RUMOR: IEAH and Dutrow are no more. (Update: False)

[Storm Cadet]

From a PR standpoint, now that IEAH has been publicly embarrased by this episode, they should discuss with Dutrow the possibility of placing a 2nd in command at Ricks barn to monitor, assist or whatever you want to call it...a person to start to correct the wrongs in his barn.

This person could computerize all the workouts of all his stables, MONITOR and RECORD all medications being dispensed by the vets, making sure they comply to all state legislation's, do payroll, order barn supplies, horse transportation ect. Let Rick deal with all the ON TRACK issues of training and equine health care.

It seems from reading reports that many of his issues being fined both big and small are administrative issues that a good 2nd in command would do. Does a big time trainer like Pletcher or Kiran really worry himself about the silks of owners being in the jockey room pre race? Or "failure to have foal papers on file". Yes other trainers in other barns get it done correctly, but obviously Rick needs assistance in the administrative area. IMO it seems like Rick, like him or not, for better or worse, tries to handle EVERYTHING in his barn and it's way too much for one person to do. I'm sure when he started out, he was a one man operation with few horses and he could control these issues. But as his operations have multiplied and success has bred a national presence in racing with horses being run at multiple tracks on the same day, administrative stuff also gets multiplied and he has not kept up, still trying to run it all by himself and maybe one female asst trainer. And I'm sure time management of administrative tasks is not one of his favorite tasks daily either.

Drug issues aside, both personal and equine, he would be, as would IEAH if they stay with him, let his operation become more business orientated and improve his operations. I wonder how many assistants Pletcher or Kiran have at their main barns to handle all these side, but important, daily tasks of training. What would it take 50-75 grand to manage his operation for him? That's only one trainer purse of a grade 1 a year to break even on this idea.