Dutrow and Horse Medication Problems...or are they?

Question

http://www.bloodhorse.com/article/45863.htm

So...what do you all think of this story? Is this something serious?

It seems that by the comment quoted here that he is being rather blase about it...is it a big deal?

I know he has had problems in the past and so many don't like him, so maybe this is just the media making more of this than it is??

Will be looking forward to hearing what the experts think!

Answer 1

Well, just for starters, what takes the stewards from May 2 until June 25 to make this determination?  (The race in which the offense occured took place on May 2.)  Did they not want to disturb what was going on in the way of Triple Crown mania?

Interesting, too, that a less well-known horse was singled out.

Despite all the hooplah over Big Brown's front hoof, hind shoe, questionable ride, weather, track condition, etc., etc., etc. in the Belmont Stakes, one image of him lingers in my mind:  as he is coming down the home stretch, his tongue is hanging way out, I mean like a foot long, just flapping around, and his mouth is wide open and listless.  

I know it was hot, and the race was long, but it was in the ball park of previous races.  He's never looked anything like that before.  Sorry, everyone, but this poor horse looked to me like he had been over-sedated.....

Use it or lose it.  His boundless energy wasn't channeled and grooved  (limited training due to concern over the crack).  No yin-yang.  So it emerged and resulted in agitation, and what did that result in.......?

Sadly, it's just the visible tip of an unfortunate and rampant iceberg.

Answer 2

The whole business of drugs in horse racing is just that - a business.  There are owners and trainers out there who do not profit when horses do not win; or are recovering in the barn.

I have seen many horrible breakdowns over the last 18-20 years.  Some the result of poor track conditions and some because horses were racing when they shouldn't have been - but they were on painkillers.

Stop this abuse - NOW.  If people want racing - create a computer program that could match horses from a span of 100 years or so against one another.  No one gets hurt, no one gets drugged and no one dies.

Answer 3

As a 17 year trainer for standardbreds i can tell you it really isnt a big deal. Clenbuterol is widely used as is the "steroid" winstrol. It's just as common a practice in the racehorse world as aspirin or tylenol is to many humans. The media is just in such a frenzy over steroids they just want a reason to blow something up.

Answer 4

I think that the most serious thing about this matter is Dutrow's attitude!  His statement to another reporter on this matter, "I've only had one other problem with this drug"!, points to the fact that he had been pushing the envolope with this drug many times and only been caught one time!  How arogent is that?

The problem is the 15 day suspension that awaits him.  He will appeal it and then take the suspension at a time that is convenient to him, probably right after Big Browns next race!  It is like a vacation to him that way!  I would be much more in favor of a sliding scale of suspensions and adding the rule that the trainer and anyone working for them, must give up training that horse!  How about a month for the first offense, 3 for the second, 6 for the third, and then lifetime suspension after that!  Sort of Three strikes and your out!

As for the media making more of this than it really is.....I think that Dutrow gave up that right when he used the media to promote his horse like he did.  His brash statements so often reported by the media, where a great bargaining chip with Three Chimneys!  He used the media, when it was going good for him, then ignored the media when it turned bad!  He deserves what ever the media desides to print about him!

Answer 5

He broke the rules... the media can't make more out of it than what it is... they're just reporting the truth.  It's a big deal that this guy has this top notch horse, but he's doing things like this with his stable of horses.  I think it's certainly a problem.

Dutrow doesn't really care about giving drugs to his horses.  He took drugs for so long in his life that he doesn't think that they do anything bad to you.  So he gives them to his horses for the same reason... because he doesn't think there's consequences.  Dutrow doesn't think it's anyone else's business what he gives to his horses... including the media or the racing authority.  The Kentucky racing authority disagrees... hence the rules.

A lot of states have been making their punishments a lot more harsh.  It used to be that when you got suspended, you continued training, but your horses raced under your assistant trainer's name.  Some states have made it harsher because it was too easy to get around that punishment... one state has made it so that if you're suspended, you can't even set foot on the track until after the suspension is over... that means your horses don't just get to continue racing... they wait until you come back too.  If the owner wants the horse to race, they have to take it to a different trainer.  So if you break rules, you lose business.  That's really harsh, but I think that's exactly what the racing authorities had to do.

The testing revealed the overdose and then Dutrow requested the urine sample so he could personally have it tested... and both tests revealed the exact same thing... the horse was overdosed (that could mean the horse was given too much drug or just raced too soon after taking the drug so it didn't dissipate out of his system).  Nevertheless, Dutrow is appealing his suspension.  I don't think he stands much of a chance.  The article I read says that this is the first overdose of this drug in Kentucky in 3 years because of the newer harsher suspensions.  Everyone else has straightened up and followed the rules, but Dutrow is still a renegade as always.

IEAH (Big Brown's owners) have changed their own standards... by October this year, their drug policy is going to be the same as Europe except for allowing Lasix... that means there will be no raceday medication and their horses (including Big Brown) will not be allowed to run on steroids.  I don't particularly like Iavarone, but I really respect this move.  Kudos to IEAH and I hope other owners follow suit.