Interesting Online DRF Today

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

First off, Kentucky agreed to cut off the suspect Rebate Shops after chewing the fat over it. Every once in a while its good to do the right thing isn\'t it Kentucky? You can always let them back when they reveal their practices.

But that was the minor issue. Now Kentucky its time to belly up to the bar and be men about this substance abuse. Its time to address the milkshake and doping. We want in Kentucky what they have in New York. A \"no tolerance\" policy. One positive and  automatic stall security.

Heres a little blurb I found very interesting about EPO. Apparently two jurisdictions already have a \"claim rescinding\" option if the horse comes up postive for EPO. Another Arkansas just added an option for a claimed horse to be tested for EPO before the claim is official.  Sounds very much like EPO is similar to Milkshaking \"carbonates\" in that it is a \"naturally occuring\" substance. That being the case \"threshold testing\" must be whats in place. It also sounds like the primary threat is heart attack due to thickening of the blood. If there are claim return thresholds, is it too much to ask to discipline the trainers at certain EPO thresholds? Why are we in the dark about the details?:

http://www.drf.com/news/article/62125.html

Most of my pre prep Derby favorites are at Oaklawn. Rockport, Afleet Alex, Greater Good (A horse I did not initially rate. I think he got beat in the Iroquois, perhaps with an excuse. He certainly was moving in big steps prior to that) Its going to be interesting how those races shake out down there, but my suspicion is should he stay sound Rockport is looking like a horse with a big future.

CtC

[TGJB]

Yeah, I read the EPO story too, and what\'s really interesting is that the policy of testing claimed horses for it (with the right to cancel the claim) is in effect in NY, and I hadn\'t heard a word about it. That was an idea I gave the powers that be over a year ago.

I wrote a VERY long letter to the editor (900 words) about drugs, rebates etc., that will either appear in DRF (they want 600 words,we are negotiating about cuts and language about their coverage) or Thoroughbred Daily News as an op-ed piece in the next few days.

Mall, I think the low number of entrants in the local contest came because people didn\'t want to pay for a trip to Vegas with only a small chance to qualify-- it figured to be mostly locals, as most tournaments are unless they put up big money.

Razzle-- very good work about the detention barns. I think you\'ll like the proposals in the letter to the editor.



Post Edited (01-20-05 14:48)

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

TGJB wrote:

> I wrote a VERY long letter to the editor (900 words) about
> drugs, rebates etc., that will either appear in DRF (they want
> 600 words,we are negotiating about cuts and language about
> their coverage)

In case it slip through the cracks...let us know when its published. I trust the DRF will do the right thing. Its hard to take criticism, but theres a time and a place and I think Crist is pro legitimacy. All of his work heretofore leans that way.

Lots of positive looking stories in the online DRF for Friday.

Interesting about your EPO testing ideas. I guess if you\'re not rolling for a claim they don\'t tell you. Imagine that? Sounds like Graph Racing needs to do some claiming ever now and then to keep apprised of substance testing issues...lol Well things are gonna change or I\'ll move over to calculating the point spreads.

Heres a DRF blurb about a horse I caught in the Lexington last year. He died from what sounds like a simple operation. Certainly doesn\'t sound like it involved his heart or lungs. Maybe he didn\'t make it out of the anesthesia. These big animals are fragile, they shouldn\'t be pumping drugs into them. Asmussen picked him up for the Lexington, I\'m not sure he had him at his death.

Quintons Gold Rush dead

Quintons Gold Rush, a Grade 2 winner who most recently finished ninth in the Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26, has died at age 4 at San Luis Rey Equine Hospital in California. The colt was undergoing a surgical procedure on Monday on a nasal tumor when he died.

Announcement of his death was made by Nadia Sanan, general manager of her family\'s Padua Stables, which owned Quintons Gold Rush in partnership with Jay Manoogian. Bred by Toyomi Omiya in Kentucky, Quintons Gold Rush won the Grade 2 Lexington Stakes in 2004. He had a record of 3-1-0 from 10 starts and a $329,835 bankroll.



Post Edited (01-20-05 21:22)

[razzle]

TGJB, thank you.  I\'ve been enjoying the sites and discussion here as we all follow the unfolding drug/rebate drama.  I know we are not all going to be veterinarians or chemists, and many aren\'t interested in the science of performance enhancers, but I appreciate the work and comments of those who have attempted to explain how the substances and procedures work. Thanks to so many of you,too,for keeping these issues in the forefront of topics.  It seems every day now we learn of some incredible irony like the one you cite regarding EPO tests in NY being standard post claim(though unpublicized) but irrelevant post race. I look forward to your article.  raz

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

Raz, I\'m doing my best to try and pull this all together with the news blackout, but I think EPO is the substance that Ray Paulick (sic?) of The Bloodhorse was referring to when he quoted an anonymous trainer stating: \"How can it be a banned substance if theres no test for it?\".

EPO apparently can only be identified in the blood from \"anti bodies\". Its illegal in all racing jurisdictions but the problem appears to be a bona fide test to suspend a trainers rights. Apparently there is enough science to rescind a claim. I make it out to be \"lower evidentiary requirement\" stuff, like O.J. walking on the murders but being found liable of wrongful death in civil court.


Horses test positive for EPO in Texas, New York

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnewsarchive/ttodaysnewsviewarchive.asp?ArchiveDate=02/19/2003#30574

Still, the public should be aware of these antibody positives. All this does is prove once again the trainers and horsemen are shielded by the industry and the betting public is taken for granted.

[razzle]

Ctc, good site, thanks.  raz

[TGJB]

After much negotiating and trading of about 10 drafts, the DRF and I came to terms, and a 700 word version (out of the original 900) will run Sunday. It still has its teeth, although the ones biting the Form have been smoothed down a little. I took out the words \"crusade\" and \"handwringing\", they let me have an extra 100 words, everybody\'s happy.

On the EPO front, I think if you do a search of this site you will find other discussions. The most amazing thing about the DRF EPO story is not that NYRA used my idea, which I gave to TOBA and others, not NYRA, and which for all I know came up with it independently. The amazing part is that they are not making public which claims are being voided. This is at the same level as that crap in California about the positives not being made public. Holy smokes.

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

TGJB wrote:

 The amazing part is that they are not
> making public which claims are being voided. This is at the
> same level as that crap in California about the positives not
> being made public. Holy smokes.

Regardless of where NYRA got the idea, its another idea thats percolated from you that is right for the times.

NYRA needs to get their act in gear. Either they are gonna set the standards the industry is forced to acknowledge or they are gonna run with the pack. Its gut check time and the onus is on them. They have to disclose these voided claims if they are going to be credible on the cleanup.

I\'m looking forward to the printing.

On a lighter note, I was just read Andy Beyer\'s column at the DRF site. I really enjoy Beyer when he stays away from picking horses. The story discusses a device known as \"The Horse Wizard\". I was laughing out loud reading the account. Apparently Stronach devised a machine that looks and behaves like a slot machine. So much so in fact that whomever operates it doesn\'t have to make a conscious decision, other than \"How much should I bet\". It even eliminates exotics to simplify the process. Additionally, it picks which race you will bet and can pick your horse for you if selecting a horse is too burdensome. I LOVE IT. My only question is how can Stronach get the machine to cash as often as rotating cherries?...lol

http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do?NID=62120&subs=0&arc=0

CtC



Post Edited (01-21-05 17:47)