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…

Bob Baffert, Justify and the Chemical Triple Crown

by VIVIAN FARRELL Everyone who knows us knows we are no fans of Thoroughbred trainer Bob Baffert. He is a cheater, a liar and a doper. I had written a dear colleague a day or so ago stating it is my opinion that when all is said and done, Baffert's Triple Crown Winner, Justify, would…

One year after two horses died on Preakness Day, measures taken to prevent a repeat they say

BALTIMORE, Md. (Baltimore Sun, May 20, 2017) — A year after two horses died under different circumstances after going down at Pimlico on Preakness Day, procedures are in place to help ensure that kind of tragedy won't be repeated during the races leading up to the 142nd running of the event — or in the…

Despite a Triple Crown all that glitters is not gold in American horse racing (Part 1)

by JANE ALLIN Part 1 of 3 After almost four decades, and several generations of racing fans, the drought has finally ended. On June 7, 2015 American Pharoah thundered down the stretch at Belmont Park effortlessly dominating his competitors winning the Belmont by a rousing 5 ½ lengths to become the 12th Triple Crown Champion…

U.S. Anti Doping Agency’s Travis Tygart rates Thoroughbred horseracing’s drug problem a 10 out of 10

Says He’s Ready to Step in if the Bill (the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act) Passes in Congress to Put USADA in Charge SOURCE: CBS NEWS PRESS RELEASE NEW YORK (June 3, 2014)—The man who tackled Lance Armstrong and the drug problem in professional cycling says the use of performance enhancing drugs in American horse…

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…

NY racing regulators attempt to breathe honesty into the Triple Crown

I'll Have Another won't have another nasal strip The Daily Post reports that Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another will not have another Flair equine nasal strip when he runs in the third leg of the Triple Crown at Belmont Park on June 9th. When I’ll Have Another bids for the Triple Crown…

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…