Larry Jones gets first drug positive ever

[ELA]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i wasn't talking about jones specifically. it seems that every time something happens like this, there are folks who would rather it all go away, rather than have bad press. there are cheaters in this sport, some are very high profile, with top horses on the track. but now larry jones is in the mix, and some don't want to face the fact that his horse tested over. how it happened, i don't know. but this sport allows folks like steve asmussen and rick dutrow, with countless black marks on their record, continue to do business as usual.

so, my point in the post you replied to was that it's not the media's fault if they have a story. it's this sports fault for not taking the whole drug issue more seriously-both with what should and shouldn't be allowed, as well as WHO should still be allowed.

i'm waiting, as i'm sure you are, for exactly what kind of overage they are talking about. we all know some horses are given legal meds that must have cleared by race day, and don't. now, if this is a microscopic amount, considering jones' complete lack of past positives, i'd say he should be treated lightly since it's a first offense--but only if BOTH parts of that are true.

Excellent point. Those who want it to "go away" are being very short sighted and are very much being part of the problem. There are cheaters in this sport and they must be dealt with. On one hand you have the attitude of not being able to catch Al Capone for murder and everything else, so you get him for tax evasion. OK, I see the need. OTOH, I just read in the paper that a guy I went to school with plea bargained for 13 months and a $7500 fine -- for bribing a public official with a $4300 payment. No mention or closure on the charges where he bribed another public official $250,000, or the $100,000, or the free addition on a home, and so on.

Those who want to lablel Jones as public enemy # 1, lifelong cheater, I told you so, etc. -- very transparent. Those who don't want to face the reality that he got a clenbuterol positive -- guess what? Also, very transparent. However, your point is excellent in that it shows both origins of both problems. Well, different origin, same problem.

Eric