What Are We Supposed to Think?
I took a week off to try to refresh myself and refresh my horse racing addiction. I took a day and went to River Downs to watch my good friend Jess make her first start as a jockey after graduating from the North American Racing Academy. I met Chris McCarron for the first time at BW3's (Oh I mean Buffalo Wild Wings for you amateurs). I watched TVG daily from the office for no reason other than to see some good races and I took last Saturday and bet 8 of the 10 races at Belmont to renew my love of betting on the horse racing. Picked 6 winners (no not the Pick 6 however) on the card.
All that above is great and keeps me going but I swear I find it hard to support 24/7.
What are we who have grown up in this sport supposed to think when someone releases a statement that they are going drug free? Before you get on the attack (and I've had enough of that crap from people on other subjects this week, believe me) and say it's a great thing - listen (well read - since I'm not talking out loud).
First off - if you announce you're going drug free by October 1st (my birthday - thanks for the gift) you have admitted that you're not drug free now. We all know Big Brown and all Dutrow trainees are given Winstrol monthly (or so they said then changed then whatever). So as a friend and I discussed - is this a preemptive release for the 2008 Breeders' Cup? Is this a we'll try to win the Haskell cracked out but won't actually run in the BC Classic because we will be without drugs? or Maybe, just maybe it's the "we have our excuse" now if he doesn't run well in the BC Classic?
Here is where my issue lies - instead of where lies are issued. I'm guessing that a large percentage of horses out there run on something. Whether it be legal or not. I mean this is America right? Everyday I see a new Walgreen's or Rite Aid or CVS Pharmacy being built on any given corner in Lexington. I know that 90% of my friends and family are taking medication for something that ails them. I know that probably 75% of them don't need it but do it because they were told it's good for them. So why would we be ignorant enough to think that people weren't giving whatever to those that carry the banner for our sport? I know that most of the people I've known (self included) that have been prescribed an anti-depressant or a sleep aid would have been best served if told to get off their lazy ass and exercise instead.
I'm not naive (sometimes I try to be but I don't pull it off well). I know that it's been going on for a long time. I know that there are plenty out there with a win however mentality. But - that type of mentality has helped put us where we are right now in June of 2008. Questioning the quality of a damn good race horse in Big Brown. If you've been around any level of race horse at any age - foal to revamped retiree - you have to see the obvious that it is hard to get a horse to the track much less to the winner's circle. NOT because we are cruel and pushing them to do things they shouldn't (before any of you PETArds get on the bandwagon and act stupid again) but because it's not just run down the stretch and you're a winner. Getting a foal on the ground is hard. Winning a race is harder. Winning the Kentucky Derby is only done ONCE a year - and though people like to say it's the lucky horse that wins - it's also a damn good horse that wins. So - whatever may have enhanced Big Brown - isn't all there is to him. But wouldn't it have been nice to know that nothing did? We'll never know that about him. Never.
So what are we - wait - what am I supposed to think? Do I question every person I know in the game? Do I wonder if they are good people but they have to do what they can to survive and win? Then does that really truly make them good people? When you own your own business within the industry and you want to see it grow, prosper, become a force. When you have spent all of your life obsessed within horse racing to the point that people think you have a sickness (and I'm not talking gambling yo). When you have made the skin on your back a colorful shroud dedicated to horse racing. What are you supposed to think when the one person/group that has been under attack all Spring and Summer is the first person to make a commitment to drug free racing? Why haven't we heard that from ANYONE ever?
I questioned the authenticity and the actuality of the IEAH statement yesterday. Today I question why they are the only ones to actually say it.
Give me some feedback - because I'm in disbelief right now.
All that above is great and keeps me going but I swear I find it hard to support 24/7.
What are we who have grown up in this sport supposed to think when someone releases a statement that they are going drug free? Before you get on the attack (and I've had enough of that crap from people on other subjects this week, believe me) and say it's a great thing - listen (well read - since I'm not talking out loud).
First off - if you announce you're going drug free by October 1st (my birthday - thanks for the gift) you have admitted that you're not drug free now. We all know Big Brown and all Dutrow trainees are given Winstrol monthly (or so they said then changed then whatever). So as a friend and I discussed - is this a preemptive release for the 2008 Breeders' Cup? Is this a we'll try to win the Haskell cracked out but won't actually run in the BC Classic because we will be without drugs? or Maybe, just maybe it's the "we have our excuse" now if he doesn't run well in the BC Classic?
Here is where my issue lies - instead of where lies are issued. I'm guessing that a large percentage of horses out there run on something. Whether it be legal or not. I mean this is America right? Everyday I see a new Walgreen's or Rite Aid or CVS Pharmacy being built on any given corner in Lexington. I know that 90% of my friends and family are taking medication for something that ails them. I know that probably 75% of them don't need it but do it because they were told it's good for them. So why would we be ignorant enough to think that people weren't giving whatever to those that carry the banner for our sport? I know that most of the people I've known (self included) that have been prescribed an anti-depressant or a sleep aid would have been best served if told to get off their lazy ass and exercise instead.
I'm not naive (sometimes I try to be but I don't pull it off well). I know that it's been going on for a long time. I know that there are plenty out there with a win however mentality. But - that type of mentality has helped put us where we are right now in June of 2008. Questioning the quality of a damn good race horse in Big Brown. If you've been around any level of race horse at any age - foal to revamped retiree - you have to see the obvious that it is hard to get a horse to the track much less to the winner's circle. NOT because we are cruel and pushing them to do things they shouldn't (before any of you PETArds get on the bandwagon and act stupid again) but because it's not just run down the stretch and you're a winner. Getting a foal on the ground is hard. Winning a race is harder. Winning the Kentucky Derby is only done ONCE a year - and though people like to say it's the lucky horse that wins - it's also a damn good horse that wins. So - whatever may have enhanced Big Brown - isn't all there is to him. But wouldn't it have been nice to know that nothing did? We'll never know that about him. Never.
So what are we - wait - what am I supposed to think? Do I question every person I know in the game? Do I wonder if they are good people but they have to do what they can to survive and win? Then does that really truly make them good people? When you own your own business within the industry and you want to see it grow, prosper, become a force. When you have spent all of your life obsessed within horse racing to the point that people think you have a sickness (and I'm not talking gambling yo). When you have made the skin on your back a colorful shroud dedicated to horse racing. What are you supposed to think when the one person/group that has been under attack all Spring and Summer is the first person to make a commitment to drug free racing? Why haven't we heard that from ANYONE ever?
I questioned the authenticity and the actuality of the IEAH statement yesterday. Today I question why they are the only ones to actually say it.
Give me some feedback - because I'm in disbelief right now.
So, IEAH made the committment. Did Dutrow? Honestly, do you think he would live by that kind of statement. Maybe IEAH should ask Dutrow if he's willing to promise to tell them EVERYTHING he has administered to their horses.
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This is a topic that bothers me as well: why is a small amount of true therapeutic medications (ie, the equivalent to a human Tylenol, Aleve, aspirin) such a bad thing. In tossing this around and having spent a few years on the track 20 years ago, I think that it comes down to abuse. No, the majority of horseman aren't being abusive. They just have come to rely upon these pharmaceuticals rather than on the old-fashioned therapies such as hosing, icing, massaging, whirlpool tubs, etc, to address the everyday swellings, aches and pains. And, giving a horse some time just doesn't seem to pay off when a solution can come via injection on the track.
So, to combat the tendency to go overboard on these meds...or worse...to look for something more powerful...we have to go to zero tolerance. I could be wrong, but we need to try. I applaud IEAH for having the gunions (balls) to take a chance.
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Oh I see - this explains it all. Make an announcement before more trouble begins. Another drug positive for Dutrow. http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/intraday_single.cfm?type=news&alertID=458&CFID=20444739&CFTOKEN=60813141
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