The New York Times generates controversy over I’ll Have Another’s health
It was speculated in a New York Times article that the Doug O’Neill trained, I’ll Have Another, was given drugs to cover up unsoundness before the Belmont Stakes because he was unfit to compete.
After this allegation, the colt’s health records were reviewed by three veterinarians and, it was discovered that there was nothing irregular and he was in good health. The runner had been on vitamins and, he did not have high dose of powerful drugs
in his system.
After a thorough check-up, John Kimmel, a New York-based trainer and licensed veterinarian told the media that:
"There is nothing here that was done that wasn’t on the up-and-up."
Dr. Foster Northrop, a Kentucky based racetrack veterinarian was also satisfied with the three-year-old’s results as he commented:
"All of these medications are used frequently and all are peer-approved treatments."
The article stated that the use of anti-inflammatory drugs is not illegal but, it was significant because I’ll Have Another was a contender for the Triple Crown and was in the spotlight.
Some controversy was generated over this issue but, Kimmel cleared it out and said that there is a possibility that the runner had some joint changes after the Preakness Stakes. All the treatment given to him was appropriate and did not have any effect
on him.
Kimmel further said that the New York Times “is creating the illusion that this horse was so bad he wasn’t in a condition to race, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. I watched this horse train at Belmont, and he put in some strong gallops. The Times is
just taking pot-shots."
The son of Flower Alley, foaled by mare Arch's Gal Edith, was on his way to glory when he passed the first two stages of the U.S. Triple Crown, bagging the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, guided to both victories by rider, Mario Gutierrez.
The young runner could not get a shot at gaining eternal glory since, he was scratched from the Belmont Stakes due to an injury to his tendons. The runner has been retired and sold to a Japanese farm for stud duty.
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