This is what people with “power” do- they destroy peoples lives so they can claim they are doing something, instead of doing their actual jobs.  This is a travesty of justice, and it’s nonsense to say that there are facts we don’t know and that is why the penalty is so stiff. That’s what they want you to think, and believe me, if they had other evidence it would be all over the news. Because they are rightly under pressure for not doing their job, they are trying to make an example out of Linda.  Let’s hope the Board did not follow their own rule book, which may be the case since her actions were not strictly prohibited in the rules as I understand them. If they don’t follow their own rules/process, there is a chance a judge will stop this on appeal.  I know a retired NYS Supreme Court justice who handled several appeals by trainers, and that is how I know this strategy is her best hope. Fingers crossed. Don’t let them destroy Linda because they think they can get away with it!

Good point. I’m stumped. It makes no sense whatsoever. We should use Hong Kong as a model for stopping this nonsense. But I’m not happy we’ve gone back to the occasional lasix ban in lieu of a comprehensive sensible policy- back to the bad old days of guessing what lasix off means. It seemed to mean a lot in the past when horses came from Monmouth to toga and didn’t run a step.

I’ve been using TG FIGS for 2 years and finally am compelled to say something on this board.  TGJB, your reasoning makes sense to me.  Since the risk/benefit isn’t worth using the ointment even close to the race, the only thing that makes sense assuming Baffert is a rational person is that Medina had a joint injected with the steroid recently, and they kept using the ointment as a cover story if it was detected.  At least that’s the only way it makes sense to me.