PETA undercover in Asmussen's barn - Whoa!

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

How has Asmussen (and others like him) caused other people to lose their livelihoods?

I am no fan of him, but other than potentially hiring undocumented workers (and allegedly faking papers for them), there's nothing in there that is illegal, and if a trainer should step away from the Derby for hiring undocumented workers, I suspect there would be many more than just Asmussen.

Until the allegations are proved, he's innocent in the eyes of the law. It's not his job to give racing a good image; it's his job to win races for his clients. If the owners are concerned about how things look, they are free to move their horses (and personally, I think Zayat's moving his had more to do with Blasi calling him a name, that meanie! The wealthy are very sensitive and their feelings get hurt easily. We must protect them at all costs from the cold, cruel world). If racing fans should be angry at anyone, it should be at the owners who stayed with him, who clearly care more about winning races than how racing looks to Joe Q Public who doesn't follow the sport. I would wager money (and probably more successfully than I have in the Derby the last few years) that Asmussen doesn't feel he's done anything wrong. If you were accused of something you felt was untrue at your job, would you voluntarily give up your livelihood to make your field of work "look better"? Or would you say, "eff you, prove it first"?

Again, I'm not a fan of his work, as they say, but at this point, demanding he step back from training his Derby/Oaks horses smacks of Polytrack- knee-jerk responding. Horse racing has a lotta image problems (the biggest, and most insurmountable probably being modern US society infantilizing animals that we don't like to eat), but Asmussen stepping down isn't going to do step one towards actually addressing any of them.

nyra and ky are both currently investigating asmussen for cruelty to animals, among other things. i'm not sure that hiring undocumented workers is the only thing he needs to worry about.
seems to me whenever cruelty to animals is asserted, animals are removed from the care of the person charged during the investigation. it doesn't mean the person is guilty, it's done to make sure the animals are taken care of while the case proceeds.
i agree, owners are wrong for hiring such a person.

[dellinger63]

What ever happened to the KY vet that was double dosing horses with Lasix?

[Jay Frederick]

Originally Posted by Danzig

it is because of the tape, the report...and the investigations being conducted right now by nyra and kentucky. i'm sorry you think it's only about the tape, and not what the tape revealed.


and you want to fix the system. well, then let's start right now, with asmussen being ruled off the track while two racing entities conduct thorough investigations into very serious allegations.

What did the tape reveal other than Scott Blasi swears a lot?

You can't deny someone a livelihood because you don't like them. Doesn't work that way on the real world.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

What did the tape reveal other than Scott Blasi swears a lot?.

It showed Blassi talking about Santana using a buzzer. Yet Asmussen is being investigated. It does show him falsifying SS#'s and that is why I posted the US Dept. of Labor should be involved instead of NY or KY racing offices. However that's a hot potato no one wants any part of.

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

You can't deny someone a livelihood because you don't like them. Doesn't work that way on the real world.

Not sure Paula Deen would agree

[Jay Frederick]

Based on what we saw in the tape it is impossible to know the context of the buzzer talk.

Paula Deen is an apples to oranges comparison.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

Based on what we saw in the tape it is impossible to know the context of the buzzer talk..

Is it enough to start an investigation?

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

Paula Deen is an apples to oranges comparison.

Because she's not part of the real world?

[Jay Frederick]

I don't recall anyone denying Paula Deen her right to work. She still has a thriving restaurant.

Apples to oranges.

Good luck with that buzzer investigation.

[DaTruth]

Baffert was also mentioned in the NYT article about the PETA video.

In a recent investigation into the sudden deaths of seven horses trained by Bob Baffert from 2011 to 2013, the California Horse Racing Board found that Baffert was giving thyroxine to all of his horses whether they had thyroid problems or not. Baffert, a Hall of Fame trainer, said he stopped using the drug last March after the seventh horse died.

I suppose that Baffert should turn his Derby prospects over to other trainers now in anticipation that PETA may have a press conference about the thyroxine issue during Derby week. Maybe PETA can supply a list of approved trainers.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

I suppose that Baffert should turn his Derby prospects over to other trainers now in anticipation that PETA may have a press conference about the thyroxine issue during Derby week. Maybe PETA can supply a list of approved trainers.

That Baffert was generally given a pass by the CHRB and the racing media is not a positive reflection on the sport or those who cover it.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

Baffert was also mentioned in the NYT article about the PETA video.



I suppose that Baffert should turn his Derby prospects over to other trainers now in anticipation that PETA may have a press conference about the thyroxine issue during Derby week. Maybe PETA can supply a list of approved trainers.

is the chrb investigating baffert for animal cruelty?

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

That Baffert was generally given a pass by the CHRB and the racing media is not a positive reflection on the sport or those who cover it.

Well, he did stop after seven deaths. That is better than 8, no?

Didn't a claiming horse from Baffert barn breakdown this past weekend in a race.
Red Tesla

[Jay Frederick]

Originally Posted by Danzig

is the chrb investigating baffert for animal cruelty?

So much for being consistent.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

So much for being consistent.

I happen to agree with parsix's comment. Actually, I am consistent with my comments and suggestions regarding these trainers who not only survive these occurrences, but thrive off them.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Danzig

is the chrb investigating baffert for animal cruelty?

So you're saying that Asmussen should not enter Tapiture in the Derby under his name merely because he is under investigation by the New York and Kentucky Racing Commissions? These are investigations in response to the PETA video, It isn't like PETA is some objective news-gathering organization.

It seems to me that the ball is in the Kentucky Racing Commission's court in regards to the Derby. If they feel that a suspension pending resolution of the investigation is warranted, they should impose one and then let the courts sort it out.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Well, he did stop after seven deaths. That is better than 8, no?

It's the one thing for which you have to give Pletcher credit. Back in 2002, he stopped after three.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

So you're saying that Asmussen should not enter Tapiture in the Derby under his name merely because he is under investigation by the New York and Kentucky Racing Commissions? These are investigations in response to the PETA video, It isn't like PETA is some objective news-gathering organization.

It seems to me that the ball is in the Kentucky Racing Commission's court in regards to the Derby. If they feel that a suspension pending resolution of the investigation is warranted, they should impose one and then let the courts sort it out.

'merely'? he's under investigation for serious things, not for swearing..serious enough he fired blasi, with whom he had a long history.


edit--im just repeating myself. ive covered all this. if anyone doesnt agree with me, fine. but i loathe repeating myself...so i don't think i have anything else to add.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Danzig

'merely'? he's under investigation for serious things, not for swearing..serious enough he fired blasi, with whom he had a long history.


edit--im just repeating myself. ive covered all this. if anyone doesnt agree with me, fine. but i loathe repeating myself...so i don't think i have anything else to add.

Good than STFU.

Finally, any takers she doesn't listen lol

[JDank34]

Originally Posted by Danzig

'merely'? he's under investigation for serious things, not for swearing..serious enough he fired blasi, with whom he had a long history.


edit--im just repeating myself. ive covered all this. if anyone doesnt agree with me, fine. but i loathe repeating myself...so i don't think i have anything else to add.

Lol. Blasi is not fired, he is simply not on the staff currently. He will be back. You're crusade is misguided. For anyone to think Asmussen should bow down to the PETA crowd because of an edited video that showed nothing horse related other than his asst cusses often is truly comical.

[Benny]

Here is what PETA should spend there efforts on '

WARNING GRAPHIC PHOTOS '

https://travel.yahoo.com/photos/9-co...how-205338469/