Doug O'Neill

[tector]

This is one of the comments to the NYT article:

Geri Minott
Cardiff by the Sea, CA

NYT Pick

I had several horses in training with Doug O'Neill, and their careers didn't end happily. One was given the most brutal disregard I have ever seen given to a horse. I offered my partners 45K to sell me the horse and prevent his last race. I had felt his ankles and I knew that he had an ailing suspensory ligament. My veterinary surgeon will support this statement.

The horse was dropped from allowance into a claimer and not even given support wraps for the race in which he ended up listed as "vanned off." I spent 60K putting that horse back together, as best I could. I had another one fracture a knee in workout after I had asked that the horse be sent home for some rest time. Neither of those would even be included in the appalling statistic of Doug's breakdowns. The money I spent on rescue COULD have gone into the racing industry.

I have lots of disturbing photos if one wants a closer look. If Doug had even had the decency to put support wraps on the horse with a chronic suspensory condition, things might have been much better. I feel that the brutality is at least similar to that exhibited by the New Orleans Saints and the penalty should be the same. Doug's assistant trainer is a true horseman. Let him take over and show a kinder hand. Most importantly, end the use of pain killers on race days now.

May 11, 2012 at 11:27 a.m.