[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ELA

Chuck, yes, I agree with you. However, where does the line get drawn on the difference between Jackson and me? He's using Steve Asmussen and I am using Scott Lake. OK, maybe he has dozens with Steve and I have one with Scott. Does that make me any less of a hypocrite? His horse is Curlin, and mine is a beaten 5 at Pimlico or Penn National. I just don't know.

So, I don't give horses to Scott Lake. I give them to this other trainer I referenced. The guy shoots 25% meet after meet. Wins races. Steps up horses. Wins at 35% off the claim. And so on. Now do people critisize my because I am using a "super trainer" who "they just know is cheating" and who just hasn't got caught yet? How many people to I have to satisfy? Where does it end.

Regardless, I agree about Jackson. Let's remember that Jackson, originally, was calling for transparency. That was his motivation and agenda. It wasn't until various people in the industry realized that: a) he had a voice that would be heard and, b) that he would get the appropriate forum; and then they started to him to further the agenda of medication reform.

Listen, there are people who will give Dutrow, Lake, Asmussen, and others, horses. I have always said that if Scott Lake gets a positive for some designer, exotic, secret, whatever you want to call it drug -- in reality it shouldn't happen just once if that was the key or secret to his success. Now it's known, there should or could be a test. The walls should come crumbling down. His barn(s) should fall apart. However, I have always said that if a trainer of mine comes up positive for one of these ILLEGAL, designer, exotic, etc. drugs -- I will pull horses from him/her. However, again, and I will always ask -- is that the absolute I have to live by and run my business. If the industry wants to rid itself of Trainer X -- and someone sabotages a horse, feed, or something. Do I still live in the world of absolute.

More importantly, would you want me to if you were my trainer, I had horses with you, and you were Trainer X. Hypohtetical? Yes. Could it be reality? Yes, unfortunately it can be.

Eric

When you start preaching to Congress about the issue of medication I will take you to task. I understand where you are coming from. I understand it is hard to draw the line somewhere. But when a trainers barns expands while on a 6 month suspension it simply is hard to understand why anyone would say that there isnt a real problem of ethics among owners. We know that a lot of trainers are challenged in that area. But trainers that have no fear of losing owners and horses if they have repeated drug violations are surely going to be emboldened. Especially since we supposedly simply just sun ourselves during those suspensions.