Two Positives
Thanks to Ernie for passing along a link to an article on trainer Rick Dutrow’s latest infraction, a positive for twice the legal level of clenbuterol in a horse named Salute the Count, second place finisher in the G3 Aegon Turf Sprint at Churchill on Kentucky Oaks day. According to chief steward John Veitch, who said the clenbuterol overage was the highest he’d seen in four years, Dutrow waived his right to a formal hearing and “more or less accepted responsibility” (NYT). Paul Moran notes that the positive keeps Dutrow’s dubious streak of being suspended or fined every year since 2000 going, while Ray Paulick is incredulous that Kentucky is treating Dutrow as though it’s his first offense, handing out a 15-day suspension and requiring the return of purse money. Listen to Bozich, babe: “You’re killing the game you say you love.” And IEAH, if you’re really serious about the no-drugs policy and advocating for a zero-tolerance environment, you might want to start looking for a squeaky clean (at least, by current standards) conditioner for your stable.
I’ll grant that might be difficult, when even the sport’s good guys are users, with little separating them from guys like Dutrow other than that they manage to follow the inconsistent, sometimes lax rules of 38 different jurisdictions 99.99% of the time. Clenbuterol, a bronchodilator with steroid-like side effects, is also the drug for which trainer Larry Jones recently received a positive, the first medication violation in his 27-year career if the split sample on Stones River, winner of an allowance on June 8 at Delaware Park, upholds the original test results. Jones, and Stones River owner Jim Squires, contends the positive was sabotage, although the trainer did own there was an “outside shot” the result is legitimate, due to Stones River being injected with clenbuterol the day before Delaware’s 72-hour raceday deadline (Inquirer). The investigation is ongoing, but if the positive is confirmed, Jones could face a $500 fine, seven-day suspension, and purse money forfeiture.
How ludicrous both cases look, especially in the wake of all the discussion and pontificating and committee-organizing that followed poor Eight Belles’ breakdown after the Kentucky Derby. The rule-breaker gets a wrist slap, the rule-follower gets caught on a technicality. No wonder congress held hearings and threatens legislation.
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