Rules for racing? Maybe, but don’t bet on it
By Kim Campbell Thornton
June 19, 2008
The death of Eight Belles on the track of the Kentucky Derby two months ago was a symptom of a host of problems that plagues thoroughbred horse racing.
That was Rep. Jan Schakowsky, the Illinois Democrat running a congressional hearing today on the possibility of nationwide standards for the horse racing industry, according to a story by William Spain in MarketWatch.
The Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection heard from Arthur Hancock of Stone Farm, who doesn’t believe the industry can police itself.
The industry said we would get in order and get it right, but after 28 years, nothing has happened.
Hancock was casting back to 1980, when the racing lobby asked for and received an easing of restrictions on interstate betting in return for setting national standards regarding inbreeding, doping and other detrimental practices, Spain writes.
Gambling now? All good. Standards? Not so much.
Alysheba’s trainer, Jack Van Berg, told the committee that state racing commissions tolerate doping and other dangerous acts, punishing culprits with “a slap on the wrist.”
But president and CEO of the Jockey Club Alan Marzelli spoke against regulation, despite admitting that his organization’s proposed reforms wouldn’t have any real effect other than to “persuade.”
Read the rest here.
Today’s paper states “Big Brown’s trainer appears to be a late scratch for today’s House hearing on safety of thoroughbred racing removing the most anticipated witness from Congress’ latest look at sports and steriods”. Dutrow said he’s had a virus for several days and didn’t feel well enough to travel otherwise “he’d go in a minute”. Yep. Guess what I have to sell someone, too.
Comment by VJ — June 19, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
Big Brown
drug-pushertrainer Rick Dutrow not only did not show up as he was supposed to — he said he was sick — but couldn’t be bothered to let Congress know.I’m sure that made a good impression. You can only imagine how a Congressional committee felt about being blown off with as much class as Dutrow showed to sportswriters after the Belmont embarrassment.
I liked the Bloodhorse’s lead on the hearing:
“Drugged equines, grisly catastrophic breakdowns, greedy breeders, damaged racehorses with nowhere to go, inaction and confusion, and industry leaders more concerned with holding onto power than doing the right thing—a congressional subcommittee heard it all June 19 during a hearing in Washington, D.C.”
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 19, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
Hey, Kim! I really
hateadmire you for that great headline!Comment by Christie Keith — June 19, 2008 @ 4:51 pm
Thoroughbred Times has been doing a very good job of covering the hearings.
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.c.....aring.aspx
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.c.....-woes.aspx
IEAH stated today that they will no longer run their horses on anything but Lasix after Oct 1
http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/45841.htm
Dutrow’s take on racing his horses drug-free:
“If all the drugs were taken out of the racing game we would do so much better,” Dutrow said. “Our stable would continue to do very very well, probably do a lot better, because it would eliminate some of these trainers who do use drugs. You have to look at that part of the game, not what we’re doing. We’re not the bad guys. You never see our stable where we go off and win 15 in a row and then the next month you can’t find our horses. We run a solid, steady outfit.
“The only thing we do, when my horses breeze I give them Bute. They might not run for two weeks, but when they breeze I give them all Bute after they breeze, and I don’t use a needle, I give the Bute paste. I keep my horses on Clenbuterol, which helps keep their head clear of mucus, and the vets do not give that; I give it right over the tongue. I give my horses Adequan (which improves joint function) the day that they breeze if they have issues. And I give my horses Winstrol; that’s all that I do. And it’s all basic maintenance. If they say no more steroids in the game, I would have to know how long it would be when you take them off before they would test clean, because I don’t see where Winstrol is damaging our horses. I only see it as something that helps them out (helping them maintain their appetite).”
Comment by Sarah K Andrew — June 23, 2008 @ 12:37 pm
Loose shoe could have hampered Big Brown
Photo reportedly shows shoe on right back foot loose during Belmont
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25328900/
Comment by Dutch — June 23, 2008 @ 1:02 pm