What does that tell you?

Is there anything else you want to take an alarmist viewpoint of and add fuel to the animal activists ignorant rants? It has nothing to do with advertising. I doubt you would find anyone who knew every brand least of all anyone outside of the stud industry.

But they still bleed and there was not comparative analysis with those given Lasix. No doubt there are other reasons why Hong Kong horses have longer careers for example there is ample evidence that the synthetic tracks in USA are proving detrimental to horse longevity. The sample that the data was collected from were ALL New Zealand geldings and the assumption was made that that subset of the global horse population was representative of the whole. It can't possibly be when one considers the differences in the rearing of young horses here compared to the rest of the world. You keep saying this but where is the evidence to prove that WINX was on Lasix? Your inference that it has something to do with Lasix is drawing a long bow. But I guess we couldn't expect anything less from a conspiracist. I thought with your often self promoted experience working on stud farms that you would know that getting a racehorse in foal soon after finishing her race career isn't always easy. Why would it be? The horses spend most of their time in a controlled environment. Keep on Googling you might find something that supports your argument.

Then why the F do you take EVERY topic off topic! I close your threads when they go way over the top, get off topic or are just plain weird. You sort it! As for Precedence you had two topics with the same title - suggest you learn when replying to your own posts that you do it within one topic not start another one exactly the same. As for ZERO fun that is hypocrisy on your part when 99% of your posts are negative viewpoints on animal welfare and or are personal attacks.

Thanks for the article Thomaas but I fail to see how it actually supports your argument. It raises more questions than answers and the most important question of whether Lasix alleviates EIPH is not addressed. Keep cherry picking Google for something that actually supports you argument. BTW you never answered my question about what the German racing jurisdiction does with horses that bleed. The answer is they allow them to continue to race. Doesn't say much for their animal welfare and race safety.

I can't say I find many of your posts "entertaining" or "enjoyable". They are mostly crap. As for YOU supporting the Thoroughbred industry all your posts do is add fuel to the animal welfare critics who seem to have have much knowledge and understanding of the industry as you do. ZERO!!

I'm getting sick of this crap.

Sorry to see you go Kopia.

Rule Number(s): 638(3)(b)(ii)Following the running of race 2, Franklin Long Roofing 1600, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638 (3)(b)(ii). The Informant, Mr Williamson, alleged that Mr Bosson used his whip excessively prior to the 100 metres when riding MAGNUM. Mr Bosson said that he understood the Rule and confirmed he ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)Following the running of Race 5, an Information was lodged by Mr Goodwin alleging a breach of Rule 638 (1) (d) in that C O’Beirne allowed her mount to shift in near the 350m contacting and checking SAGUNTO. Ms O’Beirne confirmed her understanding of the charge and said that she denied the breach. The ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Rule Number(s): 636(1)(d)Following the running of race 3, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 636(1)(d). The Informant, Mr Williamson, alleged that Mr Bosson failed to ride COOL AZA BEEL out to the end of the race when there was a reasonable chance of finishing in third position. Mr Bosson said that he understood the Rule ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

No One is interested in this topic except Thomaas. BOAY does not endorse self flagellation.

You're on thin ice Downes. I guess you'd know all about lunatics.

She'll run kinder without any head gear.

Keep digging for shyte. I've come to the conclusion you have no positive interest in promoting racing.

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That are many vets that are respected in their field of equine medicine that have publicly stated that Lasix isn't performance enhancing. As for the head vet of Victorian Racing after he and his associates disputed the opposing opinion from the world's leading equine orthopaedician of the their reasons for scratching two horses from the Melbourne Cup nominations I start to doubt his ability. Also trotting up on raceday a stallion in front of fillies and mares 45 minutes before it races doesn't seem to be a sound animal management practice when the said horse could have been tested much earlier in the day. It's not a ridiculous example but your response highlights your lack of knowledge and plain ignorance on the subject. Lasix CANNOT be administered 4 hours before a race in OZ or NZ!! The full rehydration after a Lasix dose can take up to 72 hours primarily because the horse doesn't feel the need to drink. Again you could replicate this effect by not providing water for the 24 hours before a horse races presumably to simulate the supposed performance enhancement of being 15kg's lighter. Indeed I'm aware that some trainers do this in a process called "drawing."

In OZ and NZ it isn't used in racing but allowed in TRAINING. If you introduce "drug free training" then you will impact the health and welfare of ALL thoroughbreds in training. This assumption has been disproven. It was assumed because a horse receiving Lasix urinated about 15 litres of urine in an hour that it was helping to flush detectable metabolites. Modern day testing has disproved this assumption. Again it is not used in racing in OZ and NZ only training and there is a 48 hour withholding period. I'm not aware of anyone making that statement let alone the trainer of WINX - Chris Waller. It is another piece of fiction that you have written. If that does occur it will be a sad day for the welfare of the thoroughbred race horse as there are no effective alternative treatments for the endemic condition of EIPH.

There is no evidence that it is performance enhancing and it can't be used immediately prior to a race!!!! Do you want it published if a trainer doesn't give a horse water 24 hours before a race or a training gallop?

Really? NZRB shafted The Informant and now come back with their own publication on the back of a unprofitable Best Bet.

Surely the bigger question is why didn't Te Rapa clean the boxes?

Thanks for your well written and reasoned contribution Aces.