We have been warned

[Tom Sawyer]

Not disputing that the vast majority of trainers and vets don\'t cheat.

However the attending vet may not necessarily be the source of the illicit substances.

Not every PED needs to be injected as Victor Conte has proven and the black market from which most PED\'s emerge is open to all with knowledge of it and cash.

We understand that the most violations are for legal drugs found to be in the system at a slightly higher than allowable levels more akin to speeding tickets than murders, that isn\'t exactly what we are worried about is it?

In the case of the tweeting Dr are we really supposed to believe that he simply operates in the gray area\'s where specific rules for as of yet not tested for substances exist which in some way validates his activities? Not that he isn\'t trying to gain an illegal edge but that he takes advantage of the system until the system catches up?

But now since he fessed up he has turned over a new leaf?

Has he seen the light?

Highly doubtful as his ancillary businesses have given him the latitude to narrow down his \"work\" to a few choice clients, none of which seem to be of the empty wagon variety. By keeping the circle tight the small but select club benefits at an even greater level than if his clientele base was wider. The trainers and owners that he works for seem to not be scared off by the negative consternation that he evokes as shown by his tweets bragging about the work being done, when and for whom. His persona doesn\'t seem to be that much different than the movie version of a serial killer toying with the authorities.

[TGJB]

Re supposed out of competition testing in NY--

In December 2012 a rule was passed allowing OOC testing for three specific types of drugs-- clenbuterol, corticosteroids, and methylprednisolone. The Jockey Club tells me that as far as they know there has been no other OOC testing in NY for 2 years or otherwise, and none for EPO.

[miff]

\"In December 2012 a rule was passed allowing OOC testing for three specific types of drugs-- clenbuterol, corticosteroids, and methylprednisolone. The Jockey Club tells me that as far as they know there has been no other OOC testing in NY for 2 years or otherwise, and none for EPO\"

JB,

From PJ Campo, Director Of Racing NYRA

\"Since 2010 NYRA has averaged 1200 out of competition tests per year\"


...again,call him.


Mike

[TGJB]

I just got an email that told me something similar. Problem is it also says the samples are being taken \"from entries\", which wouldn\'t be OOC. I\'m following up.

[miff]

JB,

Only know what I\'ve been told from someone on the NYRA board, no details as you are looking for.Again, much about this will come out if Tricky gets a federal review of his case.

Doubt anyone is lying but the devil may be in the detail.

Mike

[TGJB]

Meanwhile, supposedly Rudy implicated Dutrow somehow in the Ky hearing today, don\'t know details.

[miff]

You sure he did not say that he was being linked to Tricky as opposed to implicating him? Tricky gave his horses excess banamine?

[TGJB]

Has something to do with Wild Desert. Think it\'s a false entry situation rather than drugs, not sure.

[miff]

JB,

Its that association thing.Mike Dubb suggesting to Kentucky Board that Tricky being a knucklehead has little to do with Rudy.Sounds like he will be licensed.


Mike

[sighthound]

Nobody here has ever taken the position you say they have.

[sighthound]

Far less preposterous than you telling a stranger what they \"know\".

[plasticman]

You seem very passionate in your arguments, do you bet serious money at the windows? Or, are you a recreational or occasional bettor? The reason i ask is that it seems to me that many people who take your side of the argument arent serious bettors who are risking money on races that they are HOPING are clean. When you are putting big money at risk, knowing (or hoping) that the races are clean is your #1 priority.

Big/serious bettors arent on message boards trying to convince the \'tin foil set\' that trainers and vets are really good people and would never cheat.,..those serious bettors, who are risking their hard earned money, are on message boards hoping and praying that someone (ANYONE) will listen in this game and clean it up, get rid of the slime and hand down some serious penalties for cheating.

[sighthound]

Just so you are awares, in your comparison, the physiology of equine energy production is not like human.

[sighthound]

I\'m a veterinarian trying to protect the horses and the sport by injecting reality into the conversation.
 
Ignorance on the part of the general public, lack of knowledge, doesn\'t help further the cause of clean racing.

I\'ve never said that trainers and vets would never cheat, or do not. There are definitely trainers and vets that I know cheat.  

But their numbers are far less than the uneducated general public blames.

I also watch the outsider general public - and if you put hundreds or thousands or millions through the windows a year, it really doesn\'t matter - falsely attribute many equine performances to cheating when that accusation is ridiculously false.

\"He cheats because ... I can\'t explain the horses performance otherwise\" is absurd, coming from people that know absolutely nothing about horses, training, physiology, or drugs, and the hundreds of things that also contribute to equine performance.

It\'s like me saying, \"Michael Phelps doped because I can\'t imagine swimming that fast - it\'s not natural.  They tested him and found nothing, but that just means he was using stuff they couldn\'t find\".   That would be a ridiculous accusation coming, not from my knowledge, but my ignorance.

You wanna learn something about horses that will help you at the windows?  Pay attention.

[plasticman]

Whether or not disgruntled bettors are correct or incorrect in their logic that they\'re losing because of the cheating and not losing because they are not good enough gamblers, the fact still remains that we all want clean racing.

You are correct in your comments that there are plenty of losing gamblers who are blaming the \'juice\' for their pari mutuel failures, no doubt those people exist out there, but we still have to just concern ourselves with cleaning up this game and being really aggressive in doing so.