House Subcommittee Hearings

[ddthetide]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I suppose you think that a one sided view of people pretty much bashing the sport is a good thing? This is an entirely one sided hearing with many misconceptions and untruths and generalizations being brought up as facts. There is no one there to dispute them because this 'witness' list is a loaded deck. Dont you think a racetrack vet or trainer that is still relevant would be a good guest? This is like a panel discussing politics and all the witnesses were Republicans.

IF You had a chance to speak at this hearing would you? just curious.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

As a matter of fact why wasn't Scot Waterman invited since he has been the industry's lead vet involving medication? Because he represents what the industry has done and is doing and we would not want that getting in the way of the obvious agenda here. I have been critical of the RMTC for various reasons but they are way better than what this group of politicians may create.

And they andtheir work was casually dismissed by pathetic Randy Moss who reduces his stature in racing every time he opens his mouth lately. And predictably, his 'testimony' will be hailed in the coverage. You just watch...

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ddthetide

IF You had a chance to speak at this hearing would you? just curious.

Sure, why not? I would just bring Sammy Sosa's lawyer with me if they had any really tough questions.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

As a matter of fact why wasn't Scot Waterman invited since he has been the industry's lead vet involving medication? Because he represents what the industry has done and is doing and we would not want that getting in the way of the obvious agenda here. I have been critical of the RMTC for various reasons but they are way better than what this group of politicians may create.

When I heard of the hearing the first person I thought would be invited in Scot Waterman. I couldn't believe it when I didnt see his name on the list..

[Kasept]

Resuming...

[Cannon Shell]

They keep refering to "drugs" without any specifics. Just get rid of drugs. What about the drugs that have been developed that are absolutely beneficial for horses?

[Cannon Shell]

Moss and Van Berg basically just called for an increase in takeout to fund the phantom war on "drugs". This is such a joke. The issue is so complex yet they are treating it as though some national commission funded by simulcasting is goign to solve all these problems.

[pgiaco]

Come on Chuck, there are NO beneficial drugs for horses.

[Kasept]

Dutrow's written testimony:

When I was contacted by one of your staffers and asked to speak here today I agreed because I wanted to share my insights and points of view on some of these issues and I hope that I can be helpful here.

I also hope that I was not asked to be here because of some of the problems I have had in the past. I hope your staff people were sincere in inviting me because they valued my insight. I want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

I also ask for your patience today. I’m not always the best at explaining things. I’ve been taking care of horses all my life. I dropped out of high school more than 30 years ago to take care of horses and sometimes I think I do better with horses than with people.

As you may know, I am the trainer for Big Brown, the very talented horse who won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness this year. Despite my best efforts and those of the team of people around him, he did not win the Belmont Stakes but that’s horseracing. Big Brown is healthy and our plan right now is to keep him racing this summer and fall.

In addition to Big Brown, I am responsible for approximately 150 horses at any one time – 110 in active training and 40-50 at various farms getting ready to race. My operation has about 75 people, including grooms, stable hands, exercise riders, blacksmiths and vets, who care for our horse on a daily basis.

While some people’s focus is on the big days, we care about our horses and keeping them safe 365 days a year. Taking care of horses is a way of life for us. Our horses get the best care we can give them. They are gifted athletes and are trained to give their best performance when they run.

During the Triple Crown, I was asked several questions about my past and I expect those will come up today so let me address them.

My barn has been penalized in the past for medication violations. I was suspended and fined five years ago when traces of a prohibited substance, mepivicaine, turned up in a test for one of my horses. I said then that we don’t use it and I don’t know how it happened.

We have also had violations when legal, permitted, therapeutic medications have shown up in race day tests because they were given to the horse too close to the race. That’s something that many trainers in the country have had to deal with. But I take responsibility for the condition of my horses.

During the Triple Crown I told the media that my horses are given Winstrol on the 15th of each month. This is an FDA approved medication and is within the current rules of racing in most states. It is something we started a few years ago at the recommendation of one of our vets.

People have asked me why I do it. My observation is that it helps the horses eat better. Their coats brighten. They’re more alert. It helps them train. Having said that, our barn has won hundreds of races with horses that weren’t on steroids. Earlier this winter, I won two one million dollar races in Dubai, where steroids are prohibited. If steroids are banned in the United States, we’ll stop using them.

I also said that I’m not qualified to speak to the science of it. For that, I would suggest that you talk to the vets and scientific experts.

Thank you.

[Cannon Shell]

I guess what bother me the most outside of the one sided witness list is that much of what is talked about here is either so generalized as to be of no use, opinion based on questionable facts or simply untrue. But that apparently is what they want.

[Kasept]

Now getting sidetracked and lost in foal surgeries and sales practices.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by pgiaco

Come on Chuck, there are NO beneficial drugs for horses.

Arthur Hancock just sounds cheap.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Now getting sidetracked and lost in foal surgeries and sales practices.

Which the industry as well as many states have already passed rules and laws dealing with

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Arthur Hancock just sounds cheap.

How you think Arthur's testimony would sit with Bull?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Kasept

How you think Arthur's testimony would sit with Bull?

I doubt Bull would have shown up

[Cannon Shell]

You have to remember that many of the views presented here could be considered extreme.

[Kasept]

Jackson may be suffering from dementia.

[Kasept]

Jackson now with a complete misrepresentation of the simulcast business... Totally incorrect. Jackson is becoming a danger here. This is becoming increasingly outrageous.

[Cannon Shell]

Jess jackson just said there is plenty of money available to fund all of this. That would be a another on this illustrious panel who has called for an increase in takeout. They never actually use those words but where do you think these funds will comefrom especially when the word simulcasting is used as a preface?

[FGFan]

Originally Posted by justindew

Regarding Dutrow's absence, are these witnesses under oath?

No not usually.
It is not a court of law, just a committee hearing.
Therefore people are able to express their opinions, frequently without having any data or facts to back it up. I have personally watched as people have outright lied in committee hearings to push forth their agenda. The only recourse is to contact legislators and tell them a person has no facts to back up their testimony, sometimes they listen sometimes they don't.
Unfortunately I missed the hearing will have to wait for the archives, but this thread doesn't make it sound very good.

And as to the question of why this is so bad, there are many reasons.
First and foremost this hearing was brought about by Ed Whitfield who is on this committee, actually I personally suspect by his wife's urging, who is serving as the Vice Chairman of the KHRA and is also a senior VP and lead fundraiser for the HSUS. These 2 positions are diometrically opposed. Whether or not anyone wishes to believe it the HSUS and all other Animal RIGHTS, not welfare groups, true agenda would be to abolish horse racing, then they would move on to jumps, dressage etc. They want all horses just wandering around with nothing to do, to them that is caring for the horses. I would also bet Ed Whitfield couldn't get any other committee to hear it, so he brought it to his own committee. This IS how our political system works.

Additionally part of the problem is you have fat cat politicians hearing testimony on something most of them have no knowledge of anything about horse racing, or for that matter probably have never touched a race horse or seen the backside.
On top of that they have handpicked the witnesses who obviously have an agenda. I did not hear the testimony but by just looking at the witness list you have people that are totally anti-meds, Randy Moss as we know is anti-whip. It would be one thing if they truly had non-biased witnesses that were there to give factual, scientific information.

I could live with a ruling that the Fed mandates all state horse racing associations must join together and come up with a formula that is applicable in all states, therefore leaving it in the hands of the horsemen and track personel that deal with these issues on a day to day basis and actually understand the problems.

BUT that is not what is about to happen. Believe me I know how this works, I have sat and testified in many, albiet State, committes and task forces then watched as they voted on the bills many really didn't understand what they were voting for or the reprucussions.

On top of this what the heck is the ENERGY AND COMMERCE committee hearing about so called horse abuse when the dollar is out of control and gas prices are sky high. Just more political rehotric to appease the people with little to do but go help the poor horsies because the owners, trainers and handlers don't know how to treat them right.

It is a sham and just the usual politics in order to get our minds off the true causes that affect our country.