House Subcommittee Hearings

[Cannon Shell]

They keep refering to "drugs" without any specifics. Just get rid of drugs. What about the drugs that have been developed that are absolutely beneficial for horses?

[Cannon Shell]

Moss and Van Berg basically just called for an increase in takeout to fund the phantom war on "drugs". This is such a joke. The issue is so complex yet they are treating it as though some national commission funded by simulcasting is goign to solve all these problems.

[Kasept]

Dutrow's written testimony:

When I was contacted by one of your staffers and asked to speak here today I agreed because I wanted to share my insights and points of view on some of these issues and I hope that I can be helpful here.

I also hope that I was not asked to be here because of some of the problems I have had in the past. I hope your staff people were sincere in inviting me because they valued my insight. I want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

I also ask for your patience today. I’m not always the best at explaining things. I’ve been taking care of horses all my life. I dropped out of high school more than 30 years ago to take care of horses and sometimes I think I do better with horses than with people.

As you may know, I am the trainer for Big Brown, the very talented horse who won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness this year. Despite my best efforts and those of the team of people around him, he did not win the Belmont Stakes but that’s horseracing. Big Brown is healthy and our plan right now is to keep him racing this summer and fall.

In addition to Big Brown, I am responsible for approximately 150 horses at any one time – 110 in active training and 40-50 at various farms getting ready to race. My operation has about 75 people, including grooms, stable hands, exercise riders, blacksmiths and vets, who care for our horse on a daily basis.

While some people’s focus is on the big days, we care about our horses and keeping them safe 365 days a year. Taking care of horses is a way of life for us. Our horses get the best care we can give them. They are gifted athletes and are trained to give their best performance when they run.

During the Triple Crown, I was asked several questions about my past and I expect those will come up today so let me address them.

My barn has been penalized in the past for medication violations. I was suspended and fined five years ago when traces of a prohibited substance, mepivicaine, turned up in a test for one of my horses. I said then that we don’t use it and I don’t know how it happened.

We have also had violations when legal, permitted, therapeutic medications have shown up in race day tests because they were given to the horse too close to the race. That’s something that many trainers in the country have had to deal with. But I take responsibility for the condition of my horses.

During the Triple Crown I told the media that my horses are given Winstrol on the 15th of each month. This is an FDA approved medication and is within the current rules of racing in most states. It is something we started a few years ago at the recommendation of one of our vets.

People have asked me why I do it. My observation is that it helps the horses eat better. Their coats brighten. They’re more alert. It helps them train. Having said that, our barn has won hundreds of races with horses that weren’t on steroids. Earlier this winter, I won two one million dollar races in Dubai, where steroids are prohibited. If steroids are banned in the United States, we’ll stop using them.

I also said that I’m not qualified to speak to the science of it. For that, I would suggest that you talk to the vets and scientific experts.

Thank you.

[Kasept]

Now getting sidetracked and lost in foal surgeries and sales practices.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Now getting sidetracked and lost in foal surgeries and sales practices.

Which the industry as well as many states have already passed rules and laws dealing with

[Cannon Shell]

I guess what bother me the most outside of the one sided witness list is that much of what is talked about here is either so generalized as to be of no use, opinion based on questionable facts or simply untrue. But that apparently is what they want.

[pgiaco]

Come on Chuck, there are NO beneficial drugs for horses.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by pgiaco

Come on Chuck, there are NO beneficial drugs for horses.

Arthur Hancock just sounds cheap.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Arthur Hancock just sounds cheap.

How you think Arthur's testimony would sit with Bull?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Kasept

How you think Arthur's testimony would sit with Bull?

I doubt Bull would have shown up

[Cannon Shell]

You have to remember that many of the views presented here could be considered extreme.

[Cannon Shell]

Jess jackson just said there is plenty of money available to fund all of this. That would be a another on this illustrious panel who has called for an increase in takeout. They never actually use those words but where do you think these funds will comefrom especially when the word simulcasting is used as a preface?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I doubt Bull would have shown up

bull would take that cane he cracked nasrullah between the eyes with, and dust the senate floor.

[Kasept]

Jackson may be suffering from dementia.

[Kasept]

Jackson now with a complete misrepresentation of the simulcast business... Totally incorrect. Jackson is becoming a danger here. This is becoming increasingly outrageous.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

hes trippin.. who gives a phuck about what a vet drives.. what are your bills well sugery is about 1k then anouther 2-300 for MEDICINAL PERP.. THATS DRUGS..DUHHH..and then we stand behind our product..yeh try to get a refund..

[FGFan]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Jackson may be suffering from dementia.

If you could a bried synopsis of what he said, I missed it.
Actually I thought he might be a good representative, guess not.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by FGFan

If you could a bried synopsis of what he said, I missed it.
Actually I thought he might be a good representative, guess not.

He said trainers should be taken out of the equation and they have no right in the signal disputes. He said a bunch of totally wrong crap about simulcasting and 'off shores'... I'm telling you... he's gone around the bend.

[Linny]

Originally Posted by Kasept

How you think Arthur's testimony would sit with Bull?

There's a reason Arthur is at Stone Farm not Claiborne.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Linny

There's a reason Arthur is at Stone Farm not Claiborne.

you're right. he was a drunk when his father died, and seth was chosen to run the show. arthur got sober, started stone farm, and won two derbys before claiborne won their first.