Bill Finley sees the case against Sweet Catomine’s connections as unusual in only one respect — the CHRB took action. That nothing was known about her condition before the race is an everyday occurence. A system for disclosure needs to be put into place: “Should a trainer have to report to the public every time a horse has a sniffle? No. But there has to be a better system in place than the one we have now, which is, basically, the public can be damned. At the very least, when a horse undergoes any kind of surgical procedure or is shipped to a veterinary clinic for treatment, which is where Sweet Catomine spent about 40 hours the week of the Santa Anita Derby, that information should be disclosed.” Hear, hear! (ESPN)
The CHRB’s case against Marty Wygod was beyond weak, writes Jay Hovdey, and the board “owes the sport an apology for turning Wygod’s public hearing into a desperate fishing expedition for facts their investigators were unable to provide.” (Daily Racing Form — sub. req.)
The CHRB announced on Monday that it plans to review its investigation procedures in the wake of the Sweet Catomine affair. “I intend to evaluate our investigative procedures from start to finish,” said board director Ingrid Fermin. “In that way, licensees and the public will be reassured that cases have been fully investigated and evaluated before any accusations are filed.” (Daily Racing Form)
Posted by JC in Misdeeds & Wrongdoing on 04/26/2005 @ 10:40 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
– “The owner of the Yankees has to be one of the most unsympathetic horse owners ever to send a Derby favorite to the gate,” says Laura Vecsey, “and that’s saying something in a sport of kings populated by robber barons, ne’er-do-wells, sheiks, heiresses and playboys.” (Sun)
– USA Today profiles trainer Jeff Mullins. “These are the best and worst of times for Mullins. He’s armed with his best Derby shot ever, yet disarmed by the negative attention he’s attracted by being cast as a cheater and baiter of bettors.”
– Belmont celebrates 100 years. The track kicked off a season-long celebration of the anniversary on Monday with cake and special guests. Opening day is May 4. (NYP)
– Churchill announces tough testing rules for upcoming meet. Every horse entered will be tested for milkshakes. (TT)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com
Posted by JC in Miscellany on 04/26/2005 @ 10:30 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
Sweet Catomine owner Marty Wygod was cleared of all charges on Saturday after a three-hour hearing before the Hollywood Park stewards, who determined that the CHRB failed to prove its allegations that Wygod violated racing rules by making false statements and committing “conduct detrimental to racing” in the week leading up to the filly’s run in the Santa Anita Derby. After the ruling, Wygod said:
“My name was dragged through the mud in 20-30 newspapers. Charges were brought against me that were totally unfounded … This has had a terrible impact on my wife and my kids.
“I spent 40 years in this game; I tried to get my kids to want to care about it after me. They don’t want to have anything to do with it anymore because of the charges made against me. I have to make some hard decisions whether I want to continue.
“I think what was done here by the press and by (CHRB Executive Director) Ingrid Fermin was despicable and I’m not finished with this — whether I stay in the game or don’t stay in the game.” (Union-Tribune)
To which I say: Amazing. Are we supposed to think Wygod is the victim here?
Posted by JC in Misdeeds & Wrongdoing on 04/25/2005 @ 10:55 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
