Barry Irwin

[asudevil]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Trainers respond to Irwin's comment about lying
By David Grening

Catalano said he called Irwin on Sunday to congratulate him for winning the Derby but also to clarify that those comments weren’t directed toward him. "I know 100 percent it wasn't toward me," Catalano said by phone from Chicago. "I never had a cross word with the guy."

Many New York horsemen were disgusted by Irwin’s nationally televised remarks, but few wanted to go on the record with their comments. Kiaran McLaughlin, who did train briefly for Irwin and Team Valor, was offended by the remark. "I can promise you and anyone else that I never lied to Barry Irwin," McLaughlin said Monday morning at Belmont Park. "And I don’t appreciate that comment for our whole industry, all the trainers that have
trained for him – I don’t feel so bad because it’s a large group and obviously we’re not all liars. “It took away from the day and the sport and it was uncalled for,” McLaughlin said. “I was very happy for Graham Motion and Johnny Velazquez.”

I have mixed emotions about this guy's remarks. I absolutely understand, on a personal level, his frustration with disingenuous trainers. Let's not pretend it doesn't exist....a lot! Was it the wrong time and place? Maybe. Probably. But the intention to shed light on a decades old problem to a national audience is somewhat intriguing. He opened himself up to criticism of his alleged business practices.