Vets: Horses may bleed to death without furosemide

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Veterinarians have warned the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission that a race-day ban on the anti-bleeding drug furosemide would lead to horses suffering pulmonary hemorrhages.

Horse owners and trainers joined veterinarians Tuesday in Frankfort to urge the racing panel not to impose a ban that they said would endanger not just horses but also jockeys who could be hurt if the animals they're riding collapse.

The racing commission is tentatively scheduled to consider a proposal on June 13 to phase out the use of the anti-bleeding drug on race days. On Tuesday, the panel held a hearing to gather public comments.

The ban would apply to 2-year-olds starting in 2013, to 2- and 3-year-olds in 2014 and to any horse entered in a graded or listed race in 2015.