NYT article on PETA undercover in Asmussen's barn

[GottaQHFilly]

[QUOTE=CVPeg;7486801]
Yeah - but if they’re looking for a pulse, aren’t they ruling out founder?!? You DON’T want one! Did this “insider” really know what they were doing?!? I hear people discussing tenuous feet, and what’s been attempted to correct them, and that they ARE a concern. Not saying, “Hee, haw, let’s keep driving that sucker!”

He had very long layoffs of 6 months after the Belmont, and almost a year after June of his 4yo year. With only one race afterwards.

Investigative reporting. How about doing it with someone who knew horses, didn’t just clean stalls…

The people at PETA need to find real jobs. Tell them to go check the horses at certain retirement farms that seem to pass muster with failing horses. There is where they could be useful![/QUOTE]

peta can never be useful.

[Acertainsmile]

As far as PETA editing the video, they have 7 hours of it, so I’m sure someone will be listening. Not defending them, but you don’t have to look far to see that on any racetrack. Sadly this is what happens, and the callous remarks like Blasi made are heard everyday. This isn’t what was shocking to me, it’s that they were made to a girl that was a virtual unkown to him. You are taught on the track to keep your mouth shut for the most part, especially when working for a trainer like Asmussan.

[GottaQHFilly]

[QUOTE=Acertainsmile;7488056]
Another big black eye for the industry. I don’t think this is made up, edited for shock value, sure. Blasi is rude, crude, but somewhat of a typical racetracker, that’s a fact. I’m not saying that ALL racetrackers behave or talk this way, but I’m not shocked. Also remember that there is hours of footage, these were just snippets cobbled together to make a short video for shock value.

I have been in many good barns over the 30 years I spent on the racetrack, and unfortunately on the backs of many horses that should have not been subjected to training everyday. I saw the abuse, but you learn to shrug it off to a certain degree. I’ve refused to get on horses that were to sore to gallop, sometimes the trainers listened, or they found someone else willing to get on them.

I think what will be the most troubling for the Asmussen barn is the undocumented worker issue. It has gone on forever on the backside (and they are quite good at producing fake documents). But not with the help of their employer, bad stuff. As far as the machines and Gary, no surprise their either, except for his stupidity in admitting it. Some skeletons are best left in the closet.

I sat here last night and was happy with my decision to leave the track several years ago, I love the sport, but was saddened by the steady decline in horsemanship over the years. I’m embarrassed for the industry over this video, it’s disturbing, but not surprising.[/QUOTE]

Why does anyone pretend to care about the illegal alien invaders? We have erased the borders and pay them to come here.

[Laurierace]

I think the issue is with falsifying documents by buying fake SS numbers and such. It is one thing not to scrutinize your employee’s fake documentation but another to fake it yourself.

[luvmytbs]

http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/intraday_single.cfm?Zayat_Orders_AsmussenTrained_Horses_Scratched&type=news&alertID=3650

Zayat Orders Asmussen-Trained Horses Scratched
Updated: 10:46 AM ET (First posted: 10:41 AM ET)

Owner Ahmed Zayat has instructed his son Justin to scratch all Zayat-owned horses under the care of trainer Steve Asmussen, according to a Tweet from the younger Zayat this morning.

“I (have) been directed by @jazz3162 to inform the stewards to scratch all Zayat horses entered for this wekeend under the care of Steve Asmussen,” the Tweet read. Zayat went on to say that those horses were Selway at Oaklawn on Sunday, and Skinny, entered at the Fair Grounds on Sunday. “Pending further investigation from our side with these matters,” the Tweet concluded.

The scratches come in the wake of a story in Thursday’s New York Times which detailed an undercover investigation carried out in Asmussen’s barn in 2013 by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Two of the story’s revelations came via videotaped conversations of assistant trainer Scott Blasi discussing the poor condition of the Zayat-owned Nehro’s feet with a blacksmith, and a profanity-laced tirade in which Blasi blamed Zayat for keeping the horse in training.

The elder Zayat denied any knowledge of Nehro’s feet issues, telling the TDN yesterday, “I am emotionally distraught about this,” said Zayat. “It’s horrifying. I haven’t slept. I can tell you my heart is bleeding. I knew zero–zero–about Nehro having a foot problem. We never heard about this. I was around this horse every day and we knew nothing about this. This is insanity. I’m trying to understand this craziness that’s going on. It’s mind boggling.”

[Angelico]

[QUOTE=GottaQHFilly;7489230]
Why does anyone pretend to care about the illegal alien invaders? We have erased the borders and pay them to come here.[/QUOTE]

At least the illegal workers don’t go through your tack room with a camera.

[QUOTE=luvmytbs;7489340]http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/intraday_single.cfm?Zayat_Orders_AsmussenTrained_Horses_Scratched&type=news&alertID=3650

Zayat Orders Asmussen-Trained Horses Scratched
Updated: 10:46 AM ET (First posted: 10:41 AM ET)

Owner Ahmed Zayat has instructed his son Justin to scratch all Zayat-owned horses under the care of trainer Steve Asmussen, according to a Tweet from the younger Zayat this morning.

“I (have) been directed by @jazz3162 to inform the stewards to scratch all Zayat horses entered for this wekeend under the care of Steve Asmussen,” the Tweet read. Zayat went on to say that those horses were Selway at Oaklawn on Sunday, and Skinny, entered at the Fair Grounds on Sunday. “Pending further investigation from our side with these matters,” the Tweet concluded.

The scratches come in the wake of a story in Thursday’s New York Times which detailed an undercover investigation carried out in Asmussen’s barn in 2013 by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Two of the story’s revelations came via videotaped conversations of assistant trainer Scott Blasi discussing the poor condition of the Zayat-owned Nehro’s feet with a blacksmith, and a profanity-laced tirade in which Blasi blamed Zayat for keeping the horse in training.

The elder Zayat denied any knowledge of Nehro’s feet issues, telling the TDN yesterday, “I am emotionally distraught about this,” said Zayat. “It’s horrifying. I haven’t slept. I can tell you my heart is bleeding. I knew zero–zero–about Nehro having a foot problem. We never heard about this. I was around this horse every day and we knew nothing about this. This is insanity. I’m trying to understand this craziness that’s going on. It’s mind boggling.”[/QUOTE]

Technically at this point the owner can’t scratch the horses. Only the trainer with a recommendation from the vet or the stewards can. I’m sure Zayat will get his way, but if that was one of my owners, I’d have his bags packed and his horses on the next van out of my barn. You don’t do that after the trainer has gone through the trouble to get your horse ready and the entries are turned in. In the future it will be a major PITA to re-enter those horses.

What does it say about Z to have his horses with someone he could lose faith in so easily? Often times I will be at one track and send one of my own to a friend’s barn at a different track, states away. If someone told me that they were doing such and such to my horse, I could without a shadow of a doubt know that it was untrue or they had a damn good reason.

[Angelico]

ABUSE ALERT: I gave my trusty old (18 years) pony horse 2 grams of Bute tonight.

[Laurierace]

It didn’t help matters any that his filly dropped dead after the wire at Oaklawn today.

[Acertainsmile]

I stated that probably the biggest (legal) thing that SA has to worry about is employment of illegals. Federal Offense, lose your license, go to jail, etc.

[Mara]

Maggi Moss’ statements are well worth a read. She’s in a unique position from which to comment.

http://blogs.courier-journal.com/racing/2014/03/21/horse-owner-maggi-moss-weighs-in-on-peta-her-one-time-employer/

[Acertainsmile]

[QUOTE=Angelico;7489464]
At least the illegal workers don’t go through your tack room with a camera.

Technically at this point the owner can’t scratch the horses. Only the trainer with a recommendation from the vet or the stewards can. I’m sure Zayat will get his way, but if that was one of my owners, I’d have his bags packed and his horses on the next van out of my barn. You don’t do that after the trainer has gone through the trouble to get your horse ready and the entries are turned in. In the future it will be a major PITA to re-enter those horses.

What does it say about Z to have his horses with someone he could lose faith in so easily? Often times I will be at one track and send one of my own to a friend’s barn at a different track, states away. If someone told me that they were doing such and such to my horse, I could without a shadow of a doubt know that it was untrue or they had a damn good reason.[/QUOTE]

Sometimes I’m not sure your really at the track…But an owner can scratch their own horse. Entries aren’t “turned in”, they are called in. Really not a difficult process. Zayat lost faith because what he saw in that tape wasn’t the people he knew…meaning they showed their true colors and he wasn’t impressed. Also, it seems he has some questions about his former horses care. Believe it or not, trainers and assistants often don’t disclose the true conditions of some of their horses to the owners until it’s inevitable. Plus, the trainer “didn’t go through trouble to get the horse ready”. They get paid a day rate, that is what they get paid to do on a day to day basis.

This is Arkansas ~2267. No horse shall be considered scratched or declared out of an engagement until the owner or his authorized agent or some person deputed by him shall have given due notice in writing to the Racing Secretary.

[poltroon]

If this person was there undercover for four months, it seems odd that there would only be 7 hours total of video.

I find it odd that an owner would not know a horse had foot problems. Doesn’t the trainer bill for the extra farrier and/or vet work?

[Acertainsmile]

Mara, you also know that Maggie has defended Steve, right?

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/45902/owner-moss-to-defend-trainer-asmussen

[Acertainsmile]

Have you all actually seen the video? I’ve spent 30 yrs on the backside, riding, training, and I found it appalling. They deserve what’s coming to them.

[Angelico]

[QUOTE=Acertainsmile;7489581]
Sometimes I’m not sure your really at the track…But an owner can scratch their own horse. Entries aren’t “turned in”, they are called in. Really not a difficult process.

No it isn’t, even a jock agent can do it.

Zayat lost faith because what he saw in that tape wasn’t the people he knew…meaning they showed their true colors and he wasn’t impressed. Also, it seems he has some questions about his former horses care. Believe it or not, trainers and assistants often don’t disclose the true conditions of some of their horses to the owners until it’s inevitable. Plus, the trainer “didn’t go through trouble to get the horse ready”. They get paid a day rate, that is what they get paid to do on a day to day basis.

Yes, he, his assistants, foremen, riders, grooms, and hot walkers did go through the trouble. Steve has X amount of stalls, his riders and staff take care of X amount of horses. It doesn’t matter who those horses are, the are all assigned that number. It does waste their time when they have no chance of winning. His grooms receive a percentage of what every horse in their care wins. They have put time and energy into a horse and the owner decides to take their shot at winning out from under them. They could have put that time into a horse they would have had a chance to run. That extra check at the end of each meet can mean a LOT to a groom.

This is Arkansas ~2267. No horse shall be considered scratched or declared out of an engagement until the owner or his authorized agent or some person deputed by him shall have given due notice in writing to the Racing Secretary.[/QUOTE]

I’m actually at Oaklawn right now, and trust me, I know how entries work. I have had to go through to process of scratching a perfectly healthy horse (then trying to run the horse again) and it is a PITA. It is not worth a top trainers time to be drug down by one owner. He has plenty more to back those few horses up. I like an involved owner, I love owners that come out and call often, that help make decisions and offer suggestions, but don’t make a nuisance of yourself. If you want to handle entering, get your trainer’s license.

[Acertainsmile]

[QUOTE=Angelico;7489627]
I’m actually at Oaklawn right now, and trust me, I know how entries work. I have had to go through to process of scratching a perfectly healthy horse (then trying to run the horse again) and it is a PITA. It is not worth a top trainers time to be drug down by one owner. He has plenty more to back those few horses up. I like an involved owner, I love owners that come out and call often, that help make decisions and offer suggestions, but don’t make a nuisance of yourself. If you want to handle entering, get your trainer’s license.[/QUOTE]

Are you kidding? They did their job that they get paid for everyday. That is a given, they get a check at the end of the week. I can’t believe that your going to say Zayet is dragging Asmussan down at this point. Blasi called the man the c word for Gods sake. His horses would be welcome in any major stable in the world. He doesn’t need Steve, a trainer needs owners like Zayat and his other big clients.

Also, not seeing how scratching a horse and re entering is a PITA. We’ve done it a hundred times over the years. Again, not a difficult process.

[Mara]

[QUOTE=Acertainsmile;7489615]
Mara, you also know that Maggie has defended Steve, right?

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/45902/owner-moss-to-defend-trainer-asmussen[/QUOTE]

I did know that, which adds an interesting additional angle. Odd that she won’t divulge her reasons behind no longer having horses in training with him.

[Angelico]

[QUOTE=Acertainsmile;7489639]
Are you kidding? They did their job that they get paid for everyday.

You either don’t get it, or don’t care. You don’t become a leading trainer by wasting your space and your staff’s time on hurt horses.

That is a given, they get a check at the end of the week. I can’t believe that your going to say Zayet is dragging Asmussan down at this point. Blasi called the man the c word for Gods sake. His horses would be welcome in any major stable in the world. He doesn’t need Steve, a trainer needs owners like Zayat and his other big clients.

A trainer doesn’t need bad owners. A wise old trainer once told me, “some things are cheaper in the long run,” like getting rid of a bad owner. If you knew Asmussen’s numbers you’d see what I mean. Any horsemen could spend a week in his barn and would come out smarter. He really is that good, and I personally don’t like the guy, but he is intelligent, and he does things right. The good owners can see it. Would you want an owner that listens to PETA?

Also, not seeing how scratching a horse and re entering is a PITA. We’ve done it a hundred times over the years. Again, not a difficult process.[/QUOTE]

Have to get a letter from the vet to the stewards, they will act like they are considering making you run, you lose your date, then you have to work off the list and sometimes get another letter from the track vet stating that the horse is over the original ailment (which you made up in the first place because the owner didn’t want to run).

[Laurierace]

I never got a letter from anyone in order to enter a horse that I scratched. I have had to work for the state vet after a horse was scratched on the track but didn’t need a letter to prove it. Guess they took his word for it.
Heck once I claimed a horse that broke down after the wire and was vanned off. We operated but she still ended up being put down. Two weeks later the racing office called me and asked me to enter her.

[Laurierace]

I rewatched this a few times and I really think the only thing that is going to stick is the social security numbers. Wish they would do one of these in Lake’s barn. That would be a show.