Barry Irwin Speaks Out

[Echo Farm]

From TDN:

I am writing in response to Michael Iavarone's request
to have other owners join him in taking the initiative
to order their trainers to stop using race day medication
except Lasix.
I think almost all of what he proposes makes sense.
The problem is that Mr. Iavarone's headline trainer is
Rick Dutrow. When he received a suspension for violating
the rules in Kentucky this month, it marked the
73rd ruling against him since 1976. (Link to the rulings:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/acrobat/2008-05/
38903142.pdf)
I am sure that I speak not only for myself when I
answer his call to join him in saying no to drugs as
follows: only somebody terribly naive is going to sign
up as long as Rick Dutrow trains for IEAH. If he really
want to make a statement, he should consider moving
his horses. Then he might get somebody's attention.
Until then, the proposal looks like an attempt at damage
control or a PR stunt. Mr. Iavarone's peers are
some of the most sophisticated and successful business
people in the world of sport. Give them something
to sink their teeth into, and they might swallow the
bait. --Barry Irwin

[the_fat_man]

What's a joke to me is that this is about RACE DAY medication and slip ups with it. So, while just about ALL TRAINERS are using medication, the present focus seems to be entirely on those caught using it on race days -- whether by intent or miscalculation.

Why, then, would I really care WHO GETS CAUGHT, when EVERYONE is training with it? Some 'cheat' MORE than others but the distinction is really one of degree and not of kind.

What might interest me, however, would be a NON COSMETIC effort to ban ALL (enhancing) MEDICATION in the training of horses. I mean, if a horse, say, can't run without bleeding, maybe it really shouldn't be running.

Of course, this could be about as practical as banning medication in all sports. You need the drugs to recover quicker after an injury.

And then it becomes all about spin skills in an increasing hypocritical forum.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

This is pretty funny stuff Irwin has going.

It's as if he's saying 'my trainer, the one time hop artist Pletcher, is now cleaner than Dutrow - I think IEAH should give their horses to him.'

It's enough to make Left Bank, Freedom's Daughter, and Warners all turn in their graves.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

It's enough to make Left Bank, Freedom's Daughter, and Warners all turn in their graves.

Come on, give the poor guy a break. Don't you recall the bad grass epidemic that hit Saratoga during the summer of 2002.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

It's enough to make Left Bank, Freedom's Daughter, and Warners all turn in their graves.

Golf clap...

[ateamstupid]

I like that someone called Iavarone's bullshit publicly, even if Irwin isn't squeaky clean himself.

Pot. Kettle.

[RolloTomasi]

Yes. Like when Mr. Irwin took his horses away from Ralph Nicks (who got caught having his vet give an adjunct medication to a runner with its lasix shot) and distributed them amongst Todd Pletcher, Steve Asmussen, and Kiaran McLaughlin.

[Fearless Leader]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Yes. Like when Mr. Irwin took his horses away from Ralph Nicks (who got caught having his vet give an adjunct medication to a runner with its lasix shot) and distributed them amongst Todd Pletcher, Steve Asmussen, and Kiaran McLaughlin.

THAT was classic hypocrisy from this guy.