So my wild guess about the young hot sexy investigator was right?
Just wait.
I’ll wait. Seems like the investigator could have gotten a whole lot more info via pillow talk than is shown on that video. Or maybe I’ve been watching “The Americans” too much. 
It’s on facebook so it must be true.
I’m surprised there isn’t more of a hullabaloo about Gary Stevens’ admission to using a zapper. That’s pretty damning stuff for such a high profile jock that is still in action, even if it did happen 30 years ago on a bush track in Idaho or New Mexico.
Surely reporters are going to be sticking microphones in his face asking about that one. Will be interesting to see how he responds to it.
I know I’m not the only one who wondered how a hotwalker got to go out to dinner with Lukas and Stevens!
Yup, helping to “clean tack” after training hours must have gotten her some pretty good dinners
And I have come out of retirement for this… I am gobsmacked that folks are even DEFENDING this and attacking the whistleblower.
There are good people and bad people in every facet of the horse industry, in every type of showing and racing. If you let the shit hang around, everyone starts to smell.
As difficult as it can be, people need to stand up for the horses and do their best to police their colleagues if they see something that isn’t kosher. It isn’t always black-and-white and sometimes good people do questionable things to keep a horse going because it’s good business.
When I did lay-ups I ended up in tears more than once when a horse that shouldn’t have been running ended up going back at the track and broke down. It shouldn’t happen. Often times when there is shady stuff going on a LOT of people know about it and no one does anything. Someone has to stick up for the horses, whether it’s western pleasure, H/J, or TB racing. If the good people in the industry don’t stick up for them, the scumbags put a black eye on everyone and those from the outside will be forced to do it.
People in the industry get defensive when outsiders start making claims of abuse, because a lot of people aren’t abusive. Instead of spending that energy on being defensive and giving the ol’ “You just don’t understand”, they need to say “You know what, this crap DOES happen and it’s not OK”. It’s like having an alcoholic family member and trying to keep up appearances and not admit there is a problem. That solves nothing.
[QUOTE=CrowneDragon;7491096]
There are good people and bad people in every facet of the horse industry, in every type of showing and racing. If you let the shit hang around, everyone starts to smell.
As difficult as it can be, people need to stand up for the horses and do their best to police their colleagues if they see something that isn’t kosher. It isn’t always black-and-white and sometimes good people do questionable things to keep a horse going because it’s good business.
When I did lay-ups I ended up in tears more than once when a horse that shouldn’t have been running ended up going back at the track and broke down. It shouldn’t happen. Often times when there is shady stuff going on a LOT of people know about it and no one does anything. Someone has to stick up for the horses, whether it’s western pleasure, H/J, or TB racing. If the good people in the industry don’t stick up for them, the scumbags put a black eye on everyone and those from the outside will be forced to do it.
People in the industry get defensive when outsiders start making claims of abuse, because a lot of people aren’t abusive. Instead of spending that energy on being defensive and giving the ol’ “You just don’t understand”, they need to say “You know what, this crap DOES happen and it’s not OK”. It’s like having an alcoholic family member and trying to keep up appearances and not admit there is a problem. That solves nothing.[/QUOTE]
You nailed it .
I love TB racing, but cringe at the abuses that we ALL know are there, not withstanding the majority of TB owners , breeders and trainers that do right by, and care about their horses.
[QUOTE=elizabeth;7491037]
And I have come out of retirement for this… I am gobsmacked that folks are even DEFENDING this and attacking the whistleblower.[/QUOTE]
I’m sorry if I’m one of those who gave that impression with my sexy young investigator comment. I too am gobsmacked by the people - not just here but all over the internet - making excuses and defending what the video shows, especially people justifying the farrier segment with silly comments like “PETA is going to come to my barn and report me because I use glue-on shoes.” Deliberately obtuse or just very stupid?
Even I think this is a bit extreme/unrealistic, but it’s nice to see that people in the industry are taking this seriously -
And this is by no means the only person in the industry who is not making excuses.
I agree, Crowne Dragon and Elizabeth, and thought the article was a good one Tem. Thanks for sharing it.
[QUOTE=elizabeth;7491037]
And I have come out of retirement for this… I am gobsmacked that folks are even DEFENDING this and attacking the whistleblower.[/QUOTE]
Sorry if I’m one of those who gave the impression of attacking the investigator. I too am gobsmacked by people defending what is seen in the video (no matter how edited it is).
For me, it’s ok to attack this whistleblower. Because if they’re right, or they’re wrong, they have such a weak basis for their expose, that they either are 1) totally wrong, 2) partially wrong, or 3) right - but no one will believe what they say, because of their methods - both previous, and current. They do no one, and none of us, any good when they never have any reasonable “fix”.
I don’t know enough about Asmussen’s barn one way or the other to know anything. Have just admired Curlin and Rachel, and a few others. Have been suspect of him in the past, but always looked like his animals had top care. End of my knowledge.
But I do know how racing, in my eyes, has had an apparent shift over the years, when the business changed. When the basketball coaches/quarter horse types came over here. (For one, changing yearling and future sales with steroids.) Not that treating this more like a business was wrong in itself, but when combined with better chemistry for living, and losing sight of the good of the horse, it certainly has become worse. And not that it was always rosy in the first place.
I do know one thing - Thoroughbreds do not at all appear superior to years past - not in speed/records. Certainly not in stamina.
And I do know failing trainers, successful in years past, who wish the drugs would leave the sport, but whose horses fail in comparison if they don’t use at least the basics.
And why don’t they speak up? The hours it takes to just do the work to begin with, and without the machine to maintain a successful barn - how many trainers would truly drop everything they’re doing, drop all meds, step up, and say ‘no more for me’? And who would go with them?
Sure hope this is a catalyst for the beginning of some fix. And hope, for the Thoroughbreds’ sake, that it is. But doubt it very highly.
But as for PETA, I do not want Thoroughbreds banned from the planet. Where will they go without racing? (Although, yes, we could also do with less breeding in large numbers by uninformed amateurs…)
Very good article.
Not sure it can be done, and disagree with a couple of points, but agree with most. One response on FB - “the true trainers are few and getting aged out, so those skills on conditioning, care, and feed is not getting passed down”.
[QUOTE=CrowneDragon;7491096]
There are good people and bad people in every facet of the horse industry, in every type of showing and racing. If you let the shit hang around, everyone starts to smell.
As difficult as it can be, people need to stand up for the horses and do their best to police their colleagues if they see something that isn’t kosher. It isn’t always black-and-white and sometimes good people do questionable things to keep a horse going because it’s good business.
When I did lay-ups I ended up in tears more than once when a horse that shouldn’t have been running ended up going back at the track and broke down. It shouldn’t happen. Often times when there is shady stuff going on a LOT of people know about it and no one does anything. Someone has to stick up for the horses, whether it’s western pleasure, H/J, or TB racing. If the good people in the industry don’t stick up for them, the scumbags put a black eye on everyone and those from the outside will be forced to do it.
People in the industry get defensive when outsiders start making claims of abuse, because a lot of people aren’t abusive. Instead of spending that energy on being defensive and giving the ol’ “You just don’t understand”, they need to say “You know what, this crap DOES happen and it’s not OK”. It’s like having an alcoholic family member and trying to keep up appearances and not admit there is a problem. That solves nothing.[/QUOTE]
I’m all for outing the “scumbags”. The issue is, PETA went to the wrong barn. Why the hell would I turn on one of the guys that is actually doing things right? Even in this video, he did NOTHING illegal. Letting PETA of all people harm this barn is not helping the industry. Going through someone’s tack room with a camera is a new kind of low.
I guess my horses will never run “drug free”, because I will continue to use Lasix to help prevent or lessen bleeding, if it happens. I won’t run a bleeder, but one does bleed I won’t know until after it’s been raced. I will use omeprazole on any horse that exhibits symptoms of ulcers. I will give a colicking horse banamine. Asmussen does all of these things as well, so I guess he and I are dragging the sport down?
If he has done nothing wrong, how do you explain all the drug violations and suspensions he has received?
[QUOTE=Angelico;7491240]
I’m all for outing the “scumbags”. The issue is, PETA went to the wrong barn. Why the hell would I turn on one of the guys that is actually doing things right? Even in this video, he did NOTHING illegal. Letting PETA of all people harm this barn is not helping the industry. Going through someone’s tack room with a camera is a new kind of low.
I guess my horses will never run “drug free”, because I will continue to use Lasix to help prevent or lessen bleeding, if it happens. I won’t run a bleeder, but one does bleed I won’t know until after it’s been raced. I will use omeprazole on any horse that exhibits symptoms of ulcers. I will give a colicking horse banamine. Asmussen does all of these things as well, so I guess he and I are dragging the sport down?[/QUOTE]
Looks like they went to one of the right barns to me. That statement in itself is pretty sad. I don’t think the focus is on legal drugs, it’s the excess that they’re used that’s the problem. Is Asmmusans barn the worst? Undoubtedly no if you’ve spent extensive time on the backside. Does he run sore horses that shouldn’t be running? Absolutely! And before you say I don’t know what I’m talking about, I’ve watched his horses pull up, some were far from sound.
I’m still amazed that you are defending this barn at all, unless you simply don’t get it. PITA didn’t harm this barn, they hurt themselves with their actions. It doesn’t matter who made this tape, the words are the words. I’m very curious to know who you think is the barn they should have gone to?
I am extremely disappointed at Maggi Moss’ response to the video.
She most definitely has lost my respect.
