Scapegoat (Full column at B-H)
By Lenny Shulman
As thousands of visitors from around the continent and the world descend on Kentucky for Keeneland’s September yearling sale and October race meeting and the November Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs, they may smell the odor of scapegoat emanating from the office of chief racing steward John Veitch.
After a nearly one-year investigation the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has concluded that Veitch and jockey John Velazquez acted inappropriately during last year’s Life At Ten Breeders’ Cup fiasco—charging Veitch with five violations of state regulations.
Velazquez accepted a $10,000 fine after admitting that mistakes were made—but not necessarily by him. Inconveniently for the commission, Veitch has denied wrongdoing, and state law gives stewards broad latitude in decision-making.