| June 19, 2008 Lawmakers take up horse racing safety
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(NECN/ABC) - The issue of drugs in professional sports was back on Capitol Hill Thursday, but this time without the human element. A new survey shows more than 5,000 race horses died in the last five years; an average of more than three a day at thoroughbred tracks around the country.
Lawmakers want to know if drugs are contributing to animal cruelty.
Barbaro, Eight Belles and Big Brown -- all powerful and promising thoroughbreds -- until their very public defeats that led two of them to be euthanized after suffering serious injuries.
At a hearing on Capitol Hill today, members of congress took a look behind the fancy hats, mint julips and million dollar bets-focusing once again on steroids-in a different kind of athlete.
Millions watched in horror in 2006 as Barbaro -broke down during the Preakness. After a second place finish in the Kentucky Derby this May, Eight Belles was put down after breaking both front ankles.
Additionally, a House subcommittee sought answers surrounding the last-place finish of Big Brown, the presumptive Triple Crown winner, when he didn't receive his usual steroid shot.
Several lawmakers attacked the $26 billion a year industry, questioning the legal use of steroids in horse racing where there is little or no accountability when things go wrong.
A spokesman for the Jockey Club says they are committed to change.
Testimony was highly anticipated today by Richard Dutrow - the trainer for Big
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