Most definitely, yes......BUT with the caviat that it is administered at a prescribed pre race arrival time in a designated & controlled area on-track by, in the case of NSW, the appointed HRNSW Vet.
It is a welfare issue and for too long we have stuck our heads in the sand whenever it comes to therapeutics. If we expect our horses to race consistently, perform to the best of their abilities then we need to look at this and other aspects.
Phenylbutazone is another. The fact that 5-6-7 days later trainers can go for a row for trace amounts of it when pharmacologically it has ceased to provide any pain relief somewhere between 12 & 24hrs post administration...is absolutely absurd.
The Industry needs to take a pragmatic view here and I live in hope of same.