Drugs, Politics and Warner Wolf

[richiebee]

So rare that Horse Racing gets a full page in the Sunday New York Post, but
there it is on page 87 of the Late City Edition-- \"\'Roid to Trouble--Hall of
Famer van Berg: Drugs Ruining Racing\". Apparently Van Berg, who has won 47
races in the last five years, has had enough and is ready to speak out. Also
quoted is John Ward and Dr. George Maylin, director of the NYSRWB drug testing
program at Cornell. Really not much of note in the article and certainly
nothing new if you have been following the dialogue on the TG board.

The final paragraph of Ed Fountaine\'s article reports that Jeff Mullins was hit
last Friday with a 90 day suspension for mepivicaine, the allegedly \"harmless\"
med which cost Steve Asmussen 6 months and Todd Pletcher 45 days. Should we
rename this stuff \"moveupicane?\"

Fountaine\'s regular \"Through the Binocs\" column seems to imply that the current
NYRA short term extension--which lasts through February 13-- might be the last
extension which is granted. Spitzer, Bruno and Silver et al are still
stalemated. If that is the case Fountaine says NYRA goes to court and racing
may be dark in NY for \"months, maybe years...\"

Kind of amazing that one of the bones of contention in Albany is the question
of VLTs at Belmont. VLTs were approved at Aqueduct years ago, and the facility
readied for the addition of VLTs, yet the doors to the \"Casino at Ozone Park\"
have never opened.

Anyone remember Warner Wolf? As Warner might have said in the marital match up
of Hope M. vs. Anthony M. at the DRF/NTRA tournament: \"If you had Anthony plus
$59....YOU LOST!! All kidding aside, a great job by Mrs. North Carolina Tony to
place in the top 100 at Red Rocks.