I'll leave it to you to decide what you think of this piece. My only comment is that I think the story slides to the sensationalistic side of the equation. There is an interesting take from a vet's standpoint over at the Paulick Report, specifically this statement: Northrop specifically took issue with the term "powerful painkillers" used in the New York Times story. The Times did not name the drugs that were used. "Powerful painkillers are not legal two days out in New York or Kentucky or Louisiana or Florida," Northrop told the Paulick Report. "I can't speak for states i don't work in. That is a gross misrepresentation of the word. They were probably anti-inflammatories like Bute or Banamine. The joint fluid was most likely Legend, produced by Bayer. It's a hyaluronic acid, completely safe, and it's been proven there is no downside to its use. It's been documented that it makes the joints healthier and it will not mask pain. "The science is incredible," said Northrop. "The liver acts to store certain products that are beneficial to joints, and when joints need something it signals the liver and and the liver delivers it. Sometimes the liver can't keep up, which is why we give a synthetic hyaluronic flud. "If f there is an uneasiness over the use of these types of beneficial products, it's because of misuse of inflammatory labels by some media people that misrepresent what the drug is." I've been working on a piece regarding drugs and injuries within our sport that I hope to complete at some point. It's taken a long time to complete as it's a tough line to navigate. While I support drug free racing in the U.S. (like the rest of the world: no Lasix and no Bute), I also realize that there are non-raceday medications that are appropriate to use given the fact that horses are not machines but living, breathing animals.