What ever happened to innocent till proven guilty?
    June 21, 2010

    Let me start this article by reminding all of us where we live -- The United States of America.  Home of
    the free, brave, and innocent--until proven guilty. Therefore ever since I came here from my native
    Mexico, I have been told you are free as well as given a fair chance in life, not like other countries in
    this world. In addition, you will always be innocent until proven guilty -- and I believed that.

    However, recently a writer has been taking shots at a horseman (Luis Pena) by accusing him of doping his
    horses. Based on suspicion of: Lou Pena is winning too many races and improving too many horses off
    "superstar" trainers. Ironically, many of the trainers Pena has claimed off of are known for "juicing" horses.

    Now my first question is: When Lou Pena claims a horse, do you believe the horse improves because;
    (a) Lou is now racing the new horse without drugs,
    (b) Lou keeps him on the same drug as the previous trainer, or
    (c) Lou has a better drug than the trainer before?

    Which is it?  

    My question for all of you; Is it being productive by accusing Pena without proof of anything?

    Now, let’s not disregard that this acquisition did not surface until after the anticipated North America debut
    of New Zealand superstar pacer Auckland Reactor. Who by the way was blemished by one of Pena’s recent
    acquisition a four year old gelding by the name of Real Joke--a pacer he had just claimed two weeks
    previous for 40,000 off top Illinois native’s Julie & Andy Miller. Now he has demonstrated to be a good buy,
    after pacing 2 miles in 147.3, plus defeating some top pacers that also integrated one of this writer's
    horses.  

    Let’s think about this; is Lou Pena actually doping them? Well pending now, nobody really knows for sure.  
    What we do know is none of the test conducted by the New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania Racing
    Commissions have come up positive, given that all of Lou Pena’s horses have been tested before as well as
    after competition, at each racetrack he has competed at.

    Subsequently, how can an acquisition like this be made?  Is it because Lou Pena is Mexican? I mean it can't
    really be because of his win streak, can it? Lou is just the flavor of the time. Rucker, Anderson, Crogan,
    Gelrod, Robinson, Miller, Daley, Pelling. Does any of these names sound familiar?

    And many MANY more, all have records and have turned horses around like Clark Kent turns into Superman.

    So it can't be because of Pena's success.  You see, I don't believe the Pena hater's mission is about cleaning
    up racing - no not at all. If it was it would NOT be about ONE trainer -- but many. In fact, it would be more
    about making rules. But even an ignorant man knows that you have to be careful when making rules, that
    you don't shoot off your own foot. And maybe that is why we haven't heard the Pena haters talk about
    changing the systems rules....Are they scared that might hurt one of their friends or "club members" or even
    their own horses?

    In a country where innocent until proven guilty is the golden rule, or at least that is what Americans have
    been taught throughout the classrooms all over this country from California to New York to Florida and back
    to Washington, how can this be happening?

    Without question there is envy, covetousness, and jealousy when statements like that are being made
    without any prudent evidence to back it. It can't be based on just because of strong suspicions.

    The real question is…How can a Hispanic come in busted with only $18 in his pocket, a suitcase, a truck and
    trailer, no horses, and the attitude - "I didn't come here to make friends, I came out here to make money",
    and just a few months later be the king of the hill? Is it impossible? Nope. It's been happening for years --
    at the Meadowlands. And yes, let all the statistics speak.

    While they (the Pena protesters) are at the Golf course or in a Jacuzzi singing and puffing on their big cigars
    playing the big shot roll, socializing if you will, Lou Pena is doing his homework.

    I believe Lou Pena came in with a plan. Making friends was not part of the plan, but taking care of business
    and claiming horses was. All of this has paid off, but not without some hard work plus a little luck. People
    started to take notice and gave him a chance. Some big time owners like the Lightning Lane Stable gave
    Pena a opportunity.

    Let’s not think this is the first time this has happen. Not so long ago Noel Daley went out on his own after
    working for years for top conditioner Brett Pelling and that’s when owner Adam Victor gave him the
    opportunity.  

    As a matter of fact it happens all the time -- all over the USA. In Chicago, both Robin Schadt and Dave
    McCaffrey both had opportunities to hook up with big time owners like Dana Parham and the MJGB racing
    stables (now Z Tam Racing). So believe me it does happen - people get an opportunity. I've been around for
    35 years, not 5 and I am well aware of how the business works.

    As a fan, owner, and writer, I’m just sick as well as tired of every time someone claims a horse from
    someone that belongs to "THE CLUB" and improves him, automatically he is a doper, a cheat, and a thief.
    How come nobody ever gets credit where credit is due?

    And I know what I’m going to get and hear from this. I know I’m going to hear about his past. I know and
    its obvious that Lou Pena has had some positives in the past like this journalist is saying, you can look it up.

    Nevertheless, is Lou really alone or are there others who are currently racing at these same tracks as Mr.
    Pena who also have had positives in the past? Has Andrew's own trainer had any positives in the past? I
    trust the answer to all my questions are all the same.

    Therefore in my opinion there’s more to this story then what is really being written. Did Lou come out east
    and take one of this journalists horses or even a friend’s horse and improve them -- made em like it? I don’t
    know for sure, since they are all racing under stable names and such, therefore, I will not presume.
    However this journalist shouldn’t guess either if he does not know for certain if Mr. Pena is doping or not.

    Don't get me wrong, I for one, am all for making harness racing as fair as possible. But, if Mr. Huckleberry
    wants to change the rules to kick a trainer out of the game, then keep in mind the same rules will need to
    apply to all, and must not be changed when Huckleberry's trainer or friend fails to abide. You can't flop like a
    fish out of water.

    The real joke here is we have someone who wants to be like Judge Judy, but is acting like Boss Hogg.
Harness Guru
"The Swaymi"