Business As Usual

[Third_Glance]

Delahoussaye has been ordered to vacate his 10 stalls at PEN. No reason given by officials at PEN.

And . . .

According to sources, Delahoussaye is one of numerous individuals targeted in a wide-ranging grand jury probe at Penn National that has been ongoing for several months. Among other things, the investigation led by the Pennsylvania State Police is believed to be looking into the alleged use by trainers of prohibited pain-blocking medications or procedures in horses that may have affected the outcome of a sporting event (a horse race). Similar charges against trainer Gregory Martin were filed in a federal case in New York in 2005 involving the alleged use of performance enhancing “milkshakes” and an illegal gambling ring. Activities of some Penn National employees may also be under the scrutiny of the grand jury.

http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/former-gill-trainer-delahoussaye-told-to-vacate-penn-national-stalls/

[SwtVixen]

Since the horses are being found in kill pens, and tracked to trainers and owners — who cannot produce accountability — that should be enough to question -as set by the policy at PN. – but it obviously isn’t going to be enforced…or enforced on a certain few.

Sadly there is the thinking that …“its my horse, to do with as I choose”; and in part, that is correct.
…the resuce efforts are humanitarian – personal in nature.
The conflict between that and the business mentality of owning racehorses – like football players, is they are expendable when not meeting performance.

   As callous and cold-hearted as this reality truly is --- its a fact.

It might be easier to teach rescue efforts to address their platform from a more (strictly) business POV – than to teach (business) oriented trainers any compassion.

 CANTER, for example, tries to do good work ---they list, lots of volunteers offer lots of hours --- yet, a trainer who wants $2499 for a horse because he CAN ask for that much, doesnt stand a chance of selling such a horse today.

Then complains CANTER doesnt work – grumbling …horse goes off to the kill sale.

  This was in effect the results for the Penn National RACE fund ... without the promised funding they became ineffective --- ....thus,  the complaints it didnt work.

  The now proposed rescue effort by the HPBA-- as much as endorses a sanctioned kill barn .. but at least it will be done humanely.
  [U]AS hard as this is [/U]to comprehend, it [U]is [/U]the middle ground.

  Maybe, one thing at a time.

[DickHertz]

[QUOTE=Third Glance;4919949]
Delahoussaye has been ordered to vacate his 10 stalls at PEN. No reason given by officials at PEN.

And . . .

According to sources, Delahoussaye is one of numerous individuals targeted in a wide-ranging grand jury probe at Penn National that has been ongoing for several months. Among other things, the investigation led by the Pennsylvania State Police is believed to be looking into the alleged use by trainers of prohibited pain-blocking medications or procedures in horses that may have affected the outcome of a sporting event (a horse race). Similar charges against trainer Gregory Martin were filed in a federal case in New York in 2005 involving the alleged use of performance enhancing “milkshakes” and an illegal gambling ring. Activities of some Penn National employees may also be under the scrutiny of the grand jury.

http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/former-gill-trainer-delahoussaye-told-to-vacate-penn-national-stalls/[/QUOTE]

Gee, the timing on this will prove to be pretty damn coincidental.:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

And I will solidify Ray’s last statement from above.

Ray said: Activities of some Penn National employees may also be under scrutiny of the grand jury.

I say: Activities of some Penn National employees and a jockey agent ARE under scrutiny by the grand jury.

[moe_larry_curly]

Don’t forget the newest fragment of interest in the investigation, Dick. The activities, involvement, and paranoid behavior of one prominent penn national owner. Questions are now starting to be raised regarding his close ties to the accused parties. This one is hot off the press. Some would say its so hot that it’s on FIRE.

[Profidia]

[QUOTE=DickHertz;4918248]
She ran against Tim Shea.

Shea ran hard on a “we need to clean up the sport and get rid of the chemists” agenda. So I guess that may answer your question on why he did not get elected.[/QUOTE] There you have it. Democracy in action:rolleyes: Then again the people also voted for Barrabbas too right?:yes:
Tim Shea is without a doubt one of the best folks in that place and one of the finer people in racing anywhere.
The fact that they would vote for her over him is more proof positive that a national governing body of racing is needed as well as federal government oversight.

BTW, can anybody tell me why that is the only racetrack I can find that hasn’t got either it’s condition book or it’s overnights online?

[Dahoss]

[QUOTE=Profidia;4920356]
There you have it. Democracy in action:rolleyes: Then again the people also voted for Barrabbas too right?[/QUOTE]

Free Barrabas! Free Barrabas!!

[Laurierace]

http://equibase.com/premium/eqbHorsemenAreaDownload.cfm?track=PEN&area=USA

[system]

People near Penn

Does anyone near Penn or people who used to live near Penn know where Coleman’s Park is? I hear it’s a great place to go and have a LOT of fun.

[Introspect]

[QUOTE=Profidia;4920356]
There you have it. Democracy in action:rolleyes: Then again the people also voted for Barrabbas too right?:yes:
Tim Shea is without a doubt one of the best folks in that place and one of the finer people in racing anywhere.
The fact that they would vote for her over him is more proof positive that a national governing body of racing is needed as well as federal government oversight.

BTW, can anybody tell me why that is the only racetrack I can find that hasn’t got either it’s condition book or it’s overnights online?[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the info. I may be foolish, but I still feel that there is a silent majority among the training community that do things the right way and put the horse first. Apathy and a feeling that a vote doesn’t matter may be the reason that good does not prevail here.

[big_bopper_33]

Today’s Fairy Tale, “Stephanie does Kentucky”

what in the world was stephaine beattie ever thinking running the horse No Advantage in the Grade 1, stephen Foster Handicap. talk about overmatched! I suppose with all the heat she is taking and it being national news she is trying to clean up her tarnished reputation. mix it up with all the big boys in Kentucky and show what a good girl she is. Yeah, right! this had to be the reason because the horse finished 11th in a field of 11 and was well beaten. maybe it was joe besecker’s idea, another one of Penn National’s finest. the owner of all owner’s that never saw a bill that he wanted to pay. I suppose that the aspirations of both were the size of Joe’s waistline. to put it bluntly the both of these in Kentucky is like putting a fur coat on a pig!!

[Dahoss]

[QUOTE=big bopper 33;4920621]
what in the world was stephaine beattie ever thinking running the horse No Advantage in the Grade 1, stephen Foster Handicap.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, she should have stayed home, because on this particular day, while knowing that her name is under a negative spotlight recently, her horse most likely had “No Advantage” today.

[moe_larry_curly]

According to the bopper and other posters there seems to be an ever growing disturbing pattern of correlation between obese owners and bill pay neglect. Whats next, are they all about to start wearing all black like we’re attending a funeral or something?

[DickHertz]

Source: Penn Gaming will not Enforce Anti-Slaughter Policy

According to a source who I have found very reliable in the past, Penn National attorneys will never enforce a anti-slaughter policy against any trainer on Penn National’s backside. Furthermore, PNGI attorneys would prefer to have the policy removed from the overnight because they believe this will only create undue heat on racing officials when instances of slaughter are brought to PNGI’s attention. The policy is lipstick only and the policy was never meant to be enforced.

I guess this is what we always thought was the case but held out hope that maybe there was hope for real reform.

For what it’s worth, I recently contacted PNGI General Manager Frank Quigley about presenting a case of slaughter bound horses at New Holland and never got a response from Quigley when I requested a meeting to present my information.

What can I say, Business as Usual. Let the cavalry charge to Brian Moore’s farm continue…

[DickHertz]

Follow-Up - Another breakdown at Penn in AM

There was another breakdown this morning. The veterinarian arrived 9 minutes after the incident was discovered. The outrider was there in seconds. The horse ambulance was, not surprisingly, the last to arrive 17 minutes after the incident occurred. This is a much better response than what happened over Memorial Day. Note that this incident occurred at 9:38AM so everyone was “on deck”.

[big_bopper_33]

dick, why on earth did Rob Marella ever adopt such a policy if it never was intended to be enforced, or was it that they never thought that Stephanie beattie was the one that they would have to take action against? It this was some small guy they would have been crucified long ago.

[DickHertz]

[QUOTE=big bopper 33;4921437]
dick, why on earth did Rob Marella ever adopt such a policy if it never was intended to be enforced, or was it that they never thought that Stephanie beattie was the one that they would have to take action against? It this was some small guy they would have been crucified long ago.[/QUOTE]

You are correct to a degree. Penn likes who they like and they hate who they hate. They hate Murray Rojas. Proof? When she was leading trainer she never got a “we love you” ceremony like Beattie received. Also, when a buyer broke a SIGNED CONTRACT that Murray had with a horse who ended up at New Holland PNGI was on Rojas like coyotes on a piece of meat then they saw Murray’s contract and backed down like a puppy. Now that Beattie has been called to the carpet Christopher McErlean and Rob Marella run to Steph’s defense without ever asking her to answer for the missing horse. It’s OK, between the timing of the Adamo suspension and when Darrel was asked to leave McErlean looks like complete fool. People in the industry laugh at PNGI because they know they are complete joke (at least at Penn National they are). And follow this thread because the reactive nature of PNGI rather than proactive will be brought to light over the next year. The refuse to open their eyes to what is going on. Maybe Quigley should plant his bottom outside of Brian Moore’s farm on Monday nights to see what happening to all the horses who race at his track instead of pretending to care and going to the track kitchen. :no::no::no:

Him going to the track kitchen is the same window dressing as adopting an anti-slaughter policy that they will not enforce.

[SwtVixen]

Brian isnt the only drop killer barn. Mel Hoover is the top man … like Brian, horses are simply delivered to the main barn, thus avoiding all open sales.
Charlie DeHart picks up at all different locations and hes trying to avoid detection – so, some obscure parking lot is his favorite choice.

  At NH, there is a special "tb" kill buyer.... they go from the trailer to the kill pen, bypassing the sale -- many are not even offered for viewing by the *rescues*.

 One has to really wonder why all the secrecy surrounding the disposal of these horses --- when they could simply be euthanized at the back pit. There is something being hidden and betcha this has nothing to do with an unwanted horse at all.

[DickHertz]

Giving a Horse Away is NO EXCUSE

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2010/06/13/2010-06-13_nyra_reviewing_slaughter_scare.html

It’s amazing to read some of these excuses. Does this trainer realize that the Amish kill horses without any conscience? Why in the world would you give any horse away to “Amish Country” when they are done with the horse it will almost likely be killed.

Some common themes we seem to always hear when horses end up at slaughter:

“I don’t know”
“I don’t remember”
“I gave him away”

Some responses that would be better:

“I made a terrible mistake and I want to rectify this immediately.”
“I should have used better judgment.”

We will never have accountability in this game we all seem to love. At least NYRA is investigating. PNGI will not even investigate horses taken to the slaughterhouse.

[SwtVixen]

How Ultimate Journey was really saved.

This statement was made in the comments section under the article Dick just posted.
If not for the efforts of this person, this horse would have just disappeared… but the vigilance to keep policing the policies, ended with this horse safe.
And We think theres a big battle at PN? This gal has taken on the whole equine industry nationwide.
http://www.examiner.com/x-37163-Equine-Advocacy-Examiner?showbio

EquineAdvocacyExaminer
9:40:44 AM
Jun 13, 2010

I am the national Equine Advocacy columnist for Examiner.com. The NYRA investigation into Ultimate Journey and how he landed in a NJ killpen was based on my original story, first published on Examiner.com on June 8th. You can read my story, with a photo of Ultimate Journey, here: http://www.examiner.com/x-37163-Equine-Advocacy-Examiner~y2010m6d8-Ultimate-Journey-finds-his-way-home Maureen Harmonay Equine Advocacy Examiner

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2010/06/13/2010-06-13_nyra_reviewing_slaughter_scare.html#ixzz0qkrzhRR8

*Note: Sounds like NY uses the *amish family* as code for the New Holland sale.

[BeverlyAStrauss]

I wish PNGI would rescind the anti slaughter policy so these horses could start going through the sales again, and not direct- at least they would have more of a chance at being found…Dick is right, they have never entertained the thought of enforcing the policy-- it would probably never hold up legally anyway–they need the non competitive horses off the backside but dont want to pay for an alternative program-- and accept trainers of any sort in order to fill stalls and races— the policy was a knee jerk reaction to some out of area vigilantes who swooped in, caused a fuss about one or two horses, and left a path of destruction in their wake, patting themselves on the back for taking care of the “problem.”