Horse Racing Integrity: The Owners

By VIVIAN GRANT FARRELL I don't think it would be unfair to say that horse racing is in an ever increasing state of crisis. That means the horses are also. Racehorses are bred, used and disposed of at an alarming rate. They are drugged, their bodies manipulated in grotesque ways from the moment they are…

Dutrow loses horse drugging suspension appeal but that won’t stop him

I don't know what I am more worn out with, reporting on medication violations in American horse racing or the industry's failure to prosecute violators. The trainer in question today thankfully is not Doug O'Neill. Instead the drug-induced public glare is focused on Big Brown trainer, Rick Dutrow. O'Neill must be relieved for it to…

Horse doper O’Neill gladly takes 40 days off from racing

Even though experts say that drugging racehorses is killing horse racing (along with hundreds of horses), the industry continues to pander to the criminal element among its "celebrated" trainers. I suppose they have to. After decades of leniency, if they actually enforced what few rules they have, there would be only a handful of trainers…

Congressional Committees seek information on drugging and shock waving racehorses

WALT BOGDANICH, writing for the The Rail of the New York Times reports: (June 9, 2012) Members of two Congressional committees investigating the drugging of racehorses have sent letters to racing regulators in 39 states seeking information on how trainers with multiple drug violations are disciplined and how often certain performance-enhancing treatments are used. The…

I’ll Have Another scratched due to injury, loses chance at the Triple Crown

UPDATE -- I'll Have Another will not lead the post parade for the Belmont Stakes as originally planned. Instead, the NYRA will hold a retirement ceremony for the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner after the running of the Woodford Reserve Manhattan so fans can see him and pay tribute. JOE DRAPE, writing for The Rail…

Thanks to O’Neill Joe Drape reports horse security tightened by New York Board

Cross-posted from the New York Times by JOE DRAPE The 144th running of the Belmont Stakes may or may not produce horse racing’s 12th Triple Crown champion, but New York racing officials are taking measures to ensure that I’ll Have Another’s bid to sweep the series is contested on a level playing field and without…

Penny Chenery speaks out on horse racing, drugs and the Triple Crown

UPDATED 9:17 pm EST "I think it is regrettable. And it isn't the horse's fault and this is probably a very good horse. I don't know Mr. Reddam personally but I think he should be embarrassed that the trainer he has chosen does not have a clean record." So states Penny Chenery, referring to the…

Ray Paulick asks when is a ‘milkshake’ not a milkshake. In horse racing.

Ray Paulick of the Paulick Report asks the $15,000 question: How does a horse get an elevated carbon dioxide level without being administered a “milkshake,” a procedure that involves tubing a mixture of baking soda, water, and possibly other substances into a horse’s stomach four to six hours before a race? The question is in…

A lust to win, an incentive to cheat: The stain on American Thoroughbred racing

Researched and Written by JANE ALLIN Unlike some other organized sports in America, such as baseball, football and basketball, horse racing differs in several ways. Not only does it lack centralization in the form of a governing body to oversee regulatory policies and mandates, but it also does not provide its players with contractual salaries.…

The O’Neill brothers, the meaning of milkshakes and fixing of horse races

Doug O'Neill, trainer of Triple Crown contender I'll Have Another, seems an affable enough guy. But the most devilish among us usually have a charming side. What appalls me about Doug O'Neill is that he drugs racehorses then acts as if he knows absolutely nothing about it. His brother Dennis is even more unbelievable. He…