Re: Excellent Drug Piece:Two Thumbs Down (529 Views)
Posted by:
richiebee (IP Logged)
Date: December 18, 2006 02:56AM
Great timing,with Irwin's piece being published at about the same time that Team Valor trainer Pletcher's appeal ran its course.
People seem to be forgetting Irwin's previous Blood Horse piece. It was a eulogy following the death of Alex Harthill DVM. Irwin portrayed his relationship with Harthill in terms of an odd couple, with Irwin as the proponent of hay, oats and water,and Doc Harthill being the controversial medicine man.
Alex Harthill saved the lives of many animals who had been given up on by other veterinarians; unfortunately, this will not be his legacy. Instead he will always be remembered as a vet who stretched the rules in a racing jurisdiction with the most permissive medication regimens anywhere in America.
It is incomprehensible to me that the same man can be wringing his hands about the drug plague in Racing while at the same time embracing (albeit posthumously) a man who represented drug fueled racing (and cheating in general) at its worst.