Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

breeze10 — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:43:23 GMT

I commented earlier..including with the suggestion about fans wearing breathing strips (glad some seem to be picking up on that): I think it would make NYRA look like absolute morons! But, in follow up:

I have a friend who spent his entire adult life required to "watch his and his co-worker's back(s)" due to his career. He has a wise saying (which I have found keeps me from getting involved in less than desirable situations). It is quite simply: "Watch everyone..Trust Noone".

Again, this nonsense concerning O'Neill and IHA , seems to me, to be a vindictive act. The mere fact that all this "hocus pocus b.s." occurred since IHA won the Derby and Preakness (when another trainer's horse "was supposed to win", ..spells alot to me. Just because another (or more) trainer(s) is a "B ig" name, does not necessarily mean, he is 100% legit! Like I said previously, this was all placed in action by someone very vindictive and perhaps a very sore "loser". I know this seems "off the wall" to some/many but it's just my thought.

I think it is very clear that IHA is the real deal and I am looking forward to him "kicking butt" on June 9. The entire team seems to be a great group of people and the love for IHA is so apparent. This team deserves the best. They are holding up under fire..and that, to me shows alot of courage, patience, and integrity.

As for Desormeaux...how can this man even get his thoughts clear when he very obviously has not been able (for some time) to get his life clear? He's a blow-hard!

Team O'Neill...IHA...don't let "them" get to you...you're BIGGER than them....just,finish the job and get another!

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

Thelwell Pony — Tue, 29 May 2012 06:47:52 GMT

Steve, thank you for articles like this that make people THINK for themselves and ask "why do they do this?" questions. Sometimes, there is a very good, very ethical reason at the core... sometimes, it's just plain dumb. Sometimes the rules don't even protect the horses.

I have mixed feelings about the milkshaking/TCO2 ruling after reading this. I don't know as much about the O'Neills as some of the other trainers, so I cannot personally say "He's innocent and he's totally ethical." Here's a devil's advocate position: what if the ruling has actually been pushed back as far as they can make it? I don't know this, but for the sake of argument... with a suspension earlier in 2012, does IHA get the start in the SAD, or the win? The suspension is in California, not just at Del Mar, correct? If so, no SAD for IHA and he doesn't have earnings to start in the Derby. So we wouldn't be watching THIS horse go for the TC. The timing on the part of the Board is interesting, to say the least. I can't decide if I think it is detrimental, or (as has been suggested) it will actually make people think twice about "violations" and fines in the sport. I DO think that politics are involved. Remember when Larry Jones was touting ethical drug use, and then got slapped with clenbuterol violations? Was that a coincidence? I think it was a witch hunt. Then, after he had Havre de Grace, the recovery from the EB saga was touted as miraculous, and no one ever mentioned clenbuterol again. So, in short, I think the board is tacky and inappropriate, even though they are doing a valuable job. I think this is analogous to being strip searched by the TSA because you had one shampoo bottle that was too big, and saying that it is being done to protect the masses.

Rules are important in any sport. I don't see changing the normals for one horse, but I think that the sample size to create the normals should be much larger. I also wonder if every barn/trainer routinely tests hay? Nutritional and trace mineral content can vary by region, and even the same field by cutting. Alfalfa alone could have led to this elevation. We know that racehorses in particular are predisposed to gastric ulcers. Recently, alfalfa has been clinically shown to help with ulcers due to its high calcium content and ability to buffer stomach acid. This could be enough to increase alkalinity therefore TCO2. Could it be that something that benefits a horse also casts suspicion upon its training and potentially strips the horse of earnings that help sustain that horse? I think that could happen in theory, although (as the records are not yet public) we don't know in this case. A trainer friend once told me regarding ulcers: "Yeah, the high-end ones get Gastrogard, but the cheaper claimers get Maalox and Tums." Again, TCO2 could be affected when finances prevented gold-standard treatment for a medical problem that definitely affects performance. Lasix is a diuretic, and definitely can have unpredictable physiological side-effects. We intentionally dehydrate these horses prior to extreme physical exertion. Why? Because horses on Lasix have reduced incidence of exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage. The whole thing is a balancing act with these athletes. If the blood is in the alveoli, it isn't delivering oxygen to tissues. If the horse is too dehydrated, the heart is working too hard to deliver oxygen to those tissues. If you get the balance wrong, winning can become a moot point if the bloodtests suggest that you weren't on the level. OR that you were feeding your horse well and using a legal medication, without which your horse is not competitive.

This is as good a transition as I can come up with to talking about the nasal strips. It is a NYRA rule, and they aren't going to change it for one little horse... now. But they need to reconsider changing it for all the horses. When the Olympic 3-Day horses are held together with only Adequan, Legend, and strategically timed joint injections, and they see nothing wrong with the strips, I think thoroughbred racing should follow that lead. Those event horses are so rigorously tested for banned substances that they can barely pee or bleed! But racing will never follow that lead. It's not like it's a fentanyl patch! It helps horses breathe by non-pharmeceutical means!

I am concerned that a change to a beneficial piece of equipment could really affect IHA's performance. If he's prone to bleeding, Lasix alone may not be enough to prevent it - we could see him really bounce in the Belmont. I surely hope not. I may cry for days.

In racing, I think both of these issues highlight that we need uniform rules, and soon. Each track and each state can still have a unique feel and flavor without having an array of rules that are picky, and potentially unfair and detrimental. It needs to be for the good of the horses. This is a sport which (at its core) is very pure - horses run fast, and it is cool to see which is the fastest one. At the point that you cannot use a nasal strip, why is it okay to run (or breed - yikes!) a horse on Lasix? How about one which has undergone a tie-back, a palate surgery, or even a PO strip or screw? How is that different? Where do we draw the line about what helps a horse, and what is dishonest? There is much work to be done. I think efforts keep stalling out because no one knows where to start. It leads to fighting, crazy rocking in the fetal position, and ultimately discouragement and an attitude that "this is as good as it gets." We cannot afford to be complacent.

I hope the little red pony can win, despite all of the negative hype and stupid NY rules. 12 in '12!

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

minnomouse — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:59:54 GMT

Politics!

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

mairage68 — Mon, 28 May 2012 19:00:01 GMT

This is a story for the script writers for a movie. It's so sad but our society is really divided into shakers and movers. All the responses to your article is great and agrees with you, but it doesn't change the situation of NYRA banning nasal strips for IHA. Or change the CHRB decision for Doug. Eggs in the faces of the these governing bodies are far more damaging than having to face losing their credibility. Just like our Congress, these bodies needs an overhaul.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

mairage68 — Mon, 28 May 2012 18:10:32 GMT

This is a story for the scriptwriters and eventually a movie like Secretariat. This is our society, no one wants to see someone move up because they don't have a hand in it. It does put a doubt on the minds of those who reads anything the media headlines regarding IHA's chances of winning without those nasal strips. I didn't even know what they were until I looked closely.

This is the same issue as if you need a surgery to make you better but your HMO is denying for you to have the surgery. So therefore you just have to fend for yourself.

With IHA and Mario, he's not super like everybody says he is, he gets his cue from IHA and Mario knows how to handle him and with that combination you don't get everyday. Otherwise we wouldn't have a 34 yr drought from TC. These two are special at a special time on a special day. It's also a redeeming grace for Doug. He's not perfect and for him to take responsibility for something he didn't do takes courage and strength. He's been in this business for sometime, you don't become great without mistakes and you learn from them.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

hank — Mon, 28 May 2012 17:35:14 GMT

Great article as usual Mr Haskins, I left race track in early 1990's and if I rember there was gossip on the backside of a way to really help a horse, and everything used could be bought at the local food store, but it was a very guarded secret by the trainers who used it, so as everything that has taken place I wanted to get more info on milkshaking, I read an article in The Thouroughbred Times, under Vetinary Topics It was called, Milkshakes Leave A sour Taste, everyone should read this article it lays everything out in black and white, I can see when Mr Oneil said, I never milkshaked a horse he was 100% correct, I thought they could do it on their own, but no a vet has to do it because i guess you do it like u are tube woming a horse, could be very dangerous. I just recently read an article by someone who is a distance runner and they stated that the nasal band was very benefical to helping their perfomence, I have heard nothing but good reports from the person who developed these nasal straps as to their benefical qualities. Do they help I have no idea, I know seems like not that many other trainers have taken to them, but Mr Oneil definetly looks like a guy that does not leave a stone unturned. This is a real nice pony hopefully for racings sake he wins triple crown, Between Pena, Dutrow now this situation one can see why average gambler is turning to other venues. Nice to see small owner, horse bought at a smaller sale,small amount 35,000 purchaase price. Go IHA good luck

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

jbluesbeatle — Mon, 28 May 2012 03:44:28 GMT

I read earlier that Kent Desormeaux said that Mario Gutierrez won't be able to win the the Belmont because of the track. Seems to me Mario is beating better riders than Kent because he is battle tested at Bush tracks, and as such is technically a better rider. I would also say that Belmont would be an easier track to navigate than 1/2 mile tracks such as Timonium, in Maryland, with its sharp turns. Belmont has wide, sweeping, turns, sandy soil, so a battle tested rider, or even lesser riders should be able to handle that surface. The racing board and the stewards seem to be determined to keep Doug O'Neill and I'll Have Another from the Triple Crown with the 45 day ban and the nasal strip issue. Now, we have Kent Desormeaux making comments about the inability of jockey to win the race. Really? Is that so? People seriously need to let I'll Have Another and his owner and jockey do what they need to do and stop interfering. The undermining and outright hostility against the horse and jockey just make the situation worse for the sport. Besides, there is inherent hypocrisy in criticizing Doug O'Neill when Kent couldn't get the job done on Big Brown. Must have been the racing surface...or the loose shoe, or something else that no one else saw. The osession with I'll Have Another and his trainer must indicate that I'll Have Another must be the real deal.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

Racingfan — Mon, 28 May 2012 01:40:01 GMT

Great article Steve and I agree with every word! I can't believe they did this! But I guess it really shouldn't be a surprise at this point. It seems like at every big event someone - usually the race telecast itself - tries to show racing in a bad light. I have been disgusted that it seems like during almost every race telecast since Eight Belles, the race broadcasters have to bring up something negative about racing - this year it is "drugging" horses referring to Lasix but they never really explained anything in detail enough so that to the layman it sounded really bad in my opinion. I am starting to think all the pre-race stuff that I have always loved watching should be discontinued! Another big black eye for our beloved sport!!

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

Cassandra.Says — Mon, 28 May 2012 00:53:20 GMT

I believe it's even worse than some of you have said. The strips are not to increase oxygen uptake but to decrease turbulence in the horse's airstream by holding the nasal passage at a constant width. They are purely a health and safety aid. Turbulence is the immediate cause of bleeding episodes although many factors contribute to turbulence and to inflammation which increases susceptibility.

As long as our horses have to live and perform alongside parking lots, I think we owe it to them to ameliorate the unnatural added stress on their breathing any simple, healthy way we discover. (This doesn't include Lasix, to my mind.)

I'm wondering if you could get a positive for CO2 by feeding a horse Tums and Gatorade.

Racing enforcement reminds me of a cartoon of a looming judge on the bench saying to the defendant "Since this is your first offense, and since the jury has found you not guilty, I'm going to let you off with a warning."

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

Slew — Mon, 28 May 2012 00:35:04 GMT

Dr. D: you're a Sweetheart, and I do need a Triple Crown winner. Your reporting of the stewards' response made me want to go out and kick the woodchuck under my porch. He'll not chuck any more wood here. Unfortunately, he's a celebrity in Punxsatawny as the harbinger of "six more weeks of winter". (Everyone keeps trying to run him over but it never works.)

Jbluesbeatle: chill! boycotting the Belmont would just kill off the sport faster.

It seems to me if horses can wear nosebands, tongue-ties, shadow rolls and blinkers, then a breath right strip is an even less innocuous piece of equipment that should require no legislation. Maybe IHA doesn't need it, but I really hate to see any equipment change before a major race. Anyone who suffers from a deviated septum however, knows a breath right strip can make all the difference in an otherwise sleepless night. It simply keeps the nasal passages open, allowing one to breath with both nostrils.

loosehorse: Amen!

It seems to me that the CHRB is using a suspension as a club against a trainer who hasn't committed the infraction of which he is accused. Then the NYRA won't allow a nasal strip, but allows Rick Dutrow to race there every day no matter how many flagrant violations he has already been proven to have committed. Upside down, isn't it?

To I'll Have Another, Lava Man and the entire team I still can only say, "Go Baby Go!" Show them all who's really in charge. Let's get that Triple Crown.

(And to Belmont goers...don't forget to wear your breath-right strips!)

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

Linda in Texas — Sun, 27 May 2012 23:50:05 GMT

I love it. Someone asked the assistant trainer of I'll Do it Again Regardless, aka, I'll Have Another if Mr. Reddam had rented them a place to stay in New York.

His answer, Mr. Reddam has leased a 7 room home with many bathrooms, a swimming pool and a tennis court.

They have 3 meals a day and can chill in the evening playing cards.

Mr. Reddam you are a class act, a wonderful owner, super boss man and your entire team headed up by

Douglas and Dennis O'Neill are without a doubt the greatest.

I especially appreciate the man i always see leading I'll Have Another, the other day as they were walking to the barn, he stopped to remove a hose from the path of I'll Have Another, no use tripping over that. But he is

attentive to every detail.

Sorry if this ticks some off, but

you give credit where credit is due. The horse, not Doug, ran and won the races, The Santa Anita Derby, The Kentucky Derby and The Preakness and Doug is the architect.

And if New York wants a bloody-nosed horse running around the tracks, that is their business but It freaks some people out. Keep

changing the rules, but change them for every horse.

Ted from Boston - Dr. D. is feeling little pain and that is our gain.

His writing really improves if he

is hitting the Cognac a little hard and it does go well with Cookies.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

Aspercel — Sun, 27 May 2012 23:43:45 GMT

Great article again :)

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

Dr Drunkinbum — Sun, 27 May 2012 23:10:52 GMT

Gee Ted, it's just cookies. Non-alcoholic. Do you think a dozen a day is too much? Just doing my part to fight the negativity.

Thanks Katherine. Was glad to see that you had come back recently.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

Nyfalcon — Sun, 27 May 2012 22:26:14 GMT

Thanks for addressing this Steve, I posted on Facebook BH page and am so mad that I can hardly type and I love ny but my goodness how stupid realy!!!! Shaking my head in discuss .this will not tarnish nothing as far as how fine this team is ,there tops.keep up the kill them with kindness and we the fans well do all the fighting for them .now where are my breath rite strip , oh the Indy 500 winner was wearing one did they disqualify him???

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

Bigtex — Sun, 27 May 2012 21:15:59 GMT

I think team O'Neil needs to to say to NYRA that "we're wearing the darn nasal strips because that's what's best for our horse. If you want to ruin our triple crown with your legalism then we'll let it be on your head!" I seriously would call NYRA's bluff on this.

Do Haskin bloggers need to show up wearing nasal strips???

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

Ted from LA — Sun, 27 May 2012 20:54:20 GMT

Is it just me or does Dr. D seem more intoxicated than usual?

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

Bill Two — Sun, 27 May 2012 20:24:06 GMT

Not to patronize you, but I couldn't agree more. The public perception of horseracing can only get worse when news of O'Neill's suspension gets their attention. CHRB obviously has a bone to pick with the trainer, but in their myopic way they have managed to sabotage a feel good story which celebrates the best of horse racing. You are certainly on the mark about the need for a central regulatory body with standardized rules. What the public doesn't understand is that even the purest of the pure fall victim to the myriad different rules in place from one state to the next. Another thing is that many of the so-called violations occur because horses metabolize medication at different rates and it's very easy to come up with a positive even without malicious intent. All the public hears is that Doug O'Neill has been suspended for drugging horses and like you say they don't read beyond the headline. As for the NYRA.....shame on them!

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

predict — Sun, 27 May 2012 20:00:13 GMT

I shudder everytime an excellent California horse goes to race in a nationally important race at Belmont. Ever since Lost in the Fog went there for the Breeders Cup and lost and returned a horse dying from cancer. It would be OK with me if every California horse boycotted all Belmont racing. I don't like to swear but the rotten element in New York can bring it out in me.

As for the CHRB, I believe they are corrupt and working at the behest of investors and developers that would like to see the tracks that sit on prime real estate close so they can buy the land at a fraction of what it is worth.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

loosehorse — Sun, 27 May 2012 18:50:12 GMT

If a nasal strip needs to be regulated equipment then what about nose bands, tongue ties, shadow rolls and different bits.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

Paula Higgins — Sun, 27 May 2012 18:37:09 GMT

Skip, yes I know O'Neill was fighting this for a period of time but why did they feel now was the time to make their finding? They could have done it earlier or later. They certainly had that option. As for chronic overages, yes I get that too and that should be dealt with, but not via suspension for one incident that doesn't add up. That's why we need a national board with standardized criteria, that makes sense, for citing, suspending and fining. As Steve from St. Louis said, the only totally blameless participants are the horses. I also think if you looked at each and every trainer, there would be maybe 10 that weren't involved in this stuff at any level. They may not have the highest winning averages but they have integrity.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

ksweatman9 — Sun, 27 May 2012 16:59:34 GMT

I'm certain this has crossed minds, but I'll say it anyway. 12th triple crown winner to win the crown in the year 2012. Is it going to be a magic number?

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

jbluesbeatle — Sun, 27 May 2012 16:38:33 GMT

The "decision" by the stewards not to allow nasal strips on I'll Have Another strikes me as both petty and suspicious. What are the odds that O'Neill's suspension and the nasal strip ban are not linked? I say 0%. Someone clearly dislikes O'Neill, or doesn't want his horse to win the Triple Crown. The horse is accustomed to the nasal strips, so someone may be betting that I'll Have Another won't do as well, not because of some therapeutic element, but because of the psychological impact.

Regardless of whether O'Neill has or has not committed the milkshake infractions, his horse has a legitimate chance to win. We saw the same shenanigans with Big Brown, when Dutrow removed the performance enhancers. Big Brown lost.

Doug O'Neill has two choices. He can run his horse and possibly lose because of someone's immaturity or dislike of him, or he can refuse to run his horse. In this case, prionciple should matter. I would also encourage Doug to appeal that decision, and also find out who is really behind the nasal strip issue. That person should be exposed, and the stewards should be fired for their actions. Meanwhile, fans should set up Facebook pages in defense of I'll Have Another, they should boycott Belmont Park, and further, file suit as interested parties for this fraud. Let's be very honest here. Someone doesn't want O'Neill to win, and if nasal strips aren't really banned, then he should thumb his nose at the stewards. Whoever is behind this issue is a coward. The issue is bigger than simply Doug O'Neill. It looks like a vendetta, and fans shouldn't tolerate it. I'll Have Another is talented, and should not be prevented from winning.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

Karen in Texas — Sun, 27 May 2012 16:03:30 GMT

Okay, here's a link to a Sunday news article that sort of briefly summarizes the CHRB's thinking on the timing of their decision. Apparently, O'Neill intends to keep fighting.

www.utsandiego.com/.../california-racing-board-explains-timing-doug-oneil

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

ksweatman9 — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:42:13 GMT

I don't care about fines, suspensions, and the accusations being hurled at O'Neill. I want another triple crown winner, let the red pony take the crown and history will separate him from all the BS. That's how it works. 20 years from now, I'll Have Another will be known only as the 12th horse to be crowned a triple crown winner. All this hoopla about his trainer will long be forgotten. Win the Belmont "Red", take the crown. I'm getting old, and tired of waiting.

re: Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

happyticket — Sun, 27 May 2012 14:30:34 GMT

I wonder if Life At Ten had a high TCO2. If she had a bad reaction to lasix and was tying up, dehydrated? I don't even know if she was tested but, I guess Todd Petcher is no O'Neil?