PETA undercover in Asmussen's barn - Whoa!

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

Because PETA may or may not try and embarrass Asmussen, he should stay away from the Oaks where he trains the probable favorite and the Derby where he might have one of the favorites?

I don't think so.

What if he doesn't show up, but both of the horses win? Will that be okay? The right thing is for Asmussen to continue to do his job and see how the entire thing unfolds.

While we're at it, I'm pretty sure a lot of the horses running those two days are going to be trained by trainers with various medication infractions. Should they not show up either?

he does enough embarrassing himself, peta doesn't need to help him.

it's a huge two days for the sport, i'd hate to see his issues have a negative affect on the largest racing day of the year. the sport doesn't need a black eye, especially at the derby when there's so much more media attention.
and yes, lots of trainers get infractions. not too many get so many, or several 6 month suspensions that they serve concurrently...and i doubt very many get derby horses either.
it's too bad that owners continue to use some of these trainers, who break rules repeatedly...heck, that's probably why some owners hire some trainers-they want to win no matter what. and we all know the saying ' if you're not cheating, you're not trying'.

people step away from their jobs all the time while being investigated. it doesn't mean they've been found guilty or indicate guilt in any way.

[dellinger63]

I may be in the minority but think Asmussen should be at the derby and with a horse if he has one entered. The PETA video outside of the buzzer talk shows and proves nothing other than possible illegal alien hiring. The NTRA etc. shouldn't be involved in the investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor should.

Of course if they go at Asmussen for hiring illegals they mine has well cancel the derby and horse racing all together, at least for the summer, unless PETA has 1,000's of undercover operatives to fill in.

I also have no problem with a trainer who among others had Rachael and Curlin in his barn making the HOF.

[lemoncrush]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

I also have no problem with a trainer who among others had Rachael and Curlin in his barn making the HOF.

But with an asterisk.
Both horses were broken and brought along by other barns.
I believe he got Curlin after his eye-catching debut, but obviously got Rachel long after she was a bonafide superstar.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by lemoncrush

But with an asterisk.
Both horses were broken and brought along by other barns.
I believe he got Curlin after his eye-catching debut, but obviously got Rachel long after she was a bonafide superstar.

yes, with an asterisk. just like if barry bonds ever went in the baseball hof.
the two horses should get in...but their last trainer? if it were up to me, no.

sports say they want to be clean...yet, they allow repeat offenders to stay after slaps on the wrist. talking out of both sides of their mouths.
people say they want it cleaned up, and then repeatedly excuse bad behavior and those who engage in it over and over. asmussen has a lengthy record, yet he still has defenders. makes no sense to me.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by lemoncrush

But with an asterisk.
Both horses were broken and brought along by other barns.
I believe he got Curlin after his eye-catching debut, but obviously got Rachel long after she was a bonafide superstar.

You might as well asterisk all horses then since someone else prepped them and broke them, not to mention the tremendous amount of work a lay-up farm does for the horse.

More recently, I'm impressed with the horse that Tapiture has become. A couple months ago, he was a bad actor. Someone has done a fine job schooling this colt.

[lemoncrush]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

You might as well asterisk all horses then since someone else prepped them and broke them, not to mention the tremendous amount of work a lay-up farm does for the horse.

More recently, I'm impressed with the horse that Tapiture has become. A couple months ago, he was a bad actor. Someone has done a fine job schooling this colt.

Of course, but I wouldn't use Curlin and Rachel as two examples of oustanding training achievement by Assumussen.

Anyone could have done well with those two horses.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by lemoncrush

Of course, but I wouldn't use Curlin and Rachel as two examples of oustanding training achievement by Assumussen.

Anyone could have done well with those two horses.

Again, this is not Assmussen specific.

Everyone knows Dixie aka Speed Boys aka Blue Eyes called all of the shots with Citation and Coaltown, but we all know who made the HOF.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

I may be in the minority but think Asmussen should be at the derby and with a horse if he has one entered. The PETA video outside of the buzzer talk shows and proves nothing other than possible illegal alien hiring. The NTRA etc. shouldn't be involved in the investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor should.

Of course if they go at Asmussen for hiring illegals they mine has well cancel the derby and horse racing all together, at least for the summer, unless PETA has 1,000's of undercover operatives to fill in.

I also have no problem with a trainer who among others had Rachael and Curlin in his barn making the HOF.

You're not in the minority.

Nothing is going to be accomplished by him not showing up. The story will still exist, the attention will still be paid to it by the media, and the horses will still be trained by him.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

You're not in the minority.

Nothing is going to be accomplished by him not showing up. The story will still exist, the attention will still be paid to it by the media, and the horses will still be trained by him.

which is all too bad.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Danzig

which is all too bad.

So what is your solution? That he be banned from the game for employing a foul-mouthed assistant who intimated that they use a legal drug on an undisclosed number of horses? For offenses which occurred years ago for which he has served the suspension handed to him in that jurisdiction?

[Pants II]

The solution was to spend $30-$40 for an online background check of an American girl looking for work in the barn.

Now the solution is to make Bob Costas interim trainer. He's the most perfect human on the planet.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Pants II

The solution was to spend $30-$40 for an online background check of an American girl looking for work in the barn.

Now the solution is to make Bob Costas interim trainer. He's the most perfect human on the planet.

i can't stand bob costas. now he can hold forth on derby day like he does during halftime on football broadcasts, pontificating as only he can about all that ails the sport.
i'll dvr, and then fast foward to the gate loading. so much easier that way.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by Pants II

The solution was to spend $30-$40 for an online background check of an American girl looking for work in the barn.

Now the solution is to make Bob Costas interim trainer. He's the most perfect human on the planet.

even better!

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

So what is your solution? That he be banned from the game for employing a foul-mouthed assistant who intimated that they use a legal drug on an undisclosed number of horses? For offenses which occurred years ago for which he has served the suspension handed to him in that jurisdiction?

i find it strange that sport under attack would include such a person on their hall of fame ballot.
everyone knows the mans reputation. it's appalling to me that anyone employs him. that he has both a derby and oaks prospect. that this discussion is even taking place.
i think he should take a leave of absence while the investigations proceed. i don't think he should return til they conclude.
i find it very, very sad that such a person still has a huge operation knowing what all has occurred over the years of his career. his rap sheet is pages upon pages long. other trainers toil in obscurity, and cleanly, while he (and some others) gets good horses. it's a shame, and a black mark on this sport. lots of good trainers out there without all the baggage.

do we want a clean sport or not?

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i find it strange that sport under attack would include such a person on their hall of fame ballot.
everyone knows the mans reputation. it's appalling to me that anyone employs him. that he has both a derby and oaks prospect. that this discussion is even taking place.
i think he should take a leave of absence while the investigations proceed. i don't think he should return til they conclude.
i find it very, very sad that such a person still has a huge operation knowing what all has occurred over the years of his career. his rap sheet is pages upon pages long. other trainers toil in obscurity, and cleanly, while he (and some others) gets good horses. it's a shame, and a black mark on this sport. lots of good trainers out there without all the baggage.

do we want a clean sport or not?

This is a great post.

Originally Posted by Danzig

i find it strange that sport under attack would include such a person on their hall of fame ballot.
everyone knows the mans reputation. it's appalling to me that anyone employs him. that he has both a derby and oaks prospect. that this discussion is even taking place.
i think he should take a leave of absence while the investigations proceed. i don't think he should return til they conclude.
i find it very, very sad that such a person still has a huge operation knowing what all has occurred over the years of his career. his rap sheet is pages upon pages long. other trainers toil in obscurity, and cleanly, while he (and some others) gets good horses. it's a shame, and a black mark on this sport. lots of good trainers out there without all the baggage.

do we want a clean sport or not?

I agree. Its funny how he gets suspended and or fined and his operations still get to operate under a different name till he comes back on "vacation". The owners know well and clear of his reputation and I find it even funnier how surprised Zayat was at this. A great act he put on display on Twitter. Dont tell me you own million(s) dollars worth of horses and you have no clue whats going behind barn doors.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

So what is your solution? That he be banned from the game for employing a foul-mouthed assistant who intimated that they use a legal drug on an undisclosed number of horses? For offenses which occurred years ago for which he has served the suspension handed to him in that jurisdiction?

The owner, if he cared about the good of the sport, would have sent the horses elsewhere. Of course, he won't due that, fearing about the timing when they invariably "crash" after about three weeks away from the Asmussen barn's $1500/month medication program. (I am not suggesting that it is illegal, but it is part of the "over-medication" issue that is part of the current debate.)

Let's not kid ourselves that everything in the PETA video is completely benign. The part about putting a gel cast on a horse to "fool" the state vet about a horse that he scratched (to Blasi's dismay) is pretty bad stuff.

[Jay Frederick]

Originally Posted by Danzig

he does enough embarrassing himself, peta doesn't need to help him.

it's a huge two days for the sport, i'd hate to see his issues have a negative affect on the largest racing day of the year. the sport doesn't need a black eye, especially at the derby when there's so much more media attention.
and yes, lots of trainers get infractions. not too many get so many, or several 6 month suspensions that they serve concurrently...and i doubt very many get derby horses either.
it's too bad that owners continue to use some of these trainers, who break rules repeatedly...heck, that's probably why some owners hire some trainers-they want to win no matter what. and we all know the saying ' if you're not cheating, you're not trying'.

people step away from their jobs all the time while being investigated. it doesn't mean they've been found guilty or indicate guilt in any way.

The reality is that if PETA is going to try and embarrass him or the sport, they will do it whether he is there or not. Especially if he has horses running in the big races. I'm sure there will be something mentioned in the broadcast about it. That's going to happen if he attends or doesn't.

I'm not defending Asmussen or his record. Just don't see why he should have to step away from his job because a tape surfaced with where one of his employees swore a lot.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

The reality is that if PETA is going to try and embarrass him or the sport, they will do it whether he is there or not. Especially if he has horses running in the big races. I'm sure there will be something mentioned in the broadcast about it. That's going to happen if he attends or doesn't.

I'm not defending Asmussen or his record. Just don't see why he should have to step away from his job because a tape surfaced with where one of his employees swore a lot.

you think that's a correct summation of the video?


you have a multiple violator of many and sundry rules of the sport. to the point where several racing jurisdictions had given him longer than normal suspensions. too bad they allowed him to serve those sentences concurrently, rather than consecutively.
then, you have the sport who says it wants to 'clean up' have this 'gentleman' on its hall of fame ballot. you have a video and a 275 page report, leading to the firing of an almost two decade long top assistant. the loss of a big owner with deep pockets, and two racing jurisdictions opening investigations.
yeah, it's just profanity....
he should not be there derby and oaks day. it's too bad owners hire him, give their stock to him. it's like hiring bobby petrino-whose fault is it when things go wrong because of ethics? the snake you hired, or you for hiring him?
an assistant should saddle, and he should stay out of the glare. will it get mention? of course. should he be there so they can add questions of why he's there along with all the rest of the mess? no.

[Jay Frederick]

Originally Posted by Danzig

you think that's a correct summation of the video?


you have a multiple violator of many and sundry rules of the sport. to the point where several racing jurisdictions had given him longer than normal suspensions. too bad they allowed him to serve those sentences concurrently, rather than consecutively.
then, you have the sport who says it wants to 'clean up' have this 'gentleman' on its hall of fame ballot. you have a video and a 275 page report, leading to the firing of an almost two decade long top assistant. the loss of a big owner with deep pockets, and two racing jurisdictions opening investigations.
yeah, it's just profanity....
he should not be there derby and oaks day. it's too bad owners hire him, give their stock to him. it's like hiring bobby petrino-whose fault is it when things go wrong because of ethics? the snake you hired, or you for hiring him?
an assistant should saddle, and he should stay out of the glare. will it get mention? of course. should he be there so they can add questions of why he's there along with all the rest of the mess? no.

It's a tape that has been doctored up. His assistant being fired was a PR move all the way.

What in that tape warrants him to step away from his job? That's what I'm trying to figure out. I get that he's a repeat offender and I'll mention again that I am not defending him or his actions.

But taking personal feelings about him out of the equation for a second, what has he done wrong based on the video? Running horses who aren't 100%? There'd be no races ever if that was the case.