Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winning trainer Rick Dutrow career in danger
According to reports, the recent suspension of Richard Dutrow Jr. is his 64th suspension in his 31-year old career. So, if we do the math right, it’s two suspensions each year for rule infractions. That got many people saying “enough is enough”.
Ed Martin, the President of Association of Racing Commissioners International wants to take action on the Dutrow case and he is looking into getting the trainer’s license revoked.
Not too long ago, Rick Dutrow was given a 90 days suspension for a positive drug sample containing Class 3 medication, “butorphanol”, found in winning horse, Fastus Cactus, at Aqueduct last fall. There were also hypodermic needles found in his barn.
2008 was the best year the trainer had when his barn earned $12,011,668 and the same year Big Brown, the horse that he saddled, earned him victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. However, Rick Dutrow, throughout his career had been found guilty of notable infractions.
From April 1997 to 2005, Ed Martins, was the director of New York State Racing, and, Wagering Board, when many of Dutrow’s infraction cases were put in front of him and now he wants to close the chapter by saying that suspension might not be enough.
He has taken further action against Rick Dutrow by sending a letter to NYSRWB saying, “I question whether the time has come to revisit the question of whether Mr. Dutrow should be allowed to continue to participate in racing at all, especially if the current allegations are upheld".
After all the allegations and suspensions, Rick Dutrow is adamant on coming back into the game by saying, “I think I’m good for the Racing Game”.
But the racing board intends on expanding the punishment to revocation of his license and said that Rick Durtow has followed a pattern of violations throughout his career, and called his actions and behaviour improper, obnoxious, and, detrimental to the racetracks of New York and elsewhere and that it has not been in the best interest of racing.
On the other hand, the racing board is adamant about putting the 51-year old trainer’s career to bed by laying out a case that would result in revoking his license and that Dutrow’s many infractions since 1979 in various jurisdictions should be reason enough to declare him no longer fit to work in the state of New York.
Koenig, Rick’s lawyer, said Rick provided enough evidence and the evidence itself suggested that he (Rick Dutrow) is good for the sport and that there is not enough evidence to support revoking his license.
The decision hangs in the balance and Dutrow’s 3-year training license expires in August, that would be during the Saratoga meet, and it is uncertain that the case will be decided by then.
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