PETA "Investigative" Video

If you haven't already already heard, PETA has released a heavily edited video that accuses trainer Steve Asmussen and his assistant of ill treatment of some of his horses. The video come via an undercover investigation. Of course the video comes out now, and to lay people, its the most SHOCKING THING EVER.

If I understand correctly, the accusations made are A) Steve Asmussen's team allowed a sore horse to race that led to him colic that led to his death; (His team cusses alot! *OH MY!*) B) a jockey was given an electric shock whip and C) Barn workers are illegal aliens making less tha minimum wage (implying slavery exists in horse racing). And who better to adequately inform the public of these accusations? Why the New York Times horse racing "reporter" Joe Drape of course! Before we go through the accusation, it should be said that Mr. Drape does not attempt to question the charges himself. Every one of PETA's accusations is taken at face value. It is unclear who he works for: one of the world's great newspapers or an organization that kills dogs and cats on purpose to make a point about shelters.

But lets work backwards- the workers making less than minimum wage: believe or not that's normal for all agribusiness, which is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act. This why there is such a demand for migrant workers. No American citizen is going to pick strawberries at $6/hour. Is it right? No. But Mr. Drape does attempt to educate people on this fact? No.

The electric shock whip issue-I am dismissing this out of hand. It has been proven time and time again that electric whips do not make a horse run faster. Again does Mr. Drape educate people about this? No.

The horse running on a sore hoof and being over medicated-The only thing Mr. Drape does is refer to a horribly written article he published in 2012 about drug use in horse racing. Now that horse racing has severely curtailed drug use (see Mid-Atlantic Uniform Drug rules) does Mr. Drape report this? Of course not.

Here is another quote taken at total face value, from PETA's press release: "Nehro was a magnificent horse. He came in second in the 2011 Kentucky Derby, but what race enthusiasts and reporters never knew was that just a few years later, Nehro was racing and training on chronically painful hooves with holes in them. One of the hooves was, at one point, held together with superglue. Nehro's assistant trainer, Blasi, told PETA's investigator, "I know the f***** hurts"―yet Nehro was kept on the track and forced to participate in workouts. Just two years after that Derby finish, Nehro developed colic and went mad from pain. He was euthanized at Churchill Downs on the day of the 2013 Kentucky Derby."

Since when does colic occur because of hoof discomfort? The two issues are completely separate. And guess what, if a horse get an impaction colic, putting him down is THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO. Does Mr. Drape explain in his article? No.

Ironically, I am not mad at PETA. They are just doing what they think is their job. If Mr. Asmussen is abusing his horses, he needs to be thrown out of the business the way Richard Dutrow and Patrick Beicone were and I will applauded PETA for it. At the end of PETA's article about the video, they ask people to support the Horse Racing Safety and Integrity Act. I agree. Of course then they go and demand a boycott of horse racing. Whatever, now you lost me. That helps no one, including the horses.

However, my anger is at Mr. Drape and his 100% acceptance of the video and his 100% damnation of the whole industry as a result.

The only people dumber than Drape are the comments I am reading on newyorktimes.com that accompany the article. "I AM NEVER GOING TO ANOTHER HORSE RACE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!" Never went in the first place I image.

Joe Drape-You Sir, Are A Dope

The New York Times' Joe Drape is at it again, accusing the thoroughbred industry of drowning in drugs. This time its a video presentation on the front page of nytimes.com.  (Here it is, for your viewing pleasure.)

My problem with Mr. Drape is that he (and others...hi Deadspin.com!) is speaking out of whole ignorance.  He is pushing this issue in a direction that he hope will get him a medal, not correct the problem.

Peanut Gallery:  "Excuse me, what about Doug O'Neil and his suspension?!?!?!"

The California Horse Racing Commission by its own admission, stated that Doug O'Neil's horse (that' s one horse,  not horses) was never found to have illegal substances in it.  They stated that they THINK that it had an illegal substance.

Peanut Gallery: "Fine, but, but, but...what about the 2012 Triple Crown horses...we are sure they used drugs....surely some of them got busted!"

No, not one, including Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another was found to have any illegal substance in them.  Mr. Drape, of course, states only that no one was busted for frog venom.

Here are two other problems Mr. Drape's narrative:

Mr. Drape (and I assume its him narrating) states that drugs are being used to make horses go faster.  Then proceeds to talk about pain killing drugs.  Different drugs, different problem.  Steroids are used to make a horse go faster.  The pain killing drugs is a different issue.  That is just outright cruelty.

Mr. Drape starts at the video in Kentucky, so I assume he is going to focus on the thoroughbred race industry.  He then proceeds to talk about a quarterhorse...in Louisiana.....  Mr. Drape (and others), here is you racing education 101: quarterhorses and thoroughbred racing are two industries with a Grand Canyon size worth of differences.  Nit picky? Maybe.  But it would be like saying their are recruiting violations in the NFL.  I would expect someone who works for the New York Times and allegedly covers horse racing full time to point out and know the difference.

Peanut Gallery: "Umm....the NFL doesn't recruit like college football....oh that's the point.  Never mind."

Now, I always have to say this.  I abhor trainers that abuse horses with drugs.  I believe the rules should be tougher.  I believe people like Rick Dutrow should be thrown out of the sport forever.  However, that's all Mr. Drape ever writes about horse racing: drugs.  Its like we don't even run a sport.  Just a the biggest drug lab this side of the jungles of Columbia.  Is the NFL or MLB covered this way? No, of course not.  So, lets just give Mr. Drape an Eclipse Award and get it out of the way.  That's what he wants and it will make him go away.

I fully expect Sally Jekins of the Washington Post to do story on the issue this  week.

Members of the Sports Media, Listen...For Once

Is it any wonder that horsemen get mad at the likes of Joe Drape of the New York Times, Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post, or Barry at Deadspin.com (whose second post on horse racing in two months simply read "Three Dead Horses at Saratoga) when people like them write insulting, slanderous, and seriously misguided articles about horse racing.  What happened tonight at Colonial is an example of why I personally get mad.

After several months of training and waiting, Marcus was being prepared for his second race ever at Colonial.  There were some very serious storms in the area, similar to the ones that happened a few weeks ago.  He flipped out in the saddling area, kicked the assistant trainer to the ground and took off. .
He is caught 5 mintues later and then somebody did the one thing they shouldn't have done...they brought him back to the saddling area.  With only half of a lead line, the assistant trainer  (who is an experienced steeplechase rider) had no chance with  Marcus.  Marcus broke loose again and through the middle of the post parade.

Needless to say, he was taken out of the race. Though the blessings of God, despite all the acting up, Marcus came through with only two minor bumps.  He was fit and ready to go.  Our trainer had him ready and a fluke storm made the horse act up.
That is why I get mad at you Barry, Sally, and Joe.  You have no idea how much we put into this sport and how much we have to put up with.

Frog Lickin Horses-New York Times

The New York Times in its ongoing smear campaign against horse racing has published a report about the use of exotic frog venom as a pain killer in horse racing.  Lets say from the start that the people who have been busted for this should be thrown out of the sport. And unlike what many in the New York Times' "ITS AN OUTRAGE!!!" comment section believe, offenders HAVE been thrown out of the sport for this type of infraction.  Giving a horse pain killing drugs is a horrible, horrible crime.  But that's not why they publish or comment on these stories now do they?  They most certainly don't research the story and they really don't care about the animals.  They just see something they see as outrageous, get a grenade, throw it in the closet, and run.

Take this comment about the story from Barry Petchsky of Deadspin.com.  "There's some weird counter-intuition at play when it's argued that thoroughbred racing has its doping problem under control because there are so many positive tests. But with so much money at stake...."

Well,  Barry, according to published accounts, the number of positive tests nationwide is less .4%.   If you only include serious drug offenses that actually one would consider cheating, its less than .05%.   Is that "so many" Can other sports claim that? Oh wait...they don't have a comprehensive drug testing program now do they?  So, how can you come after us when we (and maybe Olympic sports) are the only ones actually doing any testing? BTW...I would like to where "so much money" in horse racing you are talking about.