Darley exec resigns from Breeders Cup

[Niall]

Jerry hope you can comment on the move by Darley. Clearly sending a message, but what exactly? Will it be effective? Industry comment? Thanks all ...

[miff]

Niall,

Much bigger story. Sheik Mo has cut back dramatically at the US sales out of disgust with the lack of overall success of his runners in the US,in spite of the hundreds of millions spent.Like every very wealthy person who ever attempted to overpower the game with money, Sheik Mo has failed in the US, does well in Europe.

The liberal use of permitted drugs here is now the target of the elitists et al,rightly or wrongly.Lasix number one target,notwithstanding that all the same disengenuous phonies on the anti lasix stump use it on their horses( some 2 yr olds not being treated) Brilliant jab at Phipps/Stuart by TAP noting that ORB much faster since racing on lasix after winning FOY.

Wealthy people,spending huge sums of money,with little to no success are often told by their trainers that the reason is that others are cheating(a little truth there but mainly their horses are slow/unsound in spite of buying/breeding the best substantially correct, athletic young horses.

So Sheik Mo\'s man is saying we\'re taking our bat and ball and going home.

Mike

[miff]

Trainer responsibility rule here, Nick Zito has not been seen in NY during the winter in 20 years unless running in a 3 yr old TC prep or big race.



DRF:

Nick Zito will begin serving a 15-day suspension next Monday as a result of a positive test for clenbuterol from a horse that won at Aqueduct on Feb. 24.
Nick Zito, the New York-based trainer currently running the bulk of his stable in Florida, will begin serving a 15-day suspension next Monday as a result of a positive test for clenbuterol from a horse that won at Aqueduct more than a year ago.

According to a notice posted on the New York State Gaming Commission website, the horse, Alvito, tested positive for an excessive level of the bronchial dilator after winning the fifth race Feb. 24, 2012, at Aqueduct. Zito was initially suspended for 30 days, but he waived his right to appeal and had the penalty reduced to 15 days, from March 11 to March 25, the notice said. He also was fined $1,000.

Zito could not be reached for comment Monday.

Prior to Zito notifying the commission late last week that he intended to waive his right to appeal, attorneys for the trainer and the commission were engaged in discussions over Zito's options, accounting for the one-year delay in issuing the penalty, according to a commission official.

Clenbuterol is a popular bronchial dilator that is used therapeutically to treat horses with respiratory ailments. It also can be used to build muscle mass if it is administered to a horse regularly and frequently.

It also was learned Monday that trainer Wesley Ward is facing a 30-day suspension for a clenbuterol positive from a horse that ran at Belmont Park last summer. A notice on the gaming commission website said that Ward is appealing the positive, which was detected in post-race samples after Sunset Time finished third in the second race at Belmont on June 20, 2012.

Alvito would have been tested when the racing and wagering board was enforcing a rule that allowed horsemen to administer the drug outside of 96 hours of a race. Late last year, in order to address the possible abuse of the medication to build muscle, the board passed a rule prohibiting the drug within 21 days of a race, although that restriction was shortly thereafter amended to 14 days to align it with a national recommendation.

Zito is currently 13th in the trainer's standings by money won at Gulfstream Park in Florida, where he races during the winters. Under a system called reciprocity, racing jurisdictions honor suspensions levied in other states.

Also on Monday, the commission said it had issued a 60-day suspension to trainer Luis Alvarez, effective March 1, for a violation of a rule prohibiting possession of a hypodermic needle or controlled substances. The posting on the website said that the violation turned up after a search of Alvarez's barn on Feb. 14 of this year.

Alvarez has no wins from four starters at the current Aqueduct meet. He is not appealing the suspension.

[magicnight]

Mike;

At least in terms of racing results, Gene Klein did pretty well throwing money at the game for a few years (thanks to DWL). I\'m sure he dropped a small fortune but at least he won some big races.

I\'m trying hard to find a down side to Sheik Mo dropping out of the US scene, but if there is one it eludes me. I can\'t believe that fewer million dollar babies going through the sales ring is bad for anybody (other than the big breeders and the pinhookers who have already done such wonders for the game).

[TGJB]

\"But what exactly\" is right, Niall.

It will be effective in the sense that those not paying close attention (conflating the use of illegal drugs with legal ones) will get all aflutter. There\'s one letter already in today\'s TDN saying they should now stop calling the BC World Championships,and say U.S.

But all it\'s going to do is stir the pot. Meanwhile, there is real stuff that\'s more important going on. The Jockey Club finally realized (with me and undoubtedly others urging them) that separating the two issues was the only way to get movement, and now they are getting movement.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/76643/regulators-discuss-jockey-club-drug-rules

[miff]

Magic,

Right on the money.Rescuing the breeders and pin hookers is the old,sucker born every day,the newest super wealthy racing neophyte who\'s gonna put together the perfect racing stable, win lots of big races!

Sheik Mo made lots of people wealthy in Kentucky and is good for the game but believe his expectations far exceed his accomplishments on the racing side.When the British Bankers called him on the carpet during the financial crisis, he backed off spending at the sales.Sheik Mo said his personal money only was used in his horse racing venture not the monies of Dubai(there\'s a difference?)

Mike

[TGJB]

Good for the breeding industry and good for racing are not the same thing.

They have done unbelievably well in Europe.