Re: DUTROW NUTRITION PLAN (471 Views)
Posted by:
derby1592 (IP Logged)
Date: September 17, 2004 05:07PM
Just one recent data point - 10% of horses were using milkshakes at dmr this summer. This is the premiere CA race meet. That means just about every dmr race probably had at least one horse that had been "shaked" and this is just one way to try and get a "chemical" edge. There are many, many others and some may be even more popular. Then you can throw in all the other "non-chemical" ways to cheat as well (take a look at the latest British racing scandal).
Add it all up and you are fooling yourself if you think most races are run cleanly.
As a bettor, I can manage around it in various ways but as an owner or a trainer or a rider, I would be very concerned. I would like to believe that a large percentage of them want an open, level playing field and they must realize that they are not getting it today. I am surprised that there is not a stronger groundswell of support but the backstretch culture is very unique and works against any sort of reform. Despite that, I think we are starting to see signs of it from all sorts of different angles. Let's hope so anyway.
Chris