Another sad tale
 

Vet accused of injecting horses with vodka pre-race


OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- A veterinarian will be in court next week to face accusations he injected horses with vodka to calm their nerves before races at Fonner Park in Grand Island.

Jay Stewart faces four misdemeanor counts of attempting to influence a race by tampering with a horse. His trial starts Wednesday in Hall County.
In a story first reported by the Omaha World-Herald, Stewart denied any wrongdoing. He didn't immediately return a message from The Associated Press seeking comment. A person who answered the phone at his Grand Island clinic said Stewart was in surgery Friday morning.

Stewart is alleged to have administered vodka to horses in 2005 -- before the fourth race Feb. 20, the sixth race Feb. 27, the fifth race March 11 and the ninth race April 9.

Yeah...is a shame.....could have at least administered some grapefruit juice along with it. Straight vodka is tough. actually straight vodka with no chaser? Should get a life sentence for that.

I wonder if he worked with Tiznow? I hear Tizzy is a fan of Grey Goose

I am not sure how I feel about the administration of the alcohol very close to a race, but alcohol is given to horses quite frequently. I have been told by several trainers that in hot climates horses that have trouble sweating are often given beer to induce a good sweat. Not a lot mind you, but it's still alcohol. Also, I know Tapit used to have Guiness everyday.

I'd have to know more about the facts and legality of alcohol in Nebraska, but this seems to be a little sensationalist to post it everywhere. I mean only the vet or trainer who do the injecting know how many things like rare snail venom are injected in to horses everyday.

I was kidding around.....I am sure The Serious Police have been called and I will soon be detained.

lol, as was I. I do seem to remember Tiznow's trainer saying he gave him a shot of vodka to calm his nerves before training.
I remember when Tizzy won the second BC Classic, my friends and I did a toast to him that was some nasty vodka.

This story is on the front page of CNN.com and ESPN.com! Way to go publicity!

I'm sure Gin Talking and Vodka Talking would have something to say about this.

Seriously, there's a huge difference between drinking it like Tiznow and having it injected into the bloodstream. The trainer sounds like a ghoul.

I agree, why not just use a shot glass?

For some reason, I have the feeling that we'll be drinking it out of a shot glass down at GP... no injections for me please! :eek:

lol, dont worry I only inject my vodka on mondays ;)

I doubt a shot of vodka that a horse drinks will do much harm..injecting it straight to the bloodstream is another story. That is uncalled for....

yes.....or layer it on ice with kahlua and soda water and give the horse a minderaser shot......used to be my downfall when at a bar...

Maybe the vet is a Toby Keith fan and believes the song "Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses" and couldn't find any beer?

Does the article say how much vodka was injected? Since a horse typically weighs 4 or 5 times more than a human, the dosages and effects would be much different.

"There's no truth to the rumor that Tiznow prefers his vodka in a Cosmopolitan." ;)

I've always told myself that if I ever owned a horse to win a Kentucky Derby, I was gonna give it a big old double duece of Bud to swig in celebration in the Winner's Circle.

Whatever my horse didn't down, I would.


Seriously though, there have been photos of horses drinking spirits for decades.

Even if the guy was injecting a shot of vodka into an animal outweighing a human by multiple times, I'm thinking more "homeopathic medicine" than anything meant to be devious.

So is the timing of this just a coincidence?

http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=22871