I will 2nd that. Isn't this the 3rd country that he has broken medication rules in? Its a shame that this great sport has to deal with crooks like him.

The article didn't mention that Biancone can enter a track if he has a slot machine attached to his back.

he can't apply for a license anywhere for the whole year....after 6 months he will be allowed back on racetrack grounds (but only on the frontside, ie 'public areas')....it's not clear if, after 6 months his horses can be transfered back to his assistants (allowing him to benefit financially again) but for the first 6 months at least, the horses must go to other trainers.

I'll be looking at DRF for his update. I'm still interested in seeing what CA does, regarding his suspended sentence if you don't get in trouble elsewhere for a year (he, um, got in a little bit of trouble, obviously).

What countries are left for him? Argentina? Australia?

so then isn't it essentially a one year ban? only the financial benefit seems shortened.
either way, it allows a repeat offender back in the sport next year. great.

today's update....there should be another article tomorrow...
http://www.drf.com/news/article/89547.html

Terry Finley, the president of West Point Thoroughbreds, the horse racing partnership that owns Irish Smoke, said that he was willing to let Biancone's appeal run its course and that he did not feel pressure to remove Irish Smoke from Biancone's barn prior to the settlement.

"I'll be honest with you, I didn't appreciate a lot of people in this industry crucifying the guy before he had his day in court," said Finley, a former Army captain. "That drove me nuts. I heard all the talk and innuendo. But he didn't have his shot at due process, and no matter what anyone says, this is still America."
Biancone, a native of France, trains for many powerful clients, including the principals behind Coolmore Stud, the multinational racing and breeding operation that owns La Traviata. A spokesman for Coolmore, Richard Henry, said the group had not determined who would train the Biancone horses after the Breeders' Cup.

Carl Lizza, the owner of Cosmonaut under the stable name Flying Zee Stables, said that he had not determined who will train the four Flying Zee horses currently stabled with Biancone. But he said he would not hesitate to give Biancone horses when the trainer is able to operate a stable again.

"I don't know what he did wrong," said Lizza, who called Biancone "one of the 10 best horsemen" in the U.S. "From what I read in the papers, it was just possession. He wasn't using it. Unless something else comes out, yes, of course I'll give him horses."




Still think the owners aren't the problem in this game?


Hey Terry...facts and innuendo are not the same thing...

Hey Carl...why dont you give your horses to one of the other "nine" best horseman who dont have that pesky little Cobra Venom "possesion" violation on their looooong rap sheet? What was he doing with it? Recreational use?

However, Biancone's assistant could begin to put together a racing stable, and Biancone would be able to consult on the operation of the stable as long as he does not go to the backstretch, according to John Veitch, the Kentucky state steward.



thought the new class-A rule was against this ?

the owners lost all virtue when they decided against the "inconvenience" of switching trainers before the Breeders Cup.

now it sounds like he will be allowed to train via cell-phone after all.

I have hammered this point to anyone who would listen but people still want to blame the authorities. There is a limit to what commissions and authorities can do when the owners are willing to turn a blind eye towards a guy getting caught with a class 1 drug in the barn, ordered by his defacto private vet. Not to single out Finley but he is a member of many governing boards including the Breeders Cup board and his attitude is typical of many on these boards, in effect the people who run the game. That Tom Ludt voted against the settlement was funny seeing as his trainer is Steve Assmussen. At least Dell Hancock has been consistent.

He's stating that the owners say possession is acceptable, even if use was never proven. So I can get caught with 10 kilos of coke, but as long as I'm not using it, that's OK?

No, I dont see where you are getting that but the owners dont seem to mind when they do use it. It is like when baseball players used to police the game on the field. Preen or strut after a HR and you paid the price...so guess what? Guys didn't do it...at least more than once. Same thing here. If owners would require a trainer to live up to some form of standard concerning illegal drugs then trainers would be a lot more cautious and would not be as brazen as some of these guys are. They know that the owners will run back to them so they 'push the envelope' and then cry foul when they get caught.

You are back!

C'est la vie...

I probably shouldn't post on this topic after drinking about 2 bottles of French wine on the flight back and zero sleep.

This is horseplop.com, right?

Oui

F.uck Terry Finley for using the Captain America card.