PETA undercover in Asmussen's barn - Whoa!

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Kasept

What is the story exactly? That horses get Lasix when they train? That horses can have bad feet that need constant attention? That horses colic and die? That undocumented workers are employed on the backstretch? Fold in the sensationalized video.. It's news that owners want to win at Saratoga? That barns are happy to lose underachievers to claims? That outfits utilize various supplements in feeding regimens? That treatment options include pin firing and shockwave therapy? What elements of the 'story' were revelations to you?

There are bad apples in this game Steve. You know it, I know it, and most people on this board know it. A large percentage of the people in the game are good and care about the animals, but certainly not all of them.

The sport doesn't police itself very well. Since it isn't proactive, something like this was always going to happen. I'm no PETA fan, not by a longshot. But I also know there is some truth in that video. I didn't need to see the video to know it either.

With the increase in purses at many tracks, horses have gotten the short end of the stick from some guys that are just taking advantage of the situation. Any idiot like myself that can read past performances can see what is happening. Every serious handicapper on this board could make a list of guys that we think cheat and / or don't treat horses well without blinking an eye. The system is a mess. It is inviting this kind of behavior.

There have always been some bad guys in racing. There will always be bad guys in racing. But racing can't keep letting them be bad guys and get away with it.

[cmorioles]

Nobody has mentioned the drug that was given daily to all horses to increase metabolism. Does anyone doubt that was true? Didn't we here of this same thing being done by Baffert? Some thyroid med for horses without a thyroid condition?

In my opinion, this is the absolute worst thing in the video. Giving drugs to enhance performance, not for medical reasons, is as bad as it gets. This was a known practice for Baffert. And what did he get for it? Nothing. That is why I have no faith in the people running the racetracks to actually do anything.

I wonder what a 9 minute video made by horse racing about the care of horses would look like. It would be the all wonderful care and love of horses. Obviously both would be extreme. The truth is in the middle somewhere, and some of the middle isn't pretty right now.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Nobody has mentioned the drug that was given daily to all horses to increase metabolism. Does anyone doubt that was true? Didn't we here of this same thing being done by Baffert? Some thyroid med for horses without a thyroid condition?

In my opinion, this is the absolute worst thing in the video. Giving drugs to enhance performance, not for medical reasons, is as bad as it gets. This was a known practice for Baffert. And what did he get for it? Nothing. That is why I have no faith in the people running the racetracks to actually do anything.

I wonder what a 9 minute video made by horse racing about the care of horses would look like. It would be the all wonderful care and love of horses. Obviously both would be extreme. The truth is in the middle somewhere, and some of the middle isn't pretty right now.

To me that is the damming part of the video and indefensible. I would love is Dr Allday would comment on the practice of giving drugs for NON INDICATED matters of health. Apparently the only reason to give to horses is because they are a horse.

[JJP]

The biggest story here is definitely the buzzer allegations re: Santana. I would not be surprised if the Asmussen/Santana combo is a little cold for the next week or two at Oaklawn.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

The sport doesn't police itself very well. Since it isn't proactive, something like this was always going to happen. I'm no PETA fan, not by a longshot. But I also know there is some truth in that video. I didn't need to see the video to know it either.

There have always been some bad guys in racing. There will always be bad guys in racing. But racing can't keep letting them be bad guys and get away with it.