You guys may have understood that story right off, but I am a groper. It takes me awhile to hash through things. I found other parts interesting in the story:

"The Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) lists fluphenazine as a Class 2 substance, meaning it has a high potential to affect performance.":

http://www.arci.com/druglisting.pdf

I think the ARCI has as much authority over Trainers as Journalism Ethics has over FOX News. Bottom line is that I believe this is an "Ethics" committee without the ability to sanction. (The ARCI is in Kentucky, the alleged abuses in New York) I think what ARCI has done is propose a "Model" for the racing states as to what THEY think are impermissable substances.

Then this:

"In its decision to not discipline Shuman, the board noted that fluphenazine can stay in a horse’s system for more than seven days, which is the mandated withdrawal period for the sedative."

Reading between the lines, "You can sedate a horse but not less than seven days before a race." However Fluphenazine stays in the blood for a longer period than New Yorks own "7 day no administering sedatives" period.

I'm all for cleaning up this game. But they could just as easily come down on Frankel or Pletcher with these twisted rules. If you're gonna come down on a man, you need to both treat him fairly and treat him no different than anyone else.

They had no better case against Gill than they currently have against Frankel.

The difference between Gill and Frankel's owners is that Gill is hashing it out on ham and eggers and for the most part Frankel's owners are the who's who in modern Tbred racing. That shouldn't be a factor in who the spotlight is placed upon though.

CtC



Post Edited (02-07-05 11:31)