And our death continues.

[beans and weenies]

This is the begining of the end of racing. If these charges are allowed to stand trainers everywhere are done. The tree huggers and animal rights idiots have won.  They will be taking your kids and your paycheck next cause you don't know how to raise'em or spend your check properly. 

[Jeremy]

And yes I do blame the racing commissions


Trainer change from Jeff Maletz to Tricia Shepard
90 days later
Trainer change from Tricia Shepard to Jeff Maletz
45 days later
Trainer change from Jeff Maletz to Tricia Shepard

process repeated itself for awhile

A certain driver at the track is pretty good at going first over and fading on favorites


I don't care for the most part if horses are on prescription medicine, I just need to know

[LVGaryD]

I don't care for the most part if horses are on prescription medicine, I just need to know

That would violate doctor/patient privilege and HIPPA.

If you are going to trust the driver, why not trust the trainer and the vet too?

[Jeremy]

That would violate doctor/patient privilege and HIPPA.

If you are going to trust the driver, why not trust the trainer and the vet too?

I don't think that rule exists for equines

I gave an example of a driver I don't trust, just didn't want to name names

[Jeremy]

What does levothyroxine or Gonadorelin do for a horse ?

[LVGaryD]

What does levothyroxine or Gonadorelin do for a horse ?

I dunno. I would imagine anything having to do with gonads is a hormone. The other sounds like some sort of gland thing too, but I really have no idea.

[freelegged]

My contention is not whether any of these drugs are therapeutic and not whether they should be allowed at any time. My problem is this: Why can "X" number of trainers adhere to whatever the rules are (whether stupid or not) while others simply cannot follow them? Seriously, is it lack of education? Inability to process information and ramifications? Lack of reading skills? Or is it they want to get an edge? Whatever the reason, they cheated. They didn't follow the rules. If they really got an edge or not isn't the issue with me. Its that they can't follow rules.

Now, if you think all of these drugs should be used any time, any place....then fight for rule changes. But until there are changes, people need to follow the rules. If all of this is minor, then it makes horsemen-or at least this horseman and vet- look absolutely crazy and stupid for risking a reputation when they arent really gaining anything. If the reward wasn't that great, then he was stupid for pushing the proverbial envelope. I just read a comment(elsewhere) about the outlets that this story was passed on to by someone. NY Times, NY Daily News, USA Today and about 10-12 other places. And a trainer is willing to break rules by using something "minor" and risk this kind of publicity?

Suck it up, follow rules, and if you don't like the rules...fight for change. Get your clinical information, round up some respected sources and make your presentation to encourage rule changes. By the way, with much respect to Gary, fighting for change on any of these message boards isnt going to be a successful approach.

So I repeat: Why can the vast majority of horsemen follow rules flawlessly while others repeatedly demonstrate they are incapable?

[freelegged]

I did a little reading at the NYS racing commission website that is until I got a headache. But to answer one question that was posed, the vet has to turn over any records that the racing commission requests in NY State.

One of the items that the trainer was possibly negligent on was the work done regarding the joint injections...the rule is the horse cant race for at least 5 days and the commission must be notified by the trainer in writing that this work was done before the horse can get entered.

I don't get how the vet won't be held accountable a little bit in this case. There are a couple of things that it pretty clearly says is the vet's responsibility. Like this: (copy/paste)

Before a licensed veterinarian administers or prescribes any drug or restricted substance for a horse, he shall ascertain by reasonable inquiry whether the horse has been entered to race at any track and if the horse has been entered he shall not administer or prescribe any drug or restricted substance within the time or in a manner restricted by this Part.

[3 wide and wingin]

Amy is sharing a view many horse people have shared with me. Shes not alone.

Bottom line the go go crap that was making his horses 5 seconds faster in a week is not what he got busted for.

Everyone knows that was present.
But nt detectable.
This is a very complex topic and they either need to goto running them on hay and oats again or allow anything.
The unlevel playing field is the issue and whats killing the sport.

Make everything illegal and at least its level playing field.

[3 wide and wingin]

This is the begining of the end of racing. If these charges are allowed to stand trainers everywhere are done. The tree huggers and animal rights idiots have won.  They will be taking your kids and your paycheck next cause you don't know how to raise'em or spend your check properly. 

Interesting take.
IMO its the crying of the bettors and fellow horseman that are making this happen.

I know I would not bet a race his horses were in.
thats bad for the sport and they are trying to do something about that.

[AmyHollar]

Make everything illegal and at least its level playing field.

And harmful to a horse.

There are different classifications for drugs for a reason.

There should NOT be different rules governing those rules from state to state.

Who knows........maybe in the long run this is going to be such a mess commissions are going to finally be forced to reform..........standardize the penalties and program REPORT the treatment information.

[AmyHollar]

And yes I do blame the racing commissions


Trainer change from Jeff Maletz to Tricia Shepard
90 days later
Trainer change from Tricia Shepard to Jeff Maletz
45 days later
Trainer change from Jeff Maletz to Tricia Shepard

There have been several changes to the OSRC policies since these incidents. 

[3 wide and wingin]

And harmful to a horse.

There are different classifications for drugs for a reason.

There should NOT be different rules governing those rules from state to state.

Who knows........maybe in the long run this is going to be such a mess commissions are going to finally be forced to reform..........standardize the penalties and program REPORT the treatment information.

I fully understand that its bad for the horse.
I m actaully 100% for the good honest horsemen out there.
You being at Northfield and me following Rosecroft where the purses are not crazy we dont have to deal with the "super" trainers.
Whatever sweet Lou was giving that was undetectable costs more than what the purses that are given out. And for me thats a big reason I prefer those kind of tracks over the slots inflated purse tracks that have all the "super" trainers.

Whatever system that is in place now isnt working though.
They need to do nothing and let it be the wild wild west or test their asses off and make the penalties so harsh that you wouldnt want to break the rules.

[pezz97]

The more I read about this, this was a Witch Hunt.


Yes I understand that the timing issue is what they got him on, and I have said this before, every state needs to have the same rules, and he should of followed those rules.



The Al Capone comparison is right on. He has yet to have a positive....

[careless hal]

Why would anyone think racinos give a damn about racing?  The more blows that can be delivered the better for them.  The churn is much greater on the slots and makes more money for them. I predict that in the not too distant future most slot tracks will limit racing to maybe 30-45 days a year.  The states will continue to take more and more of the cut.   Look at Prarie Meadows and what do they have?  Maybe 15 harness racing dates, if it won't be done away with alltogether.