Gural Rips Pena At Senate Hearing

[Elgin]

Gural testifies at Senate hearing on drugs   
July 12, 2012   

The U.S. Senate Committee of Commerce, Science and Transportation held a hearing Thursday afternoon chaired by New Mexico Senator Tom Udall. Among the eight who testified was Jeff Gural, owner of Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs and operator of the Meadowlands Racetrack.

After speaking for a few minutes on other problems racing currently has, including the marketing of the sport, Gural opened his comments on performance-enhancing drugs by speaking about trainer Lou Pena.

"He went from a run-of-the-mill trainer in California for 20 years to the greatest trainer who ever lived,

[AmyHollar]

 

[AmyHollar]

I am literally sinking to the floor in utter disgust and dismay................this was in front of THE UNITED STATES SENATE?!

[The Giss]

I am literally sinking to the floor in utter disgust and dismay................this was in front of THE UNITED STATES SENATE?!

It's not like they are getting anything important done otherwise.

[javelina]

Jeff is solid.   Chemists suck.
Nice work.

[dinkadoo]

I like Gural's call for a commissioner and the business being regulated albeit I am not a fan of the GOVERNMENT should be the one's involved. I think other sports do a good job of policing themselves under one voice

I still have an issue of Pena's situation. To have no POSITVE drug tests and evidence is supported by vet bills to me does not make Pena any less innocent, yet is shows just how bad testing is.  Some of the drugs, which are banned, are not showing up in blood/urine post race tests.

What are they doing with the samples..... Hold them up to a light, if it looks red, hmmm must me okay and toss out ?

[AmyHollar]

Dink-


Gural proclaiming his "way" of catching the "crooks" is the right way had me sick to my stomach.


Giss-

[caveman]

Gural thinks it's his way or the highway and i think he's a real ass.

[MichiganDale]

If I was on that Senate Committee one of the first things I'd ask is "Where is your National or U.S. Association or governing body in all of this?   Where is a 'united front' or statement on behalf of organized racing?   Noticeably absent - once again, is the UNITED STATES Trotting Association that avoids politics like the plague and that's got to change in my opinion.   I do agree with Mr. Gural on his call for a National Racing Commissioner but some of his other moves are a bit over the top for me and heavy handed.

[careless hal]

Gural is just your typical ultra-liberal.  My way or the highway. 

[3 wide and wingin]

Gural is just your typical ultra-liberal.  My way or the highway.

I agree. and am not a huge fan.
Interesting readng a couple of the other "reputable" forums (LL BTW)

And he is held up as a god like figure here to save us all.

I am pretty neutral on him.

[The Giss]

I am pretty pro-Gural in general, but does anybody else think he is just begging Lou to sue him for defamation of character?
I was shocked when I read his testimony.

[AmyHollar]

I'm no lawyer.......but all I could think was.....if there was cross-examination he would be ripped to shreds!

Let alone what it makes the rest of the industry look like!  It was like we are nothing but thieving chemists running amok.

[The Giss]

I'm no lawyer.......but all I could think was.....if there was cross-examination he would be ripped to shreds!

Let alone what it makes the rest of the industry look like!  It was like we are nothing but thieving chemists running amok.

Wearing yoga pants

[AmyHollar]

Wearing yoga pants

Is there any other?