Man in Horse Dragging Case Sentenced

Remember the last one got seven days? This one didn't even get that!

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Five years of probation, no contact with animals, and one year in the county jail work release program. He's due to be sentenced Wednesday for a 2007 case of animal cruelty (new record for longest-running animal cruelty case I've heard of) and has yet to be sentenced for a 2008 case of attempting to fill fraudulent prescriptions (anyone want to bet the sentence for that is longer than the animal cruelty ones?).

This Week in Horse Racing

Happy Belmont week! I'm going to kick off today's post with a look at how this year's Belmont contenders are doing and then we'll see what the rest of the horse racing world is up to.

Belmont News

Stately Victor -- Was a few hours behind schedule but arrived safely at Belmont Park May 27. The colt galloped at easy 1 1/4 miles the day of the trip in preparation. He's entering the Belmont after finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby. On May 25 he worked five furlongs in :59.40 over Churchill Down's training track. He then galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.20.

Stay Put -- arrived on the sam flight as Victor and is adjusting well to his new surroundings. The colt's entering the Belmont off an allowance victory on the Kentucky Derby card.

Ice Box --worked a half-mile in :46 3/5 over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga May 27 in preparation for the Belmont. The work was the fastest of 22 at the distance and was only a 1/5 of a second slower than the work he turned in before finishing a closing second in the Derby. Ice Box is scheduled to arrive at Belmont Park June 2.

Dave in Dixie -- may also be joining the field of Belmont starters. Worked a mile at Hollywood Park in 1:39.60 May 27. Was fifth in his first start on dirt, the G3 Illinois Derby, last out and has not won a race yet this year.

Uptowncharlybrown -- joined Kiaran McLaughlin's barn earlier this month and is targeting the Belmont. In addition to the trainer change, the colt will not go to the post with blinkers as he has in his last two races including a fast-closing third in the Lexington Stakes last out. Went five furlongs in 1:01.34 May 29.

Make Music for Me -- breezed after arriving at Belmont Park May 23 covering a mile in 1:43.65. Finished fourth after rallying from last in the Kentucky Derby last out. He breezed four furlongs in :48 3/5 May 10 and five furlongs in 1:03 1/5 May 16 over Keeneland's synthetic surface.

Drosselmeyer -- worked six furlongs in 1:14.10 at Belmont May 23. Has never been off the board in eight starts.

First Dude -- breezed five furlongs in 1:01.12 May 29. Was the Preakness runner-up.

Hour Glass Slips Through, Holds On to Take Vagrancy

Hour Glass, a Todd Pletcher-trained filly, won the G2 Vagrancy Handicap by a half-length May 29. The four-year-old mare came into the Vagrancy with two wins in four starts for this year. It was her first stakes win. Rightly So set fast fractions early in the race, but managed to hold on to place second by a neck. Tar Heel Mom ralled around the turn but hit the wall and settled for third.

Tizaqueena Pulls Off Wire-to-Wire Arlington Matron

Favorite Tizaqueena held on to the lead for a two-length win the G3 Arlington Matron Handicap May 29. It was her first start on a synthetic track after she finished fifth in the Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs May 1. Tizaqueena broke slow from post 10 and angled to the inside before taking the lead and loping through the slow early fractions. She stretched out coming into the stretch and never looked back. Floating Heart rallied four wide to edge out last year's Matron winner, Euphony, for second. It was the mare's third victory in four starts for this year and brings her record to 8-3-1 in 15 starts.

Ailalea Holds Off Longshot to Win Dogwood

Ailalea, fifth in the Kentucky Oaks, returned to win the G3 Dogwood Stakes, holding off a fast-closing Tap Tap Tapping to win by a length. It was Ailalea's first win since last fall's Tempted Stakes. Helen Belen and Visavis dueled for the lead through fast early fractions while Ailalea settled in third outside them. Leaving the far turn, Ailalea swept around them to take the lead and held off Tap Tap Tapping. Fuzzy Britches closed to finish third.

Country Flavor Scores Upset in Stakes Debut

21-1 longshot, Country Flavor, won his stakes debut, the G3 Hanshin Cup Handicap May 29. The 4-year-old tracked the early leaders and claimed the lead coming into the stretch to hold off a late charge to win by three-quarters of a length. Mad Flatter set a slow pace with Wildeydsouthernboy and Country Flavor settled in off the pace. Country Flabor moved up on the turn and stole the lead despite a slight bump from Mad Flatter entering the stretch. Recapturetheglory tried to rally, but didn't have it. Tybalt, however, came up with a late run, but ran out of track. The favorite, Gran Estreno, was a length back in third. Country Flavor was coming off three consecutive losses including a last-place finish in an optional claiming allowance in his turf debut last out. His last win was an optional claimer in January.

Riley Tucker Sails to Aristides Win

Riley Tucker rode the rail to win the G3 Aristides Stakes by two lengths. It was the five-year-old's second win of the year in six starts. Atta Boy Roy broke in the air but caught up with pacesetter, Chief of Affairs, and ran with him until Atta Boy Roy moved out in the stretch. Riley Tucker rallied on the rail to sweep past him in the final furlong. The favorite, Cash Refund, didn't have it and finished third.

Tuscan Evening Steals First Grade 1 Win in Gamely

Favorite, Tuscan Evening, earned her first grade I win by outfighting Forever Together to win the G1 Gamely Stakes by a half-length May 29. It was Tuscan Evening's fifth consecutive graded stakes victory and brings her over the $1 million mark in earnings. The five-year-old mare took the lead from pacesetter Cat by the Tale in the stretch and held off a late charge by Forever Together. It was her eleventh win in 15 starts since her arrival in the U.S. last year. She is undefeated in five starts this year. Cat by the Tale broke from the far outside and jumped to the front, setting a moderate pace. Tuscan evening raced a length behind in second with Forever Together in fifth going into the final turn. At the top of the stretch, Tuscan Evening moved out eagerly to duel Cat by the Tale. In mid-stretch, Tuscan Evening got her head in front and moved away. Forever Together moved past Cat by the Tale but couldn't catch Tuscan Evening.

Three NC Horses Seized

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Three starving horses were seized in North Carolina after being found by an animal control officer while they were returning a stolen horse to its owner.

"Failure to nourish." Never heard it put quite that way before...

Eleven Horses Killed in Wreck

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It seems like this is the second or third wreck I've read about in the last week.

The state veterinarian described the turnpike wreck that ended in the deaths of 11 horses Tuesday as horrendous but said it doesn’t appear the horse owner or trucking company did anything illegal.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the wreck happened about 6 a.m. Tuesday on the Turner Turnpike near the Interstate 35 exit when the driver apparently fell asleep.

Troopers issued a reckless driving citation to the driver, Christopher Dobbin, 28, of Missouri, Capt. Chris West said.

The driver told troopers he was hauling 30 horses.

"Our biggest concerns were that the horses that need to be tended to were tended to, and the ones that needed to be euthanized were euthanized,” Brewer said. "It went as well as it could have possibly gone considering the circumstances.”

The surviving horses were corralled into a trailer where they were examined by veterinarians and later released to the owner. They were taken to a private facility near Cushing for further care.

The highway patrol has not completed its investigation. The state veterinarian’s office said all horses were properly documented and were traveling on health certificates that allowed for transport from Missouri to Texas.

Yeah, I'm sure he was traveling to Texas. Through Texas maybe.

Paragallo Given Maximum Sentence

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*celebrates*

Ernie Paragallo, a prominent horse owner and breeder, was given the maximum sentence of two years in jail and a $33,000 fine on Tuesday, after his conviction on 33 counts of animal cruelty for starving and neglecting horses on his farm in the Hudson Valley.

After a sentencing hearing in Greene County, N.Y., Judge George J. Pulver Jr. delivered the sentence, which will also include restitution to animal rescue groups. Pulver said the amount of the restitution would be determined at a later hearing.

“Your moral compass is out of kilter and points you in improper directions,” Pulver told Paragallo at his sentencing. “Your sense of integrity, your code of conduct, your perception of right and wrong was perhaps formed by your days on either mean streets or Wall Street.”

Wish he could sentence all horse abuse cases...

The Columbia-Greene Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals spent more than $82,000 caring for and finding homes for 96 of Paragallo’s mistreated horses. Six horses were too sick to recover and were euthanized.

Perhaps he should pay for that too. I think he is though.

In New York, tighter regulations have been put in to bar horsemen who have committed inhumane acts. In December the New York Racing Association said it would bar owners or trainers from competing at its racetracks if any of their horses were sold for slaughter.

Paragallo’s lawyer, Michael Howard, said he believed the sentence was too long and that his client would appeal.

“I am exceeding disappointed with the severity of the sentence,” Howard said. “He’s 52 with no prior record. The maximum sentence is not warranted.”

Do you really think that or are you just saying that because you lost? The maximum sentence is most certainly warranted. It ought to be worse. So he'll be 54 when he gets out of jail. If he'd murdered a person, I wouldn't stand up and say no to life because he's 52.

Ohio Officials Looking for Owner of Two Horses

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It's a chestnut horse and an adorable paint mini. As much as I wish it wasn't true, I'm betting that they were let loose.

This Week in Horse Racing

Smiling Tiger Goes Wire to Wire

Smiling Tiger led the field all the way and held off favorite, Concord Point, on his way to victory in the G3 Lazaro Barrera Memorial Stakes. It was Tiger's first graded stakes win. It was Smiling Tiger's first win since dominating in the Lost in the Fog Stakes by eight lengths last June. Smiling Tiger claimed the lead right out of the gate and led by a length over Macias and Concord Point. The trio relaxed into the backstretch with Tiger clicking off fast fractions. Tiger held onto the lead with Macias and Concord Point edging up on him into the backstretch. Concord Point continued to edge into Tiger's lead, but failed to move fast enough and finished second by a half-length. Domonation moved up with a late run to finish third.

Free Fighter Upsets in Louisville Handicap

Free Fighter stole the lead and drew off to post a 12-1 upset in the 1 1/2-mile G3 Louisville Handicap over the Chuchill Downs turf course. Free Fighter stayed just off the pace through the race while moving a little wide while Eagle Poise and the favorite, Telling, battled for the early lead. With three furlongs left to go, Free Fighter moved up on the outside and pulled clear in the stretch. Bearpath made a late run to finish second by two lengths. Brass Hat failed to hold on and finished third.

Treat Gently Gets First U.S. Win

Treat Gently, a group II winner in France, won her first U.S. stakes race in the G2 Sheepshead Bay Stakes over Belmont's turf. The 5-year-old mare swept past the leader going into the stretch and drew away to win by 4 1/2 lengths. She settled in second as Pari clicked off slow fractions. Treat Gently closed in the final turn and took control at the top of the stretch from Pari. Nahantic Kat rallied from last and got up for second in the final strides over Bubbly Jane. Treat Gently made her first American start last July where she defeated an allowance field at Belmont before running sixth in the E.P. Taylor Stakes in Canada. She returned in 2010 to finish second in the G2 San Gorgonio Handicap, seventh in the G2 Santa Ana Handicap, and sixth in the G2 Jenny Wiley Stakes.

Avenue of Flags Euthanized

The 22-year-old stallion, Avenue of Flags, was euthanized after an accident in his paddock May 14. He had been moved to Winners Circle in New Mexico last fall for the 2010 breeding season. Avenue of Flags has sired 500 foals from 18 crops including 20 stakes winners such as last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag. Avenue of Flags made only three starts in his racing career. He broke his maiden first out, ran second to Deposit Ticket in the G2 Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes, and then went on to win an allowance in his first and only start as a three-year-old. Avenue of Flags is also the sire of grade I winners, Joey Franco and Notable Career, and grade II winners Belle's Flag, Fleet Lady and Victor Avenue.

Belmont News, Field Uncertain as Third Jewel Approaches

With the third jewel of the Triple Crown only two weeks away, the field is still shifting and changing. Spangled Star has been added to the field while New Madrid has been withdrawn. Spangled Star finished third in the G3 Withers Stakes April 24. New Madrid finished fifth in an allowance May 20 and with skip the Belmont. Make Music for Me, fourth in the Kentucky Derby, arrived at Belmont Park May 17 and is still a possibility. Devil May Care, the lone filly in the Kentucky Derby who finished tenth, will go towards the Mother Goose Stakes instead of the Belmont. Ice Box, second in the Kentucky Derby and probable morning-line favorite for the Belmont, turned in his first work since the Derby. He covered four furlongs in :49.65 at Saturday May 19. Another Zito horse, the Dwyer winner, Fly Down, is also pointing towards the Belmont. Lookin' at Lucky, the Preakness winner, will also be skipping the Belmont along with Kentucky Derby winner, Super Saver. It's the first year since 2006 that neither the Derby nor Preakness winner will compete. Setsuko, runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby, is laid up for a couple months because of inflammation in his ankles and will miss the Belmont. Dublin, seventh in the Derby and fifth in the Preakness, will skip the Belmont. Had he gone, Dublin would have been the only 3-year-old to run in all three legs. Stay Put worked six furlongs in 1:14 at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Belmont. The probable field is currently at about ten including Ice Box, Fly Down, Drosselmeyer, First Dude, Game on Dude, Make Music for Me, Stately Victor, Spangled Star, and Uptowncharlybrown.

Pure Clan Out Until July

After being diagnosed with a bruised left front food, the five-year-old turf mare will be returning to training in early July. When the mare refused to train, it was feared that her racing career might be coming to an end. After a visit to Rood & Riddle, she was laid off at the farm. Pure Clan hasn't raced since finishing second in last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She was turned out for the winter and was working lightly towards her 2010 debut.

Marquetry Pensioned at 23

Marquetry has been pensioned from study duty because of declining fertility at 23 years old. he was standing his first year at Stonewall Farm in Ocala, Florida. Marquetry covered 38 mares this season before being pensioned. He sired 35 stakes winners and45 stakes-placed runners. He also sired two Breeders' Cup Sprint winners: Artax in 1999, and Squirtle in 2001. He's also the sire of graded winners American Freedom, Max's Pal, Mass Market, and Unanme.

Bellamy Road's First Start Wins First Race

Bellamy Road received his first winner as a sire when the filly, Bella Palooza, won her first race, a maiden at Hollywood Park. Bellamy Road won the 2005 Wood Memorial Stakes by over 17 lengths.

Starving Horses Rescued from Maryland Farm

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At a farm located on King Wildesen Road in Garrett County, Maryland, 49 horses and cattle were rescued. At least 17 carcasses were found; 10 were horses and several were cattle according to Garrett County Humane Society.

The Days End Farm Horse Rescue took in 26 horses. All presented in different degrees of starvation and neglect. On the Henneke Scale, an objective evaluation of a horse's body condition, with numbers ranging from 1 to 9, and a body condition of 3 meaning no fat reserves on the horse's body, the horses were rated as a 1. According to the horse rescue, on an average, each horse was underweight 200 pounds. The rescued cattle were brought to a farm near the horse rescue.

"This was the largest number of animals ever seized at one time," stated Investigator Deb Clatterbuck, Garrett County Humane Society. A forensic pathologist specializing in animal neglect cases will examine the remains of the animals found to determine the cause of their deaths. Some of the carcasses had been thrown on garbage piles and recently burned.

The owner of the property was not present during the seize, and his name has not been released. Charges will most likely be of neglect against the owner.

I'm going to take a wild guess here and say they probably starved to death. Seeing as the horses rated a one.

Montana Zoning Ordinance Prevents Horse Slaughterhouse

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In a statement presented to Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA), Mayor Kimberly A. Hammond announced an ordinance that prohibits the slaughter of more than 25 animals in a seven day period within the city limits. Montana Representative Ed Butcher's plan in Hardin, MT calls for a horse slaughter facility equipped to kill 200 to 400 horses a week and would have forced the city to construct a new waste water treatment plant. Hammond doubted the city would have been able to get the aid to fund a 6 to 8 million dollar treatment plant.

In February, 2009, Former Mayor Paula Bacon of Kaufman, Texas related her own experiences how the horse slaughter industry caused significant and long term hardships. Dallas Crown, one of the last three horse slaughter plants in the US caused problems since opening in the the late 1970's until their doors were finally closed in February, 2007. In her " Open Letter to State Legislatures Considering Pro-Horse Slaughter Resolutions," Bacon described the odor and waste water effluence violations, foul odors of decaying meat, vermin, carrion and the "leaking and uncovered" liquids spilling along city streets as the trucks left the facility.

Bacon continued with a description of the negative effects on the development of surrounding properties and the stigma it created toward the development of Kaufman.

All three horse slaughter facilities operating in the US were foreign owned, and on inspection of their books, it was learned the Dallas Crown slaughter house paid only $5 of taxes to the US on the gross income of $12,000,000. More than $5,000,000 a year was spent in Federal funding to support the three plants in the US.

Similar violations of waste water regulations, clogged sewer lines, and spilled and pumped blood into nearby creeks have been documented for Fort Worth's Beltex, another Texas slaughter house now closed.

In DeKalb, Illinois, Cavel Horse Slaughter plant burned down in 2002, and was rebuilt in 2004. They were fined every month from the time they reopened until closing in 2007 for consistently exceeding discharge guidelines with fines totaling $100,000.

Since closing in the US, Cavel has moved to Canada. Twyla Francois, of the prestigious Canadian Horse Defence Coalition presents a compelling short video of footage taken at Natural Valley Farms which shows evidence of illegal dumping of horse blood transported by tanker trucks and released onto grain fields which lead directly to the Qu'Appelle River in Saskatchewan.

The EWA provided the city manager and Mayor Hammond records of sanitary district violations of the Cavel slaughterhouse to help the city make information of past similar plans and results available to the public where it concerns safety, health and tax dollar expenses.

In a statement from Former Mayor Bacon, she states, " In terms of desirable economic development, horse slaughter ranks below a lead smelter plant as to the environment and a sexually oriented business that stigmatizes a community."

Horse Slaughter Debate Continues

(Sorry. I found a lot of stories on horse slaughter this week.)

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On June, 2007 a federal judge refused the request from Cavel to stay open thus closing down the last horse slaughter facility in the United States. With a host of violations for discharging waste water with excessive levels of contamination, the DeKalb plant racked up over $80,000 in fines in one year. The Government Accounting Office ( GAO) the independent non-partisan federal agency that acts as the investigative arm of Congress concluded that horses slaughtered in the United States were being slaughtered alive and while still conscious; a violation of the Humane Care for Animals Act.

Does anyone else find it disgusting that a horse slaughter plant can rack up violations every month, and the only thing that happens is more fines? Let me tell you something. If someone violates a law, receives the punishment, and then does it again. Do you REALLY think it's a good idea to continue with the same punishment every single time?? Why don't you...say...shut the place down.

Illinois State Representative Jim Sacia has reintroduced HB 4812 to repeal the 2007 Illinois ban on horse slaughter and would allow Cavel to resume slaughtering horses. Yesterday the State House Committee on Agriculture and Conservation passed the bill, however Illinois Governor Pat Quinn vows to protect all animals and will not allow any kind of legislation that allows cruelty to animals.

Sacia's bill would also allow horses to be shipped into the state for slaughter for human consumption with no certificates of veterinary inspection and exempt downed, sick, diseased, lame or disabled horses from the requirement of the Humane Care for Animals Act. Humane organizations and animal advocates are shocked at such an egregious bill.

That. Is. Disgusting. If a person's severely sick or disabled we don't just take them out back and shoot them! So why does that make doing it with horses okay?

In Florida, Representatives Luis Garcia (D-Miami) and Senator Victor Crist (R-Tampa) have introduced identical bills (HB765 and SB1708) making it a third degree felony for anyone to illegally kill, maim, mutilate or cause great bodily harm or permanent breeding disability to any equine. The bill would also make it illegal to:

"knowingly transport, distribute, sell, purchase, or possess horsemeat for human consumption that is not clearly stamped, marked, and described as horsemeat for human consumption or horse meat that is not acquired from a licensed slaughterhouse."

"Under Statute 828.125 humane advocates do not want horses to be considered livestock," states Jennifer Swanson, co-founder of Pure Thoughts Foal and Horse Rescue, Loxahatchee. "We are very grateful for the introduction of the new bill, but horses have never been bred or raised as food sources and are generally considered companion animals. And understand this that I think ALL animals should be protected from cruelty. The advocates of horse welfare and the horse industry don't want to go up against the cattlemen. We just want to help keep horses in the State of Florida safe."

Horse slaughter in the United States has been a very contentious issue, and both sides agree there is a national crisis and something must be done to help all horses, however the overwhelming majority of Americans are against the cruelty and inhumanity of horse slaughter. It is a myth that banning horse slaughter has resulted in an increased number of abandoned and unwanted horses. Horse slaughter encourages over breeding for profit.

Horse Slaughter Bill Pulled From Missouri Legislation

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Representative Jim Viebrock's provision to allow horse slaughter for human consumption was pulled from the agriculture bill yesterday. Had the bill passed, horse slaughter would have been made possible in Missouri again. Viebrock stated he was not surprised the bill was pulled.

In March, HB1747 passed but was tabled in the Senate's Agricultural Food Product and Outdoor Resources Committee. The language was later slipped into SB795. Designed to circumvent the 2006 Congressional ban of federal tax dollars going toward inspection of horse meat slaughtering plants, lawmakers decided to remove the legislation because they were unclear if the USDA and Congress would honor the law. Viebrock wanted to create a state level fund for the slaughterhouses to pay for federal inspectors. USDA approval is required before meat can be labeled for human consumption.

Just recently a new study was done following 18 Thoroughbred race horses from the racetrack to slaughterhouses in Canada. Thoroughbreds were used because of their tattoos and were easy to track. Evidence of carcinogenic medications was traced to every horse; the drugs are prohibited in food producing animals in the US. The new regulations instituted by the EU calling for a record of all drugs used in horses began in January and will become effective in July. The use of some popular horse medications will ban a large population of horses from slaughter for the purpose of human consumption.

Supporters of horse slaughter state the horse market has been ruined since the last three US horse slaughterhouses have closed.They blame the federal government for more horses being abused.

The horse market was NOT ruined by the closing of the last three US slaughterhouses. The reason more horses are being abused is NOT because of the slaughterhouses closing OR because of the federal government. The horse market is in a slump and more horses are being abused because the economy SUCKS. When the economy sucks, no one has any money. So stop running around trying to work on quick fixes and go find the root of the problem.

Opponents of horse slaughter say the economy is more of a factor in the down horse market. They cite the numbers of horses still exported to Canada and Mexico for slaughter as proof, and have shown how supply and demand are the ultimate determinating factors for the number of horses to be slaughtered. Opponents had been using Facebook and Twitter to urge Missouri lawmakers to oppose the Senate bill.

Aurora Woman Charged with Cruelty to Animals

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Investigators from the SPCA Serviing Erie County have charged the owner of a Town of Aurora horse farm with 10 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty after the agency removed 73 horses, 53 cats and four dogs from Eden Farms on Emery Road in March.

Investigators disclosed the charges Saturday and said they were tied to neglect and care of seven horses and three cats. The charges, which fall under the state Agriculture and Markets Law, were filed against Beth Hoskins, who faces arraignment on the counts May 26 in Aurora Town Court.

“They’re definitely some very serious charges. Each animal is a life,” said Jeff Eyre, northeast director of field investigations and responses for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Eyre has assisted the SPCA Serving Erie County with the sheltering, management and care of more than 70 horses.

Hoskins’ attorney on Saturday maintained his client’s innocence.

“She believes the animals were properly cared for and she’s absolutely innocent,” said her attorney, Barry Covert. He declined to comment further until he reviews the charges.

This is why I will never be an attorney. That's what you guys ALWAYS say. "She didn't know any better. She didn't mean to harm the animals." You can't accidentally starve 73 horses. It doesn't matter what she believes. It matters what actually happened. We don't let murderers off because they believed they were doing the right thing in shooting someone.

Each count could carry a $1,000 fine and/or one year in jail, said Gina Browning, public relations director for the SPCA.

Dozens of the mostly Morgan-type horses that were seized in March were recently taken to foster “horse farms” in the area. Investigators have termed it the biggest local roundup of large animals in decades. Eyre said the horses are doing well in each of their foster locations.

So far, the total cost stemming from the case and care of the animals has exceeded $110,000, Browning said. “It’s the largest animal case we’ve been involved in and also with the most extreme level of community support.”

“Nobody ever forgot about this,” she said. “This is an expensive case, and the community has backed us up.”

Investigators selected the animals that were in the “worst” shape and required the most care in assessing evidence before levying the charges, Browning said.

“Some of the horses have gained a tremendous amount of weight. All of them are now able to be handled by people who know horses,” Eyre said. “That is huge from when we first started working with these guys.”

Browning said work on a civil case involving Hoskins is still ongoing.

Skip Away Dies at 17 Years Old

Skip Away was born April 4, 1993 in Florida. He was out of Ingot Way and sired by Skip Trial. As a yearling, Skip Away was bought by Hubert Hine for his wife whose vision problems made it difficult for her to spot any other colored horse on the track. The original sale price was $30,000, but it was knocked down to $22,500 after a chip was discovered in the colt's ankle. The surgery to remove the chip was never done.

At two, Skip Away raced six times, and won only once, his record for the year 6-1-3-1. He destroyed a maiden field by almost thirteen lengths at Monmouth Park. He then went on to finish second in the G2 Remsen Stakes by a neck, second in the G2 Cowdin Stakes by a nose, and second in the Gilded Time Stakes, his first start on turf. He also finished third in the World Appeal Stakes.

At three, Skip Away cast off his average two-year-old record and began to shine. His record was 12-6-2-2. His wins included the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup where he defeated the superhorse Cigar, G1 Woodbine Million Stakes by four lengths, G1 Haskell Invitational Handicap, G2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes by six lengths, the G2 Ohio Derby by three and a half, and an allowance at Gulfstream where he dominated the field by twelve lengths. He also finished third in the G1 Travers Stakes and G1 Florida Derby.

Skip Away didn't have much luck in the Triple Crown. He finished a dismal twelfth in the Kentucky Derby before coming back to finish second in the Preakness to Louis Quatorze and second in the Belmont to Editor's Note.

Skip Away's season earned him the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year Old Colt in 1996.

The now four-year-old colt only continued to improve. He was never out of the money at four, with a record of 4-5-2 in eleven starts and over $4 million in earnings. The crown jewel of his season was a win the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic in 1:59.00. He also won the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup for the second consecutive year, G2 Suburban Handicap, and G3 Massachusetts Handicap. He finished second in the G1 Pimlico Special to Gentleman, G1 Woodward Stakes to Formal Gold, G1 Gulfstream Park Handicap to Mt. Sassafras, G1 Donn Handicap to Formal Gold, and G2 Philip H. Iselin Handicap to Formal Gold. He was third in the both G1 Whitney Handicap and the Texas Mile Stakes.

He was the 1997 winner of the Eclipse Award for Champion Older Male.

At five, Skip Away was at his best. He won seven of his eight races, finishing third only once. Skip Away won the G1 Hollywood Gold Cup, G1 Pimlico Special Handicap by three and a quarter lengths, G1 Woodward Stakes, G1 Gulfstream Park Handicap by two and a quarter lengths, G1 Donn Handicap by two and three-quarter lengths, G2 Phillio H. Iselin Handicap, and G2 Massachusetts Handicap in a new track record time of 1:47.15. His only loss of the year came in his attempt to win the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup for the third consecutive year. He lost to Wagon Limit and Gentleman.

After his winning season at five, he was named the 1998 Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male.

Skip Away's final record was 18-10-6 out of 38 starts and $9,616,360 in earnings. He's the third richest racehorse in North America. He was inducted into the U.S. National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2004.

As a sire, Skip Away stood for $10,000 in Kentucky and produced twenty stakes winners.

The 17-year-old stallion died of an apparent heart attack on May 14th in his paddock at Hopewell Farm.

RIP Skip Away

This Week in Horse Racing

Lookin at Lucky ending Super Saver's Triple Crown bid wasn't the only thing that happened in horse racing this weekend! So let's take a look back and see what happened on the sidelines.

Strike a Deal Returns to Racing with a Bang

Strike a Deal pulled off a 14-1 upset in the G2 Dixie Stakes over Pimlico's turf track right before the Preakness starters went to the post. The 6-year-old colt was returning to racing after being laid off for over ten months. Strike a Deal took the lead right out of the gate, moving through an easy early pace and held on to the lead over a quickly rallying Just as Well. Rahystrada finished third. Nicanor, Barbaro's full brother making his stakes debut, was on Strike a Deal's tail throughout the race and looked to be moving up, but failed to find another gear and faded to sixth. Strike a Deal hit the million-dollar mark in earnings with his win. The stallion hadn't raced since finishing seventh in the G1 United Nations Stakes last July.

Taqarub Goes Wire to Wire in Maryland Sprint

Taqarub posted a 13-1 upset when we went wire to wire in the G3 Maryland Sprint Handicap. Roaring Lion finished second by a length with last year's Maryland Sprint winner, Ravalo, in third by a head. The colt broke from post 8 and clipped off moderate fractions while under pressure by longshot, Despite the Odds. Taqarub opened up to a length and a half lead at the eighth pole and held onto it. Last year Taqarub joined the Triple Crown hopefuls after dominating by 8 1/4 lengths in the Jimmy Winfelt Stakes at Aqueduct. Those dreams dissipated after he faded to finish a well-beaten ninth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. He went on to run second in the G3 Bay Share Stakes before a disappointed sixth-place finish in the G3 Hirsch Jacobs Stakes last year on Preakness Day. He returned in February of this year and finished tenth in an allowance going a mile. He then shortened up to his preferred sprint distance and won a money allowance over Keeneland's Polytrack.

Rainbow View Earns her First North American Graded Stakes Victory

Rainbow View, the favorite in the race, earned her first NA graded stakes in the G3 Gallorette Handicap. Rainbow View was shuffled to the back of the field and laid back in sixth for most of hte race. Love's Blush and Denomination lead the field through a slow early pace. As the field turned for home, Rainbow View made her move, moving between horses just off the rail. Quiet Meadow also made her move just outside. Rainbow View steered around Quiet Meadow and moved up to win by half a length. Ave was a head back in third. Rainbow View won her first group I race at Ascot in September 2008 in the Meon Valley Stud Filles Mile. At three, she finished third in the G1 Coronation Stakes in England before taking the G1 Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes in Ireland. She then shipped to North American to finish second in the G1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine and fifth in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Stakes, her first try over a synthetic track and her first start in the U.S. Rainbow View won the Gallorette after a victory in an allowance over Keeneland's turf course earlier this year.

Blame Returns in 2010 with Victory

Blame won his first start of the year in the G3 William Donald Schaefer Stakes. Blame sat off the pace set by Understatement just off the rail. He moved up on the rail, surging between horses to pull away to an easy 1 1/2-length win. Blame could make his next start in the G1 Stephen Foster Handicap June 12. Last year's Schaefer winner rallied from last to finish a driving second. Timber Reserve made a bid in the stretch, but failed to hold on and finished third. Blame has now won six of his nine career starts.

Funny Moon Draws Away to Easy Shuvee Win

Funny Moon pulled away in the stretch to post an upset over favorite, Seattle Smooth, in the G2 Shuvee Handicap. The Shuvee is the second stakes win of her career. Her first took place last July in the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks, also at Belmont. Solo Piano set moderate splits throughout the race, tracked by Funny Moon. Solo Piano, Funny Moon, and Seattle Smooth hit the top of the stretch together, but Funny Moon took command and drew away to a 2 3/4 length win. Seattle Smooth chased on from the outside, but couldn't catch the winner. Milwaukee Appeal trailed back in third.

Acclamation Shatters 11-Race Losing Streak

Acclamation earned his first graded stakes win and broke his losing streak in half with an upset in the G2 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap. Acclamation sped to the lead and opened up to lead by ten lengths with four furlongs remaining. He drifted out in the stretch, but held on to win by 7 1/2 lengths. Falcon Rock finished second with Rendezvous in third. Acclamation's victory in the 12-furlong victory is the longest in it's 20-year history. It was the colt's first victory since winning an optional claiming allowance last August.

Comedero Extends Streak to Four

Comedero extending his win streak to four consecutive races with his win the G3 Chick Lang Stakes. The gelding has now won seven of his eight lifetime starts. Securing the lead out of the gate and riding the rail, the Camedero was pressured by Quiet Invader before edging clear at teh quarter pole. Comedero drifted a bit entering the stretch but straightened out to pull away to a 3 3/4 length victory. Latigo Shore rallied from second-to-last to finish second in front of favorite, Quiet Invader.

Acting Happy pulls Black-Eyed Susan Upset in a Troubled Race

Acting Happy pulled a 10-1 upset in her stakes debut, a very troubled G2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. Acting Happy was making the fourth start of her career with only a maiden win to her credit and coming off a pair of second places in two allowances. Acting Happy pressed the pace set by Khancord Kid. As they went into the far turn, back in the pack Diva Delite clipped heels with CC's Pal. Diva Delite stumbled and threw Julien Leparoux. The accident threw Seeking the Title off stride and unseated Kent Desormeaux. Desormeaux escaped injury, but Leparoux received medial attention on the track before being moved to the hospital. It was later announced that Leparoux had no broken bones and he returned to ride Pleasant Prince and his other mounts on Preakness Day the next day. There's no word on the condition of the horses, though both were caught by outriders after the race and appeared to be fine. Oblivious to the disaster behind them, Khancord Kid, Tidal Pool, and Acting Happy came off the final turn heads apart. Acting Happy wore down Tidal Pool approaching the sixteenth pole and then held off a late charge from No Such Word, winning by 1 1/2 lengths. No Such Word finished second with Tidal Pool back in third. Acting Happy is now 2-2-0 from four starts.

No Triple Crown Winner This Year...

...because Lookin' at Lucky won the Preakness!!!!!!!!

Pacesetter First Dude held out for second, and Jackson Bend made a late rally to finish a close third. Super Saver failed to fire and finished eighth.

Looks like the least it's going to be is thirty-three years since the last Triple Crown winner.

Going to the Post Tomorrow Are...

There are some familiar and unfamiliar names going to the post this Saturday for the Preakness Stakes. Post positions were announced on Wednesday. Let's see who's coming to the post to challenge Super Saver.

1. Aikenite: 8-1-2-2. Did not run in the Derby. Second in the G3 Derby Trial last out.
2. Schoolyard Dreams: 6-2-2-1. Did not run in the Derby. Fourth in the G1 Wood Memorial last out.
3. Pleasant Prince: 9-1-2-2. Did not run in the Derby. Third in the G3 Derby Trial last out.
4. Northern Giant: 9-1-2-2. Did not run in the Derby. Ninth in the G1 Arkansas Derby last out.
5. Yawanna Twist: 4-2-2-0. Did not run in the Derby. Second in the G3 Illinois Derby last out.
6. Jackson Bend: 10-5-4-0. Twelfth in the Kentucky Derby.
7. Lookin' at Lucky: 9-6-1-1. Sixth in the Kentucky Derby.
8. Super Saver: 7-3-2-1. Winner of the Kentucky Derby.
9. Caracortado: 7-5-0-1. Did not run in the Derby. Fourth in the G1 Santa Anita Derby last out.
10. Paddy O'Prado: 7-1-2-3. Third in the Kentucky Derby.
11. First Dude: 6-1-3-1. Did not run in the Derby. Third in the G1 Blue Grass Stakes last out.
12. Dublin: 9-2-1-2. Seventh in the Kentucky Derby.

Horse Slaughter Bill Fails for This Year

Link

A horse slaughter bill that was criticized by Willie Nelson has failed this session of the Tennessee General Assembly.

The measure sponsored by Republican Rep. Frank Niceley of Strawberry Plains was unanimously sent to a summer study committee by the House Finance Committee on Tuesday. The companion bill has been withdrawn from consideration in the Senate.

Niceley's proposal said the slaughtering of horses is "best addressed by proper state regulations and inspection and not by banning the humane slaughter of surplus domestic horses at the federal level."

Nelson, who is promoting a bill in Congress called the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, is a vocal opponent of the practice. He criticized Niceley's bill in an opinion piece that ran in The Tennessean.

Exactly how many times has this failed now? It seems like I've been watching similar bills for years now.

Six Months Later, Horse Shot in Head Doing Well

Link [There's a picture. He's a cute guy. :)] Unfortunately it looks like the guy that did it was never caught.

RIFLE (AP) - Liz Chandler still checks in on the horse called Lu.

Lu was shot in the head and left for dead near Rulison last November. According to Chandler, of Emergency Veterinary Care, Lu has made a remarkable recovery.

“He is looking really good," Chandler said.

Lu has gained weight and now is healthier and can hold his head up. He was unable to do so when a passer-by on Interstate 70 first discovered the injured horse covered in blood from a gunshot wound, near the Rulison exit.

“It appears that he will make a miraculous recovery," Chandler said. “And that is due to the care of Mike and Linda Walck. They have done a fantastic job."

Lu is a grey gelding who suffered from what authorities expect was a botched shooting of the animal in November. Chandler suspects that whoever shot the horse did so because he suffers from arthritis in his front left leg.

Chandler said the ailment affects Lu enough that he is not fit to ride.

But that is no excuse for what happened.

According to the Garfield County Sheriff's Office, deputies discovered the horse the evening of Nov. 9. They then called in Mike Walck, who is a state brand inspector, to see if they could identify the horse's owner.

However, Lu was not branded and did not have any other identifying marks.

Lu was shot with a .22 caliber gun in the front of the nose. An exit wound was discovered about five inches below his right ear. The bullet penetrated and fractured his sinus cavity, narrowly missing his brain, according to Chandler.

Lu wandered more than a half-mile from where he was shot, according to Walck, who followed the blood trail to the shooting location.

Man Accused of Dragging Horse Sentenced

Link

This isn't even a slap on the wrist!!!!!

LEXINGTON — A man accused of dragging a horse behind his trailer last summer was sentenced to seven days in jail and two years probation Friday.

It's official. There is no such thing as justice.

Tyler C. Brockman, 22, of Kearney was sentenced in Dawson County District Court. Brockman was previously convicted of cruelty and neglect to an animal, a Class IV felony, in the July 4 incident.

According to court records, after attending a rodeo in Sumner he went to a bar and drank five to six beers. Before entering the bar, he had tied a horse to the back of his stock trailer. He left and drove through Sumner with the horse still tied to the trailer.

Brockman drug the horse for about a mile before a person stopped him just east of Sumner. The horse was put into the trailer, and Brockman left the area.

Brockman was stopped later that evening in Buffalo County and arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The horse was later found dead on a farm north of Funk.

In court Friday, Brockman told District Judge James E. Doyle he had made restitution for the loss of the horse, which he did not own. He said he had entered an outpatient program for the treatment of alcohol abuse and was attending Alcoholics Anonymous.

Doyle ordered Brockman not to own nondomestic animals or to be involved in handling animals. He will be allowed to work with animals owned by other people.

Tell me this a joke. Come on, tell me I didn't read what I just thought I read. He will be allowed to work with animals owned by other people. WHAT??? Okay, first of all, the horse that he killed wasn't owned by him so clearly that doesn't really matter to him. Also, what's the definition of nondomestic animals??

Brockman has already been convicted of driving under the influence in Buffalo County and served a 15-day sentence. He was also placed on nine months probation, ordered to pay a $500 fine, had his license suspended for one year, and was required to complete an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment program.

The sentence for driving under the influence was almost more than the sentence for dragging a horse behind a trailer to death.

This Week in Horse Racing

The Preakness is only a week away! So let's check out what went on in horse racing last week.

Fly Down Destroys Dwyer Field

Fly Down showed himself as a solid Belmont hopeful with his win in the G2 Dwyer Stakes May 8th at Belmont. Fly Down went four-wide around the turn, took over at the top of the stretch, and drew away to win by six lengths. It was the colt's first stakes win and his first win since finishing ninth in the Louisiana Derby in March. Carnivore and Turf Melody led the race while Fly Down trailed in last through the early stages of the race. The favorite, Drosselmeyer, was not a threat and finished second. Remand finished third 1 3/4 lengths back. Fly Down has only been out of the money once in his five starts.

Rail Trip Dominates in his Return

Rail Trip returned from his long layoff with style, winning the G2 Mervyn Leroy Handicap by 3 1/4 lengths. The 5-year-old was making his first start since finishing third in last year's G1 Pacific Classic September 6th. Tres Borrachos took the lead from the start and set a slow pace, leading by two lengths over Rail Trip in the backstretch. Rail Trip moved up around the final turn and took command going into the stretch. Sangaree swept by Tres Borrachos, but couldn't catch Rail Trip. Longshot, Cigar Man, rallied late and nosed out Tres Borrachos for third. Rail Trip kicked off his career with five consecutive victories in 2008 and 2009 before finishing second in last year's Mercyn Leroy. He finished second in the G2 Californian Stakes and went on to score an upset in the Gold Cup. After his Pacific Classic loss, Rail Trip was given time to recover from sore feet rather than going onto the Breeders' Cup Classic. Rail Trip has never been out of the money in his ten starts, winning seven of them.

Dublin Confirmed for Preakness with Gomez Up; Lucky Still Undecided

Garrett Gomez will be up on Dublin May 15 in the Preakness Stakes. Gomez was Lookin at Lucky's regular rider, but it's uncertain on whether or not Lucky will continue on to the Preakness. Lucky finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby after a troubled trip. If Lucky goes to the post this Saturday, Martin Garcia is likely to be up on him. Gomez is replacing Thompson on Dublin, who rode the colt to a seventh-place finish in the Derby.

Eskendereya Retires from Racing

Eskendereya, winner of the G1 Wood Memorial and G2 Fountain of Youth, and early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, has been retired from racing due to a soft tissue industry. No decision has been made on where he will stand. Eskendereya was withdrawn from the Derby six days before after a filling was discovered in his left foreleg. The decision to retire Eskendereya was made after it was positive that it would be impossible for the colt to return to racing with the same potential that he'd shown in racing.

Preakness a "No" for Conveyance

Bob Baffert declared May 7 that Conveyance would not go on to the Preakness after finishing fifteenth in the Derby. Baffert's other prospect, Lookin at Lucky, still has a 51% chance of going on to the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

Preakness a "Yes" for Aikenite

Super Saver will be joined by stablemate Aikenite when he heads to Pimlico for the Preakness this weekend. Aikenite finished second in the G3 Derby Trial the week before Super Saver won the Derby.

3 or 4 Beat Lope?

Today I saw an ad for a western pleasure horse that said "is a natural western pleasure horse - will do a 3 or 4 beat lope." WHAT?? Since when is the ability to do a four beat lope considered an asset?

A correct lope is three beats. Horses four-beat to slow their lope down enough that the rider is happy. A four-beat lope is neither good nor natural.

Two Nevada Men Plead Not Guilty for Murdering Mustangs

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14970964

Two men accused of gunning down five wild mustangs in Nevada last year entered not guilty pleas before a U.S. magistrate Tuesday as horse protection activists outraged by the slaughter watched from the courtroom gallery.

Todd Davis, 44, and Joshua Keathley, 36, both of Lovelock, face up to a year in prison and $100,000 fine if they are found guilty of harassing and killing the federally protected horses.

Federal prosecutors accuse the men of "maliciously" causing the deaths by shooting the horses Nov. 28 on the high-desert rangeland belonging to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management near the California line about 150 miles northwest of Reno.

"We can't allow certain ignorant people or vested interests who have targeted these animals to get away with murder on public lands," said Craig Downer, a wildlife ecologist and fourth-generation Nevadan who serves on the board of directors of the Colorado-based advocacy group the Cloud Foundation.

"These horses are not just out there for sport and these guys are going to pay," added Elyse Gardner, who traveled from a ranch in Novato, Calif., to join Downer and a half dozen other activists in the front row of the courtroom gallery.

Daniel Bogden, U.S. attorney for Nevada, said his office has received as many as 8,000 e-mails from "all over the world" urging maximum prosecution of the two men.

"We take the offense very seriously, as the prosecution of these defendants should demonstrate," Bogden told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert McQuaid released the men without requiring a bond but ordered them to get rid of any firearms, working or not, until after the trial set for June 22.

"I have a broken shotgun but I'll get rid of it," Keathley told the judge, who instructed him to turn it into the Lovelock Police Department by the end of Wednesday.

Todd Plimpton, a Lovelock lawyer for Davis, and John Springgate, a Reno lawyer for Keathley, told AP after the hearing they had no comment.

The men were charged in January with "causing the death of a wild horse" after the BLM offered a $10,000 reward and the Humane Society of the United States added $2,500 for any information leading to criminal convictions in the case.

Prosecutors say the two men allegedly shot the horses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the remote area about 40 miles southeast of Cedarville, Calif. A BLM helicopter crew assisting in a horse roundup on Dec. 5 spotted five mustang carcasses in one area and a sixth dead mustang about a half-mile away.

Even though it is only a misdemeanor, Bogden said the charge is the most serious available under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.

In Defense of Animals, the California-based advocacy group that helped mount the e-mail campaign with a form letter on its website, questioned why prosecutors didn't file separate criminal counts for each of the five horses shot.

Bogden would say only that "the provable facts and evidence dictate our charging decision and trial strategies."

Activist Terri Farley, Reno author of the popular "Phantom Stallion" series of children's books, said she attended the hearing Tuesday to show support for the way prosecutors have handled the case.

"What happened in the courtroom today is a far cry from what used to happen to suspected horse thieves in the Old West, but I'm really happy federal charges were filed," she told AP. "I'm thinking the feds must have enough to nail these guys."

Steroids and Racing

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g9fBpKZBzy_00Q8UjhORygMkzEbwD9FCTK682

Say hello to reason number two of why horses die on the track.

The stigma of chemical-based cheating may be gone thanks to screening for anabolic steroids prior to last year's Derby. But top industry officials say a more controversial battle against a different kind of steroid abuse could be looming.

Derby track veterinarian Larry Bramlage says he expects the "next frontier" of drug testing will involve a crackdown on a type of steroids that reduces swelling rather than builds muscle. When used properly, these so-called corticosteroids provide major therapeutic benefits in easing arthritis, but when overused, Bramlage says they can potentially do more damage than anabolics by masking injuries and forcing overexertion.

They are considered performance-enhancing drugs and outlawed in many human sports when taken intravenously. But for horses, the perceived danger is less about an unfair edge in an individual race and more about the cumulative effect of running several times in a row without enough rest.

"The anabolic steroids get more press because people can understand them easier," said Bramlage, a surgeon at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington. "The NFL and everybody else is involved in banning them so we don't have 400-pound offensive linemen. But the corticosteroids have more abuse potential."

The tricky part is figuring out how to regulate the bad effects without infringing on the good. Some trainers are fearful the industry will overreact.

"Now they want to take everything away," said Bob Baffert, who is sending two horses in Saturday's Run for the Roses, including morning-line favorite Lookin At Lucky. "These horses have got pretty tough testing. It's been like that for a long time, but people want to change a lot of things. They make a bigger deal out of it than it really is."

It's been proven that steroids are NOT good for people. I don't understand why it should be any different for horses. There are only so many things that have changed in the past fifty years in horse racing that could explain why racehorses these days are so weak. Steroid and drug use would be one of them.

In 2006, two years before imposing the sweeping ban on anabolic steroids that is now standard at virtually every thoroughbred track in the country, Kentucky racing officials rewrote their drug rules. The changes included new guidelines on six of the dozens of types of corticosteroids, telling trainers exactly how many days before a race they should stop giving their horses certain anti-inflammatory drugs to avoid a steroid violation.

Although high levels of those corticosteroids can still spark penalties, they are a slap on the wrist compared to the consequences if anabolics are found in a horse's bloodstream.

A positive test for anabolic steroids usually results in disqualification, loss of purse, a hefty fine and a likely suspension for the trainer. If a horse tests positive for too much of a corticosteroid, there might be a modest fine but likely no suspension or forfeiture unless stewards find clear evidence to prove the violation was flagrant or intentional.

Racing took steps to eliminate anabolic steroids amid a national outcry against performance-enhancing drugs being used to inflate home run records or sprint times. But Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, said instances of cheating through corticosteroids are relatively rare in human sports, except as part of a training regimen that also includes anabolics.

"We see less of those in doping situations than athletes who are cheating with hard-core performance enhancers," Tygart said. "They're in a separate category where they're not in and of themselves the hard-core cheating substances, though they certainly can provide a benefit."

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, an industry group that advised on writing the rules for anabolic steroids now accepted across the country, has been researching guidelines for corticosteroids. Kentucky and many other racing states are waiting for that research before tightening their rules on the drugs.

"It's kind of a situation where you're not trying to throw the baby out with the bath water," said Scot Waterman, RMTC's executive director.

Anabolic steroid testing swept into the sport as one of many safety enhancements after the 2008 Kentucky Derby, where the filly Eight Belles pulled up lame jogging past the finish and had to be euthanized with two fractured ankles.

With speculation swirling the muscular horse was using steroids during her second-place run, trainer Larry Jones called for not just the regular necropsy but a more sophisticated one that included a drug test that proved she was clear.

Later, Rick Dutrow, trainer of the Derby winner Big Brown, acknowledged he regularly injected the horse with the then-legal steroid stanozolol, sold under the brand name Winstrol.

Kentucky has since banned the drug, and Dutrow says the current testing probably goes too far, let alone expanded testing.

"I thought it was a good thing," Dutrow said. "I thought it helped the horses. It brightened their coat. It gave them incentive to eat if they needed to. They were happy horses. I did not see an issue."

If your horses need drugs to be happy, then clearly you're doing something wrong. How about you investigate why they're not eating or unhappy instead of trying to mask it?

Mary Scollay, Kentucky's equine medical director, said abolishing anabolic steroids from the sport was the right thing to do — even if questions linger on what to do with corticosteroids.

"That was much more black and white," Scollay said. "The corticosteroids have a tremendous gray area."

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who is sending out four horses in this year's Derby including Devil May Care, the first filly to run since Eight Belles, acknowledged officials have a tough call to make on how best to regulate the drugs.

"It's a delicate balancing act," Pletcher said. "Some science is good. Some medication is good. I think there's a misconception everyone's trying to create an edge or do something illegal. That's not what we're doing here. We're trying to keep the horse healthy."

Mullins Receives Another Suspension

http://therail.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/mullins-receives-another-suspension/

Jeff Mullins, who last year at this time was trying to get the Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite I Want Revenge healthy enough to run in America’s greatest race, was suspended 30 days Wednesday for a TCO2 violation — commonly known as “milkshaking” a horse — in 2008, according to the California Horse Racing Board.

It is the latest in a long line of drug violations for the trainer and violates the terms of his probation from a similar 2006 medication violation and could result in him serving an additional 70-day suspension.

I Want Revenge was scratched the morning of the Derby with a bad ankle. Depositions of veterinarians treating the colt and obtained by The New York Times five months later showed that I Want Revenge’s ankle was injected twice with corticosteroids, anti-inflammatories that can have dangerous consequences, including four days before the Derby at the request of Mullins.

At the same time I Want Revenge was being injected, The New York Times asked the owner or trainer of every horse running in the Kentucky Derby to share their veterinary records. Only 3 of the 20 produced the records.

The New York Racing Association subsequently suspended Jeff Mullins for six months for medicating one of his horses in the Aqueduct monitoring barn hours before a race last April and repeatedly lying about it.

I Want Revenge has yet to return to the races.

Mullins trained Pathbreaking when the horse finished third in the third race at Del Mar on August 3, 2008, according to California officials. Afterward, the blood sample taken from Pathbreaking exceeded the regulatory threshold for total carbon dioxide (TCO2), which is a Class 3 violation. A milkshake is a concoction of baking soda, sugar and electrolytes that is administered by shoving a tube down a horse’s throat and allegedly helps a horse ward off fatigue.

In the spring of 2008, Mullins was suspended for 20 days by California authorities for use of the Class 2 drug mepivacaine. In 2005, one of his horses tested positive for exceeding the limit of of total carbon dioxide, which indicates the horse had a milkshake. His horses were put under 24-hour surveillance for 30 days.

Perhaps it's time to say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Knock it off with the short suspensions and probations. He shouldn't be allowed near the track, let alone be training horses. How about a year?

In 2005, he told The Los Angeles Times that his troubles were caused by horseplayers.

“If you bet on horses, I would call you an idiot,” the newspaper quoted Mullins as saying. He later apologized.

I don't get it. What in the world does this have to do with anything?

Vess Has Been Convicted

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/ohio-horse-owner-convicted-in-animal-cruelty-case-682528.html

I'm not happy, but I'll take it.

I don't get it though. HOW does someone get convicted of 42 counts and only get away with a maximum of 18 months in jail

Vess said after the verdict: "Never would I do anything to hurt one of my animals."

Well apparently you would, because you did. It doesn't mention anything about fines or whether or not she'll be getting the horses back. I doubt it though.

Full Kentucky Derby Results

1. Super Saver
2. Ice Box
3. Paddy O'Prado
4. Make Music for Me
5. Noble's Promise
6. Lookin at Lucky
7. Dublin
8. Stately Victor
9. Mission Impazible
10. Devil May Care
11. American Lion
12. Jackson Bend
13. Discreetly Mine
14. Dean's Kitten
15. Conveyance
16. Homeboykris
17. Sidney's Candy
18. Line of David
19. Awesome Act
20. Backtalk

Probably not going to be a post tomorrow. I'm going to need a day to think about this one.

And the Winner Is...

And the winner of the 2010 Kentucky Derby, greatest two minutes in sports, is...

SUPER SAVER!

Kentucky Derby

Good Derby morning everyone! Let's check out the early odds this morning and then take a look at the forecast. Which has hopefully improved since when I checked last night.

According to bloodhorse.com:
1. Lookin at Lucky 9-1
2. Ice Box 11-1
3. Noble's Promise 21-1
4. Super Saver 7-1 [Early line favorite]
5. Line of David 15-1
6. Stately Victor 15-1
7. American Lion 25-1
8. Dean's Kitten 18-1
9. Make Music for Me 25-1
10. Paddy O'Prado 11-1
11. Devil May Care 10-1
12. Conveyance 25-1
13. Jackson Bend 22-1
14. Mission Impazible 24-1
15. Discreetly Mine 41-1
16. Awesome Act 13-1
17. Dublin 21-1
18. Backtalk 20-1
19. Homeboykris 17-1
20. Sidney's Candy 11-1

According to weather.com:
Current weather: 64 degrees F and light rain
Today's forecast: Strong storms, chance of precipitation 100%, high of 75
Tonight's forecast: Strong storms, chance of precipitation 80%, low of 71

Well...in light of that, who has handled a wet track before?
Mission Impazible -- has raced twice on wet dirt, finishing second in the slop in an allowance and third on a good rated track in the Kentucky Juvenile
Stately Victor -- his maiden second-place finish took place over a good track
Dublin -- finished fourth in his maiden at Churchill over a good track
Super Saver -- finished second in his maiden at Saratoga over a good track, won his maiden at Belmont over a sloppy track
Discreetly Mine -- finished fourth in the Spectacular Bid over a sloppy track, broke his maiden by six lengths on a good track
Dean's Kitten -- finished a well-beaten fifth in the Pilgrim over a good track
Paddy O'Prado -- finished seventh in his maiden over a sloppy track
Homeboykris -- finished fourth in his maiden over a good track
Backtalk -- is undefeated two for two on an off-track, won the Sportsmans Paradise in the slop, and broke his maiden on a good track at Churchill Downs