[Kasept]

Trainers most certainly can be banned for 'drugging' horses, with the most egregious and serious of narcotics, and I know of no jock whose personal drug use resulted in a lifetime ban. As in every case with this topic, generalizations cannot be applied. As has been discussed this week with Migliore, Haskin and Allday, the problem you have, specifically with Rick Dutrrow, is that suddenly saying after the fact that previous history is now part of a new penalty, is patently unfair... The 'double secret probation' mentality.

You want to admonish him and set up a set of ground rules he's required to follow going forward, fine. That's fair. But the way this is being gerrymandered isn't right and won't hold up legally. Even Allday, who has had a very public breakup and fight with Dutrow, said that you better apply the same standards to EVERYONE if you're going to go down this road.

And has been said here before, there's several 'angels with dirty halos' around that get away with as much or more envelope pushing as Rick Dutrow. Would be curious to see the reaction of the public if some of them were dragged out into the spotlight. Dutrow brings a lot of negative focus on himself, but the doctrine of fair play has to be part of whatever attempt there is to provide an atmosphere of integrity in the sport.