Wednesday, August 11, 2010

“Horse Racing Capsules: Ky. considers testing horses housed out of state” plus 1 more

“Horse Racing Capsules: Ky. considers testing horses housed out of state” plus 1 more

Horse Racing Capsules: Ky. considers testing horses housed out of state

Posted: 11 Aug 2010 02:27 AM PDT

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Racing officials in Kentucky are preparing new rules that would allow them to randomly drug test racehorses at virtually any time, even those stabled out of state, and those not entered in competition.

A draft of the proposal discussed Tuesday requires owners of any horse eligible to race in Kentucky — even those not entered in a race — to make their animals available for random testing for a variety of illegal performance-enhancing drugs.

Jerry Yon, chairman of the equine drug panel of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, says testing procedures to be in place by November, when Churchill Downs hosts the Breeders' Cup.

The drug panel had a lively discussion on the concept, which is modeled on similar programs in New York and Indiana. The committee was unable to agree on some of the details, so it will take at least one more meeting next month before the full commission can approve it.

Refusal to submit for testing in a timely manner makes the horse ineligible to race in Kentucky for six months, and Yon said most other states would likely honor that suspension. If a horse tests positive for some of the worst drug violations, the penalties for its handlers are stiff — a 10-year suspension and $50,000 fine.

Tom Conway, a member of the drug panel who co-owns Blue Grass Stakes winner Stately Victor, said the penalties are too harsh and the requirements too arbitrary.

"When you're waving a $50,000 fine and 10 years out of the game at a guy my age ... this is capital punishment," Conway said. "Let's make sure we get it right."

Kentucky equine medical director Mary Scollay said she expects the out-of-competition testing to uncover few cheaters based on the randomness of it, but she said the penalties need to be strict to make sure nobody tries.

"One of the reasons the penalty is so Draconian is the deterrence factor is much more relevant than actually catching somebody," she said.

Ned Bonnie, chairman of the racing commission's rules committee, said he is bracing for possible lawsuits when the rules are put into effect. Out-of-competition testing has stirred controversy in Indiana and New York, he said.

However, Bonnie maintains something need to be done to make sure trainers can't just stable their horses off a racetrack grounds to avoid drug testing.

"We're plowing new ground here," he said. "We need to proceed slowly."

Louisiana Derby boosts purse to $1 million

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Louisiana Derby is now a $1 million prep race for the Kentucky Derby.

The Fair Grounds made the announcement Tuesday, boosting the purse by $250,000 from last year and making the race the richest ever to be run in New Orleans.

The 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds is scheduled for March 26, 2011.

Fair Grounds general manager Eric Halstrom said that the track's goal is to make the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby the top Derby prep race.

The only other $1 million Derby prep is the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

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Now horse racing to be promoted in Goa

Posted: 11 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT

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Calcutta News.Net
Wednesday 11th August, 2010 (IANS)

After gaining reputation as the casino capital of India, Goa is now 'taking bets' on becoming a horse racing destination, according to a top tourism official.

Goa's tourism secretary M.M. Modassir told reporters at a press conference Wednesday that the addition of horse racing to Goa's tourism portfolio in the near future would help diversify the state's appeal.

'We need to develop various options for making Goa a wholesome tourism product. Tomorrow we may like to start horse races or golf or horse polo. That will be diversification of the tourism product,' he said.

The official said setting up casinos in Goa was a part of the state government's strategy to tap wealthy tourists coming to Goa.

'Casinos are one of the strategies to invite a little wealthier group of tourists and diversification of portfolio. A man who has seen the world, has money to spend... what will he do when he comes here. He will may be go to a casino. It is one of the options,' Modassir said.

Several more options, other than beach tourism, needed to be developed for the two million odd tourists who came to Goa annually, he added.

There are presently more than a dozen land-based casinos in the various five star hotels spread across Goa, in addition to the seven offshore casinos licensed to operate off the coast of the tourist state.

Allotment of licence to casinos has been a subject of controversy, especially with allegations of large-scale corruption levelled by the opposition on Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Home Minister Ravi Naik.

The casino industry has also been the subject of several protests by civil society groups and Church-backed social organisations who have demanded their closure because the trade corrupts the societal fibre.

 

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