Linda Toscano

[LVGaryD]

Linda Toscano just got a ten day suspension for levamisole with its metabolite pemoline. That is a f**king wormer, for God's sake. Come on New York! Get your heads out of your asses!

To her tribute, Linda Toscano assumed full responsibility for the transgression, writing this letter to harness racing fans.

I just don't get it. Why should anyone have to defend themselves against proper therapeutic care of an animal?

Hey New York State Racing Commission, 

[dnnj1]

As stupid as this positive is the bigger issue is the hypocrisy of the Racing and Wagering Board.  The golden girl gets a Class 2 positive (as dumb as it is) and she gets 10 days.  Last year those trainers got a class 4 positive and were given 6 months, some were given essentially life!!  The other trainers that receieved these positives with her should be thanking god that her name came up or else they would of got a year for this. 

The fact that they allowed her letter to be published should tell you all you need to know about it.  Get a positive, write an apology letter and no one cares?

For the record I think this is the problem with this industry, we give ourselves a bad name.  She gets a positive test for a legal substance because they changed withdrawl times without telling anyone, yet to the general public they see another case of someone "drugging" horses.  Will Gural ban her to? Or she doesn't fit his criteria?
 

[LVGaryD]

In Linda's defense, the vet did write a letter accepting all blame for this.

I give credit to the vet for having a pair of balls to put his license on the line in defense of his innocent client.

 

[dnnj1]

In Linda's defense, the vet did write a letter accepting all blame for this.

I give credit to the vet for having a pair of balls to put his license on the line in defense of his innocent client.

 

These are the things the average public doesn't know, most of these positives are vet administered.....The trainer takes the blame obviously.

[pope of vegas]

If Memory serves me,That is a sheep wormer that we were initially using to fight EPM.

[LVGaryD]

I believe you are absolutely correct, Pope.

[pezz97]

What a joke. How can they change the withdrawal times without letting anyone know??? 

[jordanjacob]

Linda is a classy lady

and she had a classy response to it too

[Jeremy]

Linda is a classy lady

and she had a classy response to it too

I think the vet was the classy one to step up and take responsibility.

To me, an average racing fan that does not know her, she was just doing a PR move.

[LVGaryD]

I think the vet was the classy one to step up and take responsibility.

To me, an average racing fan that does not know her, she was just doing a PR move.

I don't think it was a pr move. She genuinely got screwed here and took it like a man.

Being a woman, she is somehow held to a higher standard than male trainers.

[JBamond]

I don't know Linda personally but I have never heard a bad word about her.  The bigger issue, 10 days for a Class 2.....last year when withdrawal times were changed many trainers got 6 months for a class 4! Some of these trainers haven't been allowed back at all.  We never universal with drawl times as well as universal penalties.  Do I think she deserves more then these 10 days probably not but based on previous precedents for class 4's then yes.

[AmyHollar]

These are the things the average public doesn't know, most of these positives are vet administered.....The trainer takes the blame obviously.

Levamisol is also to blame for metabolizing into Aminorex.........which is basically crack........many positives in Ohio while people are SCREAMING they did not give their horses crack which fell on deaf ears until they showed up in Canada and Pa and proper testing was done.......at the expense of horsemen.

I've said it over and over and over........witch hunts are just that.....witch hunts.......destroying the hunter and prey.

[Just Saying]

Some trainers will also give Livasimole to treat a pesky repiratory infection that isn't responding to the conventional treatments. Yes, it's a worm medicine, but not technically a performance enhancer. Shoulda been a warning violation.

[Jeremy]

I don't think it was a pr move. She genuinely got screwed here and took it like a man.

Being a woman, she is somehow held to a higher standard than male trainers.

The vet took it like a man.

2 of 7 trainers complained that it was a change in the rules, shouldn't it have been 7 out of 7?

There is a chance he administered the wrong amount.   Is this a drug that goes away after a set period of time or would a larger dose take longer to get out of the system?


The therapeutic drug, used mainly as a wormer and immuno stimulant, was administered four days

this was a quote from her, what could it also be used for if it is only mainly used as a womer and immuno stimulant?

Before anyone thinks I am just stirring trouble, answer me like you would a casual racing fan if they brought this question up to you.

How is she also held to a higher standard Gary?  They didn't list her name along with others.  I don't see the point in playing the gender card here.

[AmyHollar]

There is no point to the gender card........but she is being very very careful with her image........which I do not blame her..........it only intensify the glaring inadequacies of our drug rules nation wide, to me.