PETA undercover in Asmussen's barn - Whoa!

[Pants II]

Originally Posted by Scav

Do you really think that trainers / asst trainers are 'googling' barn help when they show up for work?

Those guys are lucky if they have enough consistent help, let alone have time to actually research their prior employment. Every groom that comes by the barn looking for work has worked for some 'top' outfit. Favorites I have heard was Bill Mott or Pletcher. LOL.

No. They are grossly incompetent for not doing so...especially considering this barn being in the spotlight the last few years.

What I'm interested to see is if they had other operatives in different barns. Surely someone in PETA was aware of how easy it was to gain access.

[Sightseek]

Very sad, but it is being reported on Twitter that the Asmussen's barn foreman took his life. He was 27.

[Merlinsky]

http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/stor...derby-decision

[Arletta]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/stor...derby-decision

Couldn't agree more and hope he withdraws. I doubt he will do "the right thing", but he really needs to stay as far away from Churchill as possible on May 3rd.

[Danzig]

I would think they would have already addressed this....surprised they hadn't yet. Asmussen should have them run under another trainer's name.
How many chances is this sport willing to give a person to sully racing?
They might want to think again how hall eligibility. I was appalled when his name was listed on the ballot.

[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?

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

The right thing is for Asmussen to continue to do his job and see how the entire thing unfolds.

To me that's indicative of the big problem with the sport. Respectfully, of course.

If any actions are ever going to be put into motion, the time to do it is now. Otherwise it's just business as usual save the ramblings of a few individuals about what the sport needs to do.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

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?

I agree!

[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.

[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 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?

[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.

[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.

[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.