Penn National arrests

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The end of racing in the country could be coming if they are allowed to interpret the law as any violation is considered wire fraud. In this case the three individuals were either caught, admitted to or were accused of personally attempting to administering the drug, not a third party like a vet. In Rogers case she was arrested despite her husband being the trainer of record for that horse.

In the clockers case if giving faulty information across "state lines" is considered wire fraud then what about all the mistimed races across the country?

big difference between a mistake and intentionally altering times and being involved in a criminal conspiracy. question is, why did the feds go this route? who got them involved? did someone say the track or the state wasn't doing enough?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Danzig

big difference between a mistake and intentionally altering times and being involved in a criminal conspiracy. question is, why did the feds go this route? who got them involved? did someone say the track or the state wasn't doing enough?

I dont believe there is a big difference if the timing company/tracks have been alerted that the accuracy of the times are wrong. If you are knowingly producing and offering faulty times to people using the information to bet over state lines then surely you could be held liable no? People from this board have been talking about this subject for awhile and always expressed frustration that the tracks would rarely even respond when alerted to the issue.

Supposedly the Feds were tipped off about misdeeds at Penn natl right around the Gill issue. I doubt they really care much about racing or the track but an eager Federal prosecutor saw an easy way to pad his record. Busting semi-broke trainers who dont have lawyers on retainers on Federal fraud charges is like a walkover.

[randallscott35]

I somehow sense Chuck that you think this is a witch hunt. Surely this is about more than 2cc's of lasix...clean trainers have nothing to worry about.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

I somehow sense Chuck that you think this is a witch hunt. Surely this is about more than 2cc's of lasix...clean trainers have nothing to worry about.

I had a filly trst positive for Naproxen a few years back in KY. We had stopped treating her 7 days before the race which was 5 days more than the withdrawl time suggested. There was no mistake on our side because we were acutely aware of the withdrawl time and we actually ran out of the med after her last treatment. I showed the vet records and our own med log to the stewards as evidence. As we found out later the test for naproxen was too sensitive and they were having all kinds of trouble at the lab. No DQ, no suspension, mandatory fine of $500 (after Veitch told me that it would be $250 if I waived my right to appeal). Well under the way the Fed prosecutor is intrpeting the law I could be hauled into Fed court for admitting that we gave the medication that came back positive. Having to defend yourself in Federal Court for mistakes made by others is not something that I want to be subject to.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I dont believe there is a big difference if the timing company/tracks have been alerted that the accuracy of the times are wrong. If you are knowingly producing and offering faulty times to people using the information to bet over state lines then surely you could be held liable no? People from this board have been talking about this subject for awhile and always expressed frustration that the tracks would rarely even respond when alerted to the issue.

Supposedly the Feds were tipped off about misdeeds at Penn natl right around the Gill issue. I doubt they really care much about racing or the track but an eager Federal prosecutor saw an easy way to pad his record. Busting semi-broke trainers who dont have lawyers on retainers on Federal fraud charges is like a walkover.

i would have to think that this will be a real 'come to jesus' moment for many involved in racing.
typically an entity will try to find a really good case as a test case, to try to set precedent. i would have to think any trainer or any track personnel is taking a long, hard look at how they function, and whether changes should be made.
does anyone really want the feds involved? probably not. but these subjects have been hashed out repeatedly, with no real changes made, because no one has had the power to change things.

i have to think someone made this call to the feds to get this going, because no one else either had the ability or the wherewithall to make a profound change.

and of course the case is cherry picked, chuck. that's how this stuff is done. they won't waste their time on a case that might not go their way. somebody has to be the poster child.