FLASH – Indiana Chases Cheaters

Wednesday, the Indiana Horse Racing Commission gave unanimous approval to a regulation that allows samples to be taken from any horse participating in the state’s racing program. Effective immediately, it applies to horses stabled on and off racetrack grounds. It is designed to detect and deter the use of blood doping agents such as Epogen. The minimum penalty for a positive test is a ten-year ban unless extraordinary circumstances can be proven.

COMMENTARY RESPONSES

Many readers responded to my COMMENTARY about trainers who cheat http://www.racehorsereport.com/2007/07/13/commentary/. Here is a representative sampling of what they had to say:

Prominent Thoroughbred Owner:

“Well said, Jude. When a guy like you, who only looks to bring out the best in our sport and focuses on nothing but the good, is compelled to write such an article, it should open everyone’s eyes to the severity of the issue of cheating. I hope that your message is taken seriously and that our industry does not just acknowledge the issue, but acts on it. Death by lethal injection may be a bit extreme, but locking a trainer up in a room filled with cobras may be appropriate…”

Thoroughbred Trainer:

“Just to let you know that the article you wrote was great! If it were me that was found to have “snake venom” in the barn, I wouldn’t have even been allowed to go back to the barn.”

An Outrider:

“I just read your commentary, you are right on…especially in California. I was a pain in the ass to the management of racetracks until I did something that gave them an opportunity to fire me. Now, I’m blackballed in the industry. My “crime” was being critical of racetracks that mow grass in the centerfield during training hours, gaps and rails that were left open during races and a trainer that worked a (sore) horse who broke down one or two days later breaking Alex Solis’ neck…There is nobody on the CHRB that gives a shit and it ain’t going to get any prettier. Lethal injections for the Racing Board and the racing secretaries too!”

Racetrack Publicity Coordinator:

“Loved it. Especially the quote from John from Cincinnati.”

Thoroughbred Trainer:

“Kudos Jude! I am so sick and tired of getting beat by these guys that I don’t even want to go to the barn anymore. It is a total joke. Something needs to be done and soon.”

Turf Writer:

“Jude: Great column. As you already know I have written about the illegal use of drugs and the excuses offered by trainers for eons. Ever since we authored the Minority Report, we have called for stringent changes in the rulebook.

There have been some changes, but nothing like we had hoped. We still need teeth in the statutes, nailing down such things as first offense, second offense, etc., and naming the punishment for the violation.

Question? When was the first time you ever heard a horse trainer or a bicyclist admit to wrongdoing? Each time someone has been nailed, there have been excuses…Two of the biggest cheaters in the land are currently winning races right and left.”

Hall of Fame Jockey:

“Hats off Jude. Balls of brass.”

Former Thoroughbred Owner:

“Cheaters drove me from the business. I got sick of claiming a horse and then watch him run his eyeballs out only to be beaten soundly by a horse from a supertrainer’s barn. When a horse is claimed off a Hall of Fame trainer by some unknown and then runs the best sheet number of his life by far, there must be some voodoo involved. When a trainer goes from winning 10% of his starts to 30% overnight it is not because he just read Preston Burch’s book. The stewards need to take a stronger look at what goes on.”

This entry was posted on Friday, July 20th, 2007 at 1:01 am and is filed under Featured Articles. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.