Penn National arrests

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

This is the big deal, and I think it's being slightly overlooked initially. Get caught attempting to do something, or actually doing it...and the indictment reads that this is, essentially, wire fraud.

The feds are arguing that the drugging or attempted drugging is an attempt to change the outcome of the race - as those races are transmitted via simulcast (wire) for consumption across state lines.

I'm guessing a place like Rillito Park, which doesn't distribute their signal, is free and clear from this.

My initial reaction to this, after reading the indictments, is that this could be just the first in a monumentally long line of "easy pickings." Whether/how it sticks is a different story, but it feels like this is just the start of a much MUCH bigger deal that is definitely not going to be limited to Penn National.

The end of racing in the country could be coming if they are allowed to interpret the law as any violation is considered wire fraud. In this case the three individuals were either caught, admitted to or were accused of personally attempting to administering the drug, not a third party like a vet. In Rogers case she was arrested despite her husband being the trainer of record for that horse.

In the clockers case if giving faulty information across "state lines" is considered wire fraud then what about all the mistimed races across the country?