Bad test or cover-up?
10/6/08 Terry Cullipher for KyHarnessRacing.com
10/6/08 Terry Cullipher for KyHarnessRacing.com
- Ladies and gentlemen of the jury - have you reached a verdict?
- I do believe they have. So why spend all that money on drug testing--I mean
ANY-KIND of drug testing?
If anyone has the abilility to know which trainer "gives" or "allows" their horse(s) to
be given drugs and which trainers do not, then there is no need for any kind of
drug testing.
It would be far more economical and effective if we had someone that could just
determine which trainers are using, which ones are not, and which ones would
NEVER use.
Or....and this is a personal favorite....."They looked me right in the eye and told me
they didn't do it." Now if you are one of these types of people, the kind that the
accused love to be honest with, then I ask you to please go before the KHRC, in
their next meeting, and ask them to cease all drug testing IMMEDIATELY. Then
make a request for them to start using you as their drug-doping-jury.
While the jury is deliberating, let's say that Brian, Mike, Tommy, and Gary (four
trainers known as "gyps") got positives for EPO during the overnight meet. What
would the jury have to say? How would they view the evidence? What would Joe
Costa have to say?
- Now let's say that Joe, Jim, Bob and Jon (four trainers known as "top trainers" in
the industry) got positives for EPO during the Grand Circuit meet. What would the
jury have to say? How would they view the evidence? What would Joe Costa have
to say?
It's possible that the four trainers that tested positive for blood-doping (EPO),
during the Grand Circuit have all been acquitted. And there names may never be
made public. Why? This is the question on everyone's mind. As Joe Costa says, the
owners were known in the industry for their integrity.
So, maybe it's the INTEGRITY thing that puts the whole testing system in question.
Joe Costa President of the Red Mile was quoted in the Herald Leader, speaking
about the owners of the horses that tested positives "They would rather not be in
the horse business than have horses like that." (story on Herald Leader web)
- Does this mean The Red Mile has doubts about their own drug tests?
- If their own "HOUSE RULES" left EPO testing in the gray area, then why did they
decide to test in the first place? Were they counting on NOT having any positives
with Grand Circuit?
- Making a decision to keep the names of the horses, trainers, and owners is beyond
me, but it's not surprising. This has left many people, insiders and outsiders, more
than skeptical.
Keeping secrets in today's world only creates more problems.
It leaves everyone, including the public, thinking that there is something to hide --
like a "Cover-up". We ARE talking about a track that has all four of its owners
participating in almost every event, aren't we? Does perception mean anything? If
this is the way drug testing is handled, then I don't want any part of it.
After this episode of "The Show" at The Red Mile, my vote would be to do away with
drug testing all together.
- If any type of testing is that unreliable, then stop that type of testing and make a
statement about the test. If the test is reliable, then make a statement.
With all due respect to Mr. Leavitt, as he stated that the whip was the cancer to our
sport, I tend to agree to disagree -- you can get rid of the whip. The real cancer in
this game are the actions of leaders and the people in power, that continue to insult
the intelligence of the general public and the people that care so much about the
sport. As much as I want to believe, I just don't know if there is a cure.
- The jury is in. What's it going to be?
