Quote Originally Posted by triplev123 View Post
[VVV] Like a host of other such basically inocuous substances Dan, it is actually banned because it is an easier path to simply ban everything than it is for(1) Administrative & Regulatory persons throughout Australia to get their individual and collective heads out of the respective arses & educate themselves as to the respective pro's and con's and take a practical view thereof. (2)It's in the Too Hard basket.
The most unfortunate aspect of this of course is the very thing that our Draconian medication rules work to prevent...is the very thing that Harness Racing and for that matter all 3 Codes of racing desire...(3) a wagering product that is capable of producing and maintaining consistent, handicappable form.
For example, currently a Trainer can score himself/herself a Bute positive 5-6-7+ days post administration despite the fact that pharmacologically as in pain relief wise it basically ceases working within 12 hours and it is completely shot to hell within 24hrs? Riddle me than, Batman.
(1) I really don't think the hard working, dedicated albiet often frustrated people administering our sport would, in the slightest, appreciate your desciption of them.

(2) If it's in the "too hard Basket", would this not mean the afformentioned administarors have looked at changing the rules on some therapeutic drugs but, as yet, cannot come up with a plan that works in a practicle way that the industry/sports participants can cope with?

(3) until it can be guaranteed that every time each horse races it is carrying the exact same doses of regulated drugs, then consistent form cannot be assured. Many of these drugs need to be administered 4 to 5 hours in advance of competition. In order for that to happen then each horse using regulated drugs needs to go to the track 4 to 5 hours before it's race. this may work at The Meadowlands where the majority of the runners are stabled on site but in the land of OZ where we are spread out over vast distances, the majority of horses are trained at private establishments and our game would not survive without hobby trainers, (who have a job to tend to) no wonder it's in the too hard basket.