Earle Mack Letter

While I have no interest in dignifying the unsophisticated name calling that constituted much of Barry Irwin’s Op-Ed in the TDN of Apr. 20, I would like to correct one misrepresentation of the facts, regarding New York’s Racing and Wagering Board’s decision to allow Lasix in 1995. 
At that time, I was a senior advisor to Governor George Pataki on racing matters, and I vividly recall the surrounding circumstances of the Racing and Wagering Board’s decision to permit the administration of furosemide on race days. 
New York State was the only racing jurisdiction that did not allow the administration of furosemide on race day. The country was in a recession and the racing industry in New York state was disproportionally suffering: farms were closing, the number of foals and mares bred and produced in the state were in sharp decline, as were the field sizes in overnight and stake races, causing great discontent and complaints about a level playing field. 
This had resulted in declines of the New York state racing and breeding industry on all levels, not to mention the loss of many jobs in the state’s racing and breeding Industry. 
Richard Corbisiero, then Chairman of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, and Dinny Phipps stood firm against the State’s position to legalize furosemide on race day. But to no avail. The decision to allow Lasix to be implemented was made at the state level, after Corbisiero’s resignation on ideological grounds. 
I have known Dinny Phipps for over 50 years and his personal and professional perspective has not changed one iota when it comes to Lasix. He believed then, as he believes now, that horses should compete only when they are free from the influence of medication, including Lasix. He has stated so many times, which records clearly indicate. 
To suggest anything about him or his actions letting our sport down or letting our industry down, then or at any time before or since then, is preposterous, absurd and “misinformed”.