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Asmussen's attorney replies to column

Received an e-mail from Maggi Moss, horse owner and attorney for trainer Steve Asmussen, concerning the column I wrote Sunday about drugs, penalties, Rick Dutrow and Asmussen.

Here is the e-mail in its entirety:

Dear Mr. Clay,

I was just forwarded your blog on Dutrow and my client, Steve Asmussen.   I am not familiar with Dutrow's case but am very familiar with Steve's case for I am his attorney,  I know him , and I know the circumstances of his case.

I am also all too aware of  real horrors in this business of horse racing and I  have to beg to differ with you.
Until we have a uniform system of no drugs or any uniformity, do you really want someone ruled off that might be innocent or have a case of contamination.  Is that the United States we want to live in?

If there is something to write about racing as it exists today,   I would hope all of us would come together to try and deal with the realities and truly grave horrors;

1.  We are still breeding so many horses that we still have racehorses going in inhumane trucks to be taken to Mexico and Canada slaughterhouses and having their spines cut with knifes,  some of which don't die right away.

We are still dealing with owners and trainers that sell these horses  ( they might not be Eight Belles but they are all kind and wonderful animals)  for 300 dollars to die an insufferable death.

2.  We still have trainers that are blocking horses,  injecting horses and running horses that are terribly lame and simply break down for they cant take it anymore.

3.  We have things going on in racing that is out and out cruelty to horses,  from lack of feed, to inhumane training and drugs that actually block horses that have suspensories or tendons jeopardizing horse and jockeys.
 
What if a trainer or his assistant  used  lip balm hand creme or any of the over 1000 substances in stores that has metobolites of lidocaine in them and then groomed a horse or  gave it water and that metabolite got into the horses system???   The leading scientist in the country , Dr Barker from LSU has given a preliminary opinion in Mr. Asmussen's case of that likelihood in his case.   He is not a paid expert but the very scientist that testified against Mr Asmussen in his case of two years ago.
  
So, Texas has zero tolerance and doesn't care whether this was given to this horse or  doesn't care how it got into her system.  SO,   if hard proven scientific evidence shows this horse did not have injectable lidocaine but such an insignificant amount, and its a metabolite and of such minute proportion, that science shows no one injected lidocaine -  should we then just ban Mr Asmussen for life from this game?

His horses are fed, taken care of, his owners find homes for their horses -  but he's the one we should ban?  Let the ones that truly brutalize horses keep at it?

Shouldn't we maybe think of taking our science and labs into the 21st century so those that deserve to be punished with scientific evidence are punished and those perhaps not guilty are allowed to continue their trade?

Or perhaps,  if you have prior offenses,  you simply are  bad and guilty. I'm hopeful you really don't think like that.

I went to school at the University of Kentucky and every time I come there,  or Keeneland -   is it really so blue-blood that everyone is closing their eyes to the rest of the racing world and what goes on?

I'm truly angered by your article,  not because of Steve, but its articles like this that do not help our game, or point out anything positive but really just jumps on the frenzy to the public, that we are all a bunch of thieves, dopers and spend our time with syringes - I assure you that is not true.

My interest is racing and doing everything I can to fix it and fix the images -   perhaps Steve's case can be the catalyst to fix the real and brutal problems -   and we can all join forces to try and fix our image without just writing as you just did.
 
Maggi Moss

Report: Dutrow caught doping at Churchill

The New York Times' Joe Drape reports this morning that the day before he won the Kentucky Derby, trainer Rick Dutrow ran a horse at Churchill Downs that tested positive for twice the allowable level of clenbuterol, a drug that promotes muscle growth.

According to the Times report, the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority will rule Wednesday that Dutrow is suspended for 15 days and the horse's owners, Michael Dubb and Robert Joscelyn, must return the $20,000 Salut the Count won for finishing second in the stakes race.

“I was there all week and am responsible,” Dutrow told the Times.  “I use that medication on many of my horses and only once can ever remember having a problem with it.”

John Veitch, chief steward for the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, told the Times that "the level of clenbuterol found in Salute the Count was the highest he had seen in four years as chief steward."

Who's going to bell the cat?

At yesterday’s Congressional hearings on horse racing, in his testimony, owner and breeder/storyteller Arthur Hancock III, shown at right with Jess Jackson, used an old story to illustrate the dilemma facing the sport.

It was too long to use in my column this morning, so I’m paraphrasing it here:

There is a grand old house that is infested with mice. There are so many mice, the owners go out and get a cat to help fix the problem.

The mice are very upset about the cat. They don’t know what to do. They talk, and hold meetings, and confer committees to try and address what to do about the cat. Finally, they agree on a solution. They need to put a bell on the cat. That way they will know where the cat is at all times.

Everyone agrees: They must put a bell on the cat.

But then someone asks: Who’s going to put the bell on the cat?”

There was no one to put the bell on the cat.

Said Hancock, “That’s our problem. Who’s going to bell the cat?”

Liveblog: Stephen Foster Day

 At Churchill Downs for the stakes races today, including Curlin running in the Stephen Foster.

• Dreaming of Anna capture the final race of the day, the Grade III Early Times Mint Julep Handicap.

• Curlin won the Grade I Stephen Foster by  4 1/4 lengths. Einstein got up for second. Barcola ended up third. Curlin paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. It was the Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner's first win since taking the Dubai World Cup back on March 29. It was his first race on U.S. soil since the Breeders' Cup.

• Curlin wins the Stephen Foster in impressive fashion. More to come.

• Tizdejavu was very impressive in running away with the Grade II Jefferson Cup, a 1 1/8 race on the turf. It was the second straight win for the Gregory Fox-trained entry, who won the Grade III American Turf on Kentucky Oaks Day.

• Pyro won by 1 3/4 lengths. He paid $5.60, $3.60 and $2.60.

• In his first race since finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby, Pyro won Grade III Northern Dancer. He looked good going it, running at a nice pace and then turning it on down the stretch. My Pal Charlie, who finished second in the Louisiana Derby, ran second here. Visionaire, trained by Michael Matz, ran third.
  

• Pyro just won the Northern Dancer. Details to follow.

• Pyro is up next in the Grade III Northern Dancer Stakes.

• Pure Clan, who finished third in the Kentucky Oaks, ran away with the 39th running of the Grade III Regret Stakes. Trained by Bob Holthus for Sarah Lyn Stables, Pure Clan rallied from third at the top of the stretch to win by 2 3/4 lengths on the turf. She had run third in the Fantasy before running third behind Proud Spell and Little Belle in the Oaks. C J's Leelee ran second in the Regret. Zee Zee was third. Pure Clan paid $4.00, $2.60 and $2.10.

• Hystericalady was an easy 7 1/2-length winner in the Grade II Fleur De Lis Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and ridden by Garrett Gomez, Hystericalady was coming off a third-place finish in the Grade I Humana Distaff on Kentucky Derby Day. Before that she had won the Grade III Azeri at Oaklawn on March 8. Initforthekandy ran second and Kathleens Reel was third. The winner paid $3 and $2.20. There was no show betting.

• After the official Kentucky Derby trophy presentation, Kent Desormeaux talked to the media, in which he said he was happy to put the Belmont behind him. The jockey said that looking back on last week's ride there was nothing he would do differently. He said that Big Brown was spooked and bolted out of the gate, which ended up dictating his entire ride. He said he felt once he got Big Brown outside he was in a great spot, but that it just wasn't there. He said that he and Rick Dutrow "we're on the same page" now after the trainer had criticized his ride. He said he had received much support from trainers and other jockeys, including a public backing from Bob Baffert and a letter from Laffit Pincay. Said Desormeaux of the Triple Crown, "It definitely defines my career, such highs and such lows," he said.
  

  You can hear the entire interview with Kent Desormaux here.

• Kent Desormeaux is here. The Derby winning jockey won the first race aboard Triple Gift. He is to receive his Kentucky Derby trophy after the fifth race. The owners of Big Brown were not able to atend. Nor was trainer Rick Dutrow.

Dutrow and Desormeaux kiss and make-up

Update: Desormeaux refuses to comment on Dutrow or meeting.

ESPN is reporting that Rick Dutrow and Kent Desormeaux met this morning at Aqueduct and that everything is now fine between the trainer and the jockey that the trainer blamed for Big Brown's loss in the Belmont.

We can all feel better now.

Highlights:

• Dutrow told ESPN's Jeannine Edwards that he and Desormeaux are "back on target," adding "I just feel better because he came by to talk about [the Belmont ride]."

• On Monday, Dutrow told reporters that since there was nothing wrong with Big Brown physically, he had to question his rider's tactics. "I'm sure he didn't have any idea what the hell was going on going into the first turn the way [Desormeaux] was switching him all over the damn track," Dutrow said Monday. "I don't know what he was doing."

• No other details were given about the meeting, though maybe more will come later in the day.

Related links:

• Despite Dutrow's objections, Desormeaux will remain Big Brown's jockey, says owner.

• Dutrow blames Desormeaux.

• Was it Desormeaux's ride?

• Andy Beyer writes that we will probably never know what happened to Big Brown.

Also got this e-mail today from Wayne, who writes, "John: What the hell is going on with your loathing of one single horse trainer?  The guys at the pub are talking more about that than they are about the lousy performance in the Belmont. None of us wear hatred and petty jealousy very well but you are setting a new standard for such nonsense.  If you cannot tolerate blowhards, loudmouths, egomaniacal morons and others of such persuasions you should not be covering sports.  However if I recall, you view Ali as "colorful", "courageous" and other such drivel.  But Dutrow is an easy target for the liberal press.  He's white, male, successful and obnoxious all in one package.  I'm sure that the angry girls that run the HL are pleased as punch with your attacks but your readers are becoming increasingly bored and nauseated."

Triple Crown wasn't always the way it is now

Steve Moody of Kentucky Handicappers Sheet sent along the following e-mail:

John,

My personal opinion is the Triple Crown should not be changed.  It's supposed to be tough to win.  During the 25-year drought between Citation and Secretariat, I'm sure there were people then calling for changes.  Then after 3 Triple Crown winners during a six-year span in the '70's, there were people saying it was too easy.

It is interesting to note, however, that the Triple Crown has not always been run over the current five-week time span it is now.  In fact, only the last three winners, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed won the 3 races on the two-week, then three-week intervals we have now.

              Derby            Preakness            Belmont            Span
1919        5/10           (Wed.) 5/14          (Wed.) 6/11       32 days
1930        5/17           (Fri.) 5/9                   6/07             29 days
1935        5/04                5/11                    6/08             35 days
1937        5/08                5/15                    6/05             28 days
1941        5/03                5/10                    6/07             35 days
1943        5/01                5/08                    6/05             35 days
1946        5/04                5/11                    6/01             28 days
1948        5/01                5/15                    6/12             42 days
1973        5/05                5/19                    6/09             35 days
1977        5/07                5/21                    6/11             35 days
1978        5/06                5/20                    6/10             35 days

 

While the 5-week time span has been the most common, the two-week interval between the Derby and Preakness didn't come about until 1948 and that year there was still a 4-week gap between the Preakness and the Belmont, though Citation ran in between, winning the Jersey Derby.

While I could live with changing the Derby-Preakness interval to 3 weeks, I am totally against changing the distances of the races.  That would completely diminish the series.

This afternoon, Steve e-mailed me again to say, "I was talking with (Churchill Downs official) John Asher yesterday about this trying to determine why the series deviated from 5 weeks in 1937, 1946, and 1948.  The Derby ran a week later than normal in 1937 because of the flood, but we didn't know any particular reason why the changes were made in the other two years.

The only thing I can surmise is that principals tinkered with the timing after being forced to change the dates in 1945 because of the war.  In 1945, the 3 races were run on successive Saturdays in June starting with the Derby on June 9th.  In 1946, the Derby and Preakness were back to normal (1 week interval), but the Belmont was  moved to just 3 weeks later.  Because the way the calendar fell, it meant the Belmont was run in May in 1947, the first time that happened since 1910."

E-mailbag: Changing the Triple Crown

Monday's column in which D. Wayne Lukas advocated altering the current Triple Crown format drew quite a few e-mails.

Some excerpts:

• Newton wrote, "No need to change triple crown - it's been run that way for a long time and horses did it.  Problem is clearly breeding / training."

• J.R. wrote, "Good article. They have to do something, but if they're going to change the Triple Crown, they need to call it something else. Or better still, do away with the Preakness all together. Make it the K. Derby, the Belmont, and the Breeders Cup."

• Robert wrote, "There is a point about the Belmont that I haven’t seen made, and I’m asking myself why? First of all, Big Brown was off in his training. This leads to a very good chance the horse could show up for the race “rank.” Dutrow and the mental midget, Desormeaux, should have been aware of the fact. You don’t pull up a rank horse, you let him run. You’re in the number one post position, you at least within the first 250 ft know this horse is rank, let him go, it’s the only chance you have. Then you allow, Edgar Prado, on whatever nag he was on, push you to the middle of the track. Big Brown, simply quit, and I don’t blame him. Of more concern is that horses don’t forget. Desormeaux may have ruined this horse."

• Sam wrote, "Big Brown’s story dovetails with that of Eight Bells and the state of horseracing today.
  As you wrote, ‘The horses of today are not the horses of yesteryear. The breed has changed. It is not nearly as robust. It's more susceptible to injury. It's bred for speed, not durability.’ However, instead of changing the races, as Lucas argues, it seems that the breeding habits need to change. Otherwise, horses will continue to lose stamina and be more susceptible to injury. This is not a quick fix, and probably meets opposition, but it offers long term benefits for the health of the racehorse and the sport."

• Jeff wrote, "think anytime the temperature is over 85 the race should be cancelled, so the poor horses,  won't have to sweat and the Derby should be a 5 furlong sprint, so the horses won't get toooooooooooooooo tired for the other Triple Crown races.Give me a freaking break, the Triple Crown is not suppose to be easy. By the way, name me one horse in the past that ran  all 3 races and dropped dead around the final turn at the  Belmont? Big Brown is a decent horse in a year of pathetic 3 year olds, and never deserved being a Triple Crown winner."

• Mary wrote, "I found your story while surfing, and it sounds like poor Big Brown could have been
  the Crown horse with a loving trainer. I get the feeling despite business aspect, these horses have
  souls that should be honored and they KNOW what the people are thinking and feeling."
   

Iavarone: Big Brown checks out fine

Michael Iavarone, head of IEAH Stables, said this morning that Big Brown checked out clean and the connections have no explanation for his last place finish in the Belmont.

“We’re just as confused as everybody else,” said Iavarone during a teleconference at Belmont Park.

The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner appeared to be in good position on the back stretch Saturday, but gave nothing when asked for a move by jockey Kent Desormeaux.

When Desormeaux asked again only to receive the same result, the jockey eased Big Brown in the stretch.

“I had no horse,” said Desormeaux afterward.

Iavarone said Big Brown was “scoped” for any internal bleeding or mucous, but that nothing was found.

“We went over him good last night and this morning and there’s nothing physically that showed up,” he said. “Maybe the heat was too much for him. He just didn’t like it out there.”

Iavarone said that Big Brown’s feet were nice and cool Sunday morning, showing no signs of infection. He said the horse’s recent quarter-crack was not a problem, nor were his shoes an issue.

“I think we’ve got to chalk this one up to a question mark at this point,” he said.

Said Iavarone of the horse, “He’s just angry.”

Big Brown will ship from Belmont Park to Aqueduct, where trainer Rick Dutrow stables his horses, and, “unless something shows up in the next couple of days, he’ll return to his regular training schedule.”

Iavarone reiterated that the Travers continues to be Big Brown’s next target.

Brownout! (with audio)

Thanks to e-mailer Eric for the headline, as Big Brown is pulled up and finishes dead last in the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes.

Nick Zito is the winner with Da' Tarra.

David Carroll, trainer of runner-up Denis of Cork, used the occasion to sound off about Big Brown's trainer Rick Dutrow.

Highlights:

• Someone asked, “Feel sorry for Big Brown? “Not one little bit,” said Carroll. “I know everybody wanted to see a Triple Crown winner, but I was in the race to win it. I think there’s a way of doing things, a right way and a wrong way.”

• “You win with class and you lose with class,” Carroll said. “I know some people think (Dutrow’s boasting) is refreshing or whatever. I don’t.”

• “I feel bad for the horse, hopefully he’s fine,” said Carroll of Big Brown. “But the way (Dutrow) was talking, basically what he was saying is my horse is a POS and I knew he wasn’t. It just rubbed me the wrong way.”

• “Believe me, I got some phone calls,” said Carroll, smiling. “After the race, and before.”

• “I’ve never talked to (Dutrow) in my life,” said David Carroll. “I think he says enough for everybody.”

   As for Dutrow,

you can hear his post-race meeting with the media outside the Test Barn here.

.

Another good omen for Dutrow

As if Casino Drive's early-morning scratch wasn't a good enough Belmont Stakes omen for Rick Dutrow, the trainer just received another here at Belmont Park.

His horse Benny the Bull, the 1-2 favorite, rallied from fourth place in the stretch to win the six-furlong Grade II True North Handicap by a neck over 10-1 shot Man of Danger.

Said Dutrow, "I wasn't concerned about him coming into this race off his Dubai win because he had been training so well. I was more concerned with him at the eighth-pole, that he couldn't win. We let him run his own race, and he got up here just in time."

Interestingly enough, Dutrow said Friday that he probably woudn't even watch Benny the Bull run, that he would instead spend all his time with Big Brown.

"I want to be with the horse," said Dutrow. "That's what makes me feel good."