Can Drug Testing alone catch or stop DRUG cheats? - Richard Freedman on TripleM Radio

I don't have a problem with jumps racing done properly but in this country it's not or rarely done properly. Those other sports you mention Lee have evolved rapidly in recent years to protect themselves from accusations of horse abuse from animal welfare quarters. Dressage banned a controversial training method known as "Rolkur" even though the dutch used it with particular success to win many a gold medal. In dressage ANY trace of blood on a horse from a spur rub or in the mouth results in elemination from the competition. And don't think the judges won't do it, a Dutch rider who was favoured for the individual silver medal, and the dutch team the gold, was eliminated at the last world championship during her test because her horse displayed a trace of blood in its mouth. It was determined after the test by the vets that he had bitten his own tongue.

Whip rules in showjumping have changed, previously a horse was able to refuse 3 times in a competition before it was eliminated, and the rider could punish it on each occasion freely with the whip. Now a horse may only refuse twice before elimination, and a rider may only strike the horse 3 times with the whip on the first occasion and not at all on the second. Actually most riders will only strike a horse now twice if it refuses.

They are still in the rule book but virtually no one programs any of the old events in showjumping where the size of the fences kept increasing until the horses failed to be able to jump them. No one wanted to see horses tested to the max any more, and showjumping evolved into a competition where it was more about a horses education then his absolute ability to jump a big fence. I maybe on my own here but I would like to see harness racing evolve likewise to the point where people can be satisfied to see a horse win without being concerned about how fast it ran. That it is the calibre of the opposition that you defeated, not how fast you ran that determines the merit of the performance.Who here would say that Black Caviar is not a champion yet she has not once run a track record in her career. And I have no doubt that if a race track manager produced a surface on which she could have smashed the track record Peter Moody would have refused to start her.

Eventing removed the roads and tracks and steeplechase from the cross country in all but a few four star events throughout the world to protect the horse from the fatigue related falls that were occurring. Only the very best competitors in the world are accepted into a four star event these days with extremely strick qualifying conditions. And all events now are one fall at a fence or on the flat in the cross country and you are eliminated.

Pretending that people don't care about horse welfare or the use of performance enhancing drugs in harness racing is folly

Dot,
On the ball again.Our grandaughter competes at Interclub level on (most people don't believe it) a Standardbred, who was twice a regional 'Horse of the Year' and can't he jump, which upsets most of her 'Hacky' world participants.
If we don't clean up our act re; drug use/whip use ie: ZERO tolerance,all horse sports will be non existant in the world of the future, and we (the people) will not be better off for it.

]http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/harness-industry-cleanout-not-before-time-says-frustrated-owner-20111127-1o1ji.htm
I'll put it here again, anyone can read it, it's not top secret materiel. 'IF YOU CAN'T BEAT E'M, JOIN E'M'.
That's probably not in Wiktionaray.

No one is interested in DRUG CHEATS ...........Hits.11377 That's 266 in 2 hours ????????????????

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Originally Posted by dizzy

vvv you want the list why don't you write it, i can recommend a number of books from professor tobin and others iif you like. How about managing your horse so that it doesn't become dehydrated in the first place vvv, you know proactive not reactive.
[vvv] dot, you've got a better duck and weave than the great jimmy caruthers.
your footwork is not of the same calibre however.
the fact that you can't even come up with a single nomination for such a list but are nonetheless eager to rail against same, for me speaks volumes.
it is pretty obvious which of the current therapeutic drugs would be the main contenders to make it & even if you don't want any such list to become a reality you could at the very least name a few of them and go on to make a case againt them...but no, not even that. :confused:

since when has calling a vet to a sick foal become an absurd arguement?
[vvv] a blantant & noted thoroughly scurrilous misrepresentation of what i have said. It is either that or you need to attend reading & comprehension 101.

i regularly travel from bankstown to the clinic at agnes banks in 55 minutes, i'm sure from both agnes banks and clarendon to where you keep your mares could be accomplished in significantly less. Calling a vet would give a sickly foal the best opportunity to live would it not vvv?
[vvv] see above.

i don't foal down any mares myself vvv at bankstown or elsewhere, mine are supervised by someone else.
[vvv] the old absentee routine eh? I think jack nicholson said it best in 'a few good men'. Either pick up a rifle and stand at post... Or just say thankyou and be on your way.

who i'm sure wouldn't hesitate to call a vet if the foal showed any signs of needing one.
[vvv] there go my plans to employ herbal teas, healing crystals and tibetan chanting during the coming season's foalings. Thanks for setting me straight on that score dot. Most appreciated.

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vvv

Hi Lee, some of the things that guys like Jamie VVV and Bill Williams VOR have highlighted recently are starting to put some things in perspective. It would seem that these guys have inside knowledge and maybe associations with the powers that be. They claim that the PUNTER is the customer and therefore the most important stakeholder in Harness Racing. Therefore, the PUNTER's perception that we have consistency and fairplay is more important than any reality of same. VOR agrees with VVV that team driving is more damaging to the sport over the use of performance enhancing drugs because it's something that the PUNTER can sometimes see. He's probably right, I don't know. I get it and maybe the PARTICPANTS like you and I need to get with the program, shut up and be happy with the administration of the rules.
Mango commented that rules are rules. No issue there however the rules aren't consistently administered and that's the problem that PARTICPANTS have. Think back, how some trainers all of a sudden had such miraculous results in such a short space of time and then fall of the map again? Are they being tipped off for the "good of the game" and so that the "PUNTER" has confidence in the so called product? Were some of these trainers in the past "TOO BIG TO FAIL?" So Mango, maybe the rules aren't the rules for ALL. . It seems that we have rules to be enforced when it's in line with the over arching strategy of creating the perception of a level playing field and consistent racing product. Can you think of a recent example of trainers or drivers that are TOO BIG TO FAIL?

VOR also commented that EPO is being looked for and there are cheats being punished and so he feels that it should give the PUNTER confidence that it's being looked for. Using his words, "no indication there is widespread misuse in either code". Jamie has enlightened us with some highly imaginative reasons for massive turn around in performances.
Jamie VVV in the past has made claim that a Sydney based trainer enjoying unbelievable success would never return a positive success and would have bet just about anything on it. How can anyone ever do that with so much confidence without having knowledge or a relationship that the general public aren't privy too? It turns out that Jamie was right and that trainer hasn't returned a +ve.

Finally, I'll put this out there that VVV and VOR have never trained a winner or been themselves involved in any elite athletic success. And so although they bring a great insight into the mentality and strategy of the Ivory tower, I don't think that they're experts on everything that they comment on. The performance improvement that we've witnessed is evidence of the use of performance enhancing drugs and we don't need a positive drug test to further validate it. However, that's a side issue as the PUNTER wouldn't know the difference.

He's buying off our website again

I briefly deleted that but in hindsight I'll leave that there Lee. It just underlines that you struggle to add anything useful to the discussion.

Jett, putting those things being discussed here into some perspective and personally agreeing with the state of play are two totally different things. It is 100% inescapable certainty that first and foremost in the minds of all Racing Admistrators, of all Racing Regulatory & of all the respective State Governments that they are responsible to is the safeguarding of the revenue streams that flow from Wagering Taxation.
They don't come out and say as much, they spare us that particular affront, but by their words and actions... ye shall know them.
People think I am joking when I have in the past suggested that the outcome of some Protests rests more on the Tote price of those involved than they do on the actions that are being objected to.
As a participant I would of course much rather that their focus was a lot different but I have seen enough of the way things operate from an Industry internal & from a wider Government perspective to recognise that is a tilt at a windmill worthy of 1000 synchronised Don Quixotes. Ultimately, the $$$ will speak loudest of all.
If official actions taken in order to preserve that revenue stream happen to dovetail with actions that Participants feel levels the playing field for them then all the better. If they don't then basically, with measure of massaging...it is tough luck for us. It doesn't make it right, it isn't right, clearly. It is however, reality.

On the subject of reality VVV I will now be leaving you to enjoy the obviously alternative reality that you exist in. Its not that I don't want to comment further and please don't think that you have seen me off its merely that I probably wont have access to post for a couple of weeks. I'm happy to leave others in judgement of what you and I have written and make their own determinations as to who needs to attend reading and comprehension classes along with training in empathy for that great animal the horse.

A few good men is one of the few movies I made time to watch. Wasn't it great to see Tom Cruise fight what should have been a losing battle for a couple of the little guys and bring down Jack Nicolsons untouchable character. They took Jack Nicolson out in hand cuffs in the end did they not?

That's a cop out Dot. Pick up a rifle and stand at Post. It's not too difficult a concept to come to grips with. Don't take the easy road and leave the foaling down to someone else. See how good you are when one gets into trouble or out of the blue a foal starts to go down hill. You can't press the pause button and go and make a cup of tea and think about it for a bit, you can't take a 50/50 or ask Eddie if you can phone a friend. It doesn't work that way but then again, perhaps I'm being unreasonable. How would you know? Someone else does all that for you.

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Originally Posted by Triple V

That's a cop out Dot. Pick up a rifle and stand at Post. It's not too difficult a concept to come to grips with. Don't take the easy road and leave the foaling down to someone else. See how good you are when one gets into trouble or out of the blue a foal starts to go down hill. You can't press the pause button and go and make a cup of tea and think about it for a bit, you can't take a 50/50 or ask Eddie if you can phone a friend. It doesn't work that way but then again, perhaps I'm being unreasonable. How would you know? Someone else does all that for you.

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Now VVV that is funny, seriously funny you've given me a great laugh! 30 years as an Air Traffic Controller and now someone tells me that I can't handle pressure, multi task or make descisions upon which lives depend. At least you've left me with my spatial awareness, you know the ability to know that I cant be in two places at once.

PS I am the phone a friend for a couple of my friends that foal down their own mares.

That's called a God complex, Dot.

Austin Misfud and Phillip Walters have both been given lengthty suspensions for out of competition drug tests Mifsud 4 years and Walters 3 years 6 months.
Source harness .org.au stewards wrap.

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Originally Posted by barney

Austin Misfud and Phillip Walters have both been given lengthty suspensions for out of competition drug tests Mifsud 4 years and Walters 3 years 6 months.
Source harness .org.au stewards wrap.

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And that is what out of competition testing should be all about ... not so sure the penalties are high enough but it is more than a slap on the wrist.

Could not agree more VOR. That is the reason why it is in place. It is however not in place...despite the disturbing beliefs expressed by the inhabitants of the lunatic fringe...to jam up honest Trainers for using a range of legal, registered, accepted equine treatments that may have been administered at any point during the training phase. Thankfully both Administration & Regulatory can clearly see the difference.

Dot, I object to the inferences within that, they are nothing short of deplorable, even by your well established low standards. Either modify or delete it...because if you do not, rest assured, I'll take it further.

edited as a previous post has now been deleted

[QUOTE=Triple V;21888]

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Originally Posted by Danno

[VVV] G'day Dan,
Mate, it's not ignorance, rather it's just a common misnomer.
I guess you could call them any number of things other than any name that suggests or states that they actually 'mask' the presence of another substance..because they do not. Interference agents perhaps?
That being said, rather than such substances being the main reason to point to as to why anyone who chose to walk down that road might continue to skate by on testing, there is another far more likely Boogey Man lurking in the bushes.
It is a fact that completely unrelated types of drugs which nevertheless have completely like pharmacological effects can be administered to horses in micro doses. This is termed 'stacking'...a process whereby such drugs are effectively 'stacked' one atop of the other in order to achieve the desired result that otherwise a full dose of any single one of them would have achieved...only by way of having been 'stacked'... individually none of them will be present in a large enough amounts to cause a positive test to occur.
To put it in very simple terms...you can for example, as a Human, decide to take small doses of Panadol, Aspirin and Nurofen and do it all at the same time in order to achieve an overall pain killing/anti-inflamatory effect...while chemically speaking each of those drugs is completely unrelated to the other two. US & CAN Vets have been doing this with both equine related & I guess various other drugs for quite some time.
To some degree I think our testing regime is different here and I suspect it might well pick up at least some attempts at this practice...however I'm sure you get the picture.
Nevertheless, and without going so far as to put a blue print on here of how to be a dodgy bastard insofar as adopting the practice here, a Vet of similar dodgy views and with some reasonable insight into how to apply it could get any horse tuned up, no problems at all.
Like all such things, I suspect it all depends on what you are willing to pay in order to do so and how bent the Vet is. Fortunately here in Australia, at least to my knowledge, bent Vets are few & far between. That is far from being the case in the US however.
PS. This is what the authorities in NJ & NY are suggesting Lou Pena's Vet/s has/have been doing.

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This is a post written by VVV it appeared on page three as post 26

Apologies Danno for it appearing at first glance that you wrote it.

VVV you demonstrate clear knowledge here on the practice of "stacking" drugs in such a manner as to avoid detection in a drug test? whilst the specific example you list is with regard to over the counter medication in humans you go on to state that vets in the US and CAN have been doing this with equine related and other drugs for years. Research on the internet gives copious information on the stacking of anabolic steroids for human athletes along with the use of EPO

Are these the equine related and other drugs that the vets you refer to in the US and CAN are using? If this practice is prevelant in the US why do you not think we should take measures to stop it occurring here? Why are you opposed to placing anabolic steroids on the list of banned substances in out of competition testing here?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Triple V

Could not agree more VOR. That is the reason why it is in place. It is however not in place...despite the disturbing beliefs expressed by the inhabitants of the lunatic fringe...to jam up honest Trainers for using a range of legal, registered, accepted equine treatments that may have been administered at any point during the training phase. Thankfully both Administration & Regulatory can clearly see the difference.

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VVV care to provide the names of those legal registered accepted equine treatments?

Forum Rules (Must Read)

With ongoing drug scandals in Australia it's important that everybody understands what can and can't be said on a public forum from a legal perspective.

A public forum IS NOT the same as chatting to people at the track. Legally it's akin to writing something in a newspaper, meaning if you are going to attack or accuse somebody, you need to be prepared to back your statements up with proof within that same post. If you do not you can be taken to court, or we (Harnesslink) can be; and we can be shut down.

You may discuss any publicly available information from reputable sources. These include but aren't limited to: Press releases put out by HRNSW (or other state organisations), news posted by HR Australia, or Harnesslink etc. If you are posting something that could be considered controversial you need to include the link to the source in your post.

If somebody has been caught cheating, you may call them a cheat. Personal attacks (like calling them an asshole) will not be tolerated.

Hinting that somebody is or might be cheating is the same as saying it directly. We can all read between the lines and that type of carry on is not allowed.

You can freely debate with other members, but again no personal attacks. Attack the argument not the person. If threads turn nasty they will be closed or deleted and members may be banned.

Depending on the severity of what is said, members who break these rules will receive warnings, or 7 day, 30 day, or permanent bans.

We want to ensure good lively discussion and trust that these small limitations are easy for most people on here to follow.

For those who haven't been able to find them The rules of this forum are above.
The two highlighted rules have become very pertinent to 2 threads....
This one and the one about US drug use.
Please consider this post a warning. Contrary to the views of some please do not consider that because I haven't deleted your posts that it is okay.
I have not been able to keep up with the goings on on these two threads I think that if I was to moderate these threads my best option would be to delete them completely.
To those who keep within sight of the rules when contributing....Thank you.
To those who have difficulty...Please try harder

Tee Cee I gather these rules apply to all or is VVV excluded? Given that in recent times I have been the brunt of many a derogatory comment from VVV regarding my intelligence levels, if I have suffered a brain injury, or am in need of medication and the like it would appear that VVV is not held to the standard you refer to in the forum rules. But as in my opinion every insult I receive from VVV is simply validation that his arguement has been lost I actually don't mind. However I do believe the personal attacks that VVV has launched on me has discourage many a poster from making a contribution here.

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Originally Posted by dizzy

VVV care to provide the names of those legal registered accepted equine treatments?

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Dot

Again this is just a stupid post designed to do nothing more than stir.

You and I and everybody else with that IQ of 1 knows if VVV starting typing the brand names of all the legal registered therapeutic treatments permitted in both codes of Australia Horse racing he would be typing from now until the next interdominion heats.

I have tried to not get personal or be insulting but with posts like this one it is a hard road to toe.

If you want to make a point make it but please leave shit like this out, your request is a near impossible task I doubt even your man Tobin could produce this list.

He said..She said claims are unhelpful. The rules apply to all.
Just remember it takes two to tango and parts of this thread are well off the acceptable standard of civil acceptance of others' legitimate views.
That said if you want to put up a controversial viewpoint be prepared to back it with published evidence. Dot I struggle to understand why you go back to post 26 of the thread and use it today to generate what can only be described at best unhelpful but more accurately malicious suggestion, then come on here and suggest a double standard in my applying the rules.

Let's not go there. As I have said previously I am happy to discuss but not justify my interpretation of the rules or how they are applied.

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Originally Posted by Thevoiceofreason

Dot

Again this is just a stupid post designed to do nothing more than stir.

You and I and everybody else with that IQ of 1 knows if VVV starting typing the brand names of all the legal registered therapeutic treatments permitted in both codes of Australia Horse racing he would be typing from now until the next interdominion heats.

I have tried to not get personal or be insulting but with posts like this one it is a hard road to toe.

If you want to make a point make it but please leave shit like this out, your request is a near impossible task I doubt even your man Tobin could produce this list.

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Bill Dr Tobin is actually "your" Man

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Originally Posted by teecee

He said..She said claims are unhelpful. The rules apply to all.
Just remember it takes two to tango and parts of this thread are well off the acceptable standard of civil acceptance of others' legitimate views.
That said if you want to put up a controversial viewpoint be prepared to back it with published evidence. Dot I struggle to understand why you go back to post 26 of the thread and use it today to generate what can only be described at best unhelpful but more accurately malicious suggestion, then come on here and suggest a double standard in my applying the rules.

Let's not go there. As I have said previously I am happy to discuss but not justify my interpretation of the rules or how they are applied.

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Tee Cee VVV has constantly denigrated those here who feel that anabolic steroids should be included in out of competition testing, refering just recently to us as "the lunatic fringe". My point was VVV is well aware, as indicated in post 26, as to how anabolic steroids can be used in a manner that circumvents current drug testing protocols and my question to him is, armed with that knowledge, why is he so adamant that the rules not be changed to stop those drug cheats who attempt to circumvent the rules in the manner in which he described.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dizzy

Bill Dr Tobin is actually "your" Man

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Dot

To debate with me you will need facts or a good memory unfortunately you seem to come up short on both.

I have included a snippet of one of your posts on another thread re raceday medications where you chose to lead us to Dr Tobin's website in support of your view that makes him your man I feel.

"Bill I am the one with the licence remember, of course the ability of laboratories to test to the picogram is of concern. When VVV first proposed his list here that I knew of I didn't dismiss it, but it is nowhere as simple a proposition as he believes. Go to Thomas Tobins web site and you will read what is involved. Bute may have only swabbed for three days in the seventies and everyone may have had their horses on anabolic steroids but what made those parameters right? Clearly we changed as far as anabolic steroids went, and yes bute tests for much longer now, well beyond its therapeutic effect."

So Dot this is my last post against your views on this subject.

I could of course go down the road of agreeing with you but that would just make us both wrong.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dizzy

Tee Cee I gather these rules apply to all or is VVV excluded? Given that in recent times I have been the brunt of many a derogatory comment from VVV regarding my intelligence levels, if I have suffered a brain injury, or am in need of medication and the like it would appear that VVV is not held to the standard you refer to in the forum rules. But as in my opinion every insult I receive from VVV is simply validation that his arguement has been lost I actually don't mind. However I do believe the personal attacks that VVV has launched on me has discourage many a poster from making a contribution here.

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Dizzy, I can't even recall if I have posted on this thread or not, but it was pretty apparent right from the start that there are two trains of thought and it has played out that way. In fact Jamie and Bill are consistent with their arguement and it is painfully obvious that their viewpoint is not going to change no matter how many facts, figures, quotes or evidence to the contrary that you bring to the topic. Admire your tenacity but deadset you are not going to win this on-going battle with them. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer on the topic, it is simply two polar opposite opinions that are unable to accept or concede a point. Stalemate. And a pretty boring stalemate at that. Have stated before that the public slanging match we have seen here does none of you any credit and cheapens the conversation. Have always said that VVV has a case with SOME substance positives but am dead against steroids and the like. Agree with you to some degree why there are not more posters making comment, but its not because we fear ridicule from others, more that we know some will not move on the subject.

But don't let me stop you Dot, you have certainly made for some interesting reading.

Brad

You are right I will not bend on this issue racing can not survive if therapeutics are not permitted to be used. Which is why they are permitted almost world wide.

The call for the out of competition testing for therapeutics would cripple the industry in both a loss of horses and a cost to complete the testing.

I for one would be much happier if we started by testing more winners post race including 2 hour TCO2 tests for things that go like a lear jet and more horses pre race for TCO2 this will do more to enhance the credibility of the sport than making a steroid used on a horse just back in work that may have spelled poorly an offence.

Sure the gallops test more out of competition than we do but the again they test every winner first and be assured they are not testing out of competition for steroids either.

I have bumped this thread as I came across it when looking as to where I should make the following post and found it a fascinating read (until we got into a stalemate near the end)
It was before my time on the forum. Mark, Dizz, VVV - most interesting and entertaining (although VVV did show why he needed to quit as a Mod see Post 208 for an example)
But the most memorable post was Breno's Post 110 at the bottom of Pg11
Don't read the thread in one sitting as it will do your head in

Back to today: For the majority who do not subscrible to PeterProfit's blog I am providing this link to The Black Horse Newsletter.

https://www.goldrushpublications.com/general-4

You will find some of his thoughts on drugs in racing in the newsletters second story

Today in his blog Archie (PP) has given up and said that the only way to achieve a level playing field is to legalize all drugs so that all are free/able to (if they wish) use the drugs that the cheats are using

God Kev they were the days . So much fun back then until one day!!!. Still want to know who Voice Of Reason was.

Does anyone know who he really was. Been told many names but would still love to know the truth.

OR does he want to put his real name up like everyone else.

Dizzy/Dot & Mark on one side v Voice Of Reason & V V V on the other

It made me think about Dot today and look at her forum exit
I regret pissing Dot off on the Showgrounds Poll thread, she was intense but she was good.
In hindsight I should have worded it that 'HRV should investigate ...... and although I never said $60m would guarantee our future (I should have said 'might' instead of could)

I wasn't a much better moderator than Jamie on that day
Nobody likes being accused of being 'untruthful' and I can't deny that I want the forum to be a fun place but whether I have skin in the game (other than pouring time into this forum) does not mean that I live in fantasy land, don't care about the industry or don't want earnest discussion - on that particular day I was not up for it - I just wanted to put a Poll up

Lately I feel like I am struggling to keep the forum alive
I think that it will just die, if there is not at least one new post each day - a reason for people to visit
Why do I bother? Because I think we need a place/places where we can have a say

You're welcome back anytime Dot, arguments/disagreements are part of most days, and then we start over again the next day

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Messenger

I have bumped this thread as I came across it when looking as to where I should make the following post and found it a fascinating read (until we got into a stalemate near the end)
It was before my time on the forum. Mark, Dizz, VVV - most interesting and entertaining (although VVV did show why he needed to quit as a Mod see Post 208 for an example)
But the most memorable post was Breno's Post 110 at the bottom of Pg11
Don't read the thread in one sitting as it will do your head in

Back to today: For the majority who do not subscrible to PeterProfit's blog I am providing this link to The Black Horse Newsletter.

https://www.goldrushpublications.com/general-4

You will find some of his thoughts on drugs in racing in the newsletters second story

Today in his blog Archie (PP) has given up and said that the only way to achieve a level playing field is to legalize all drugs so that all are free/able to (if they wish) use the drugs that the cheats are using

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Hi Kev,

Using your quote Today in his blog Archie (PP) has given up and said that the only way to achieve a level playing field is to legalize all drugs so that all are free/able to (if they wish) use the drugs that the cheats are using[/QUO


I've always been an advocate for the use of therapeutic drugs for horses. Anabolic steroids are used therapeutically to help a horse recover from illness. Anabolics help the body repair itself, improve the horse's appetite, and increase the volume of red blood cells what's not to like about that.

Today's racing is focused on speed which places undue pressure on the horse particularly the legs so any treatment that helps recovery in my mind is welcome. It's no secret that top trainers with their vets have learnt to use these drugs within the rules of racing so why not make it available to everyone.

Naturally, I reject any drug that pushes a horse beyond its natural ability ( the 1980s comes to mind)

I could write a book on the period I was involved with harness racing boy that would be an eye-opener.

Hmm. What PP has been referring to has not involved any anabolic steroids. It is much, much worse.

Where is the the outrage about this decision by the toothless HRV?

https://www.harness.org.au/media-roo...?news_id=51318

I searched the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Products Authority website https://apvma.gov.au/ which lists every registeredveterinary product sold in Australia. The substance the offender was found with, Bio Bleeder, isn't listed because it is not a registered product. One would hope Customs is following up the acquisition of this product, it is out of the jurisdiction of harness racing officials to act other than provide evidence.

If you have been following US legal proceedings against cheating horse trainers and vets you would know this and similar concoctions by their street name - EPO. Elephant juice.

In the US trainers are being sent to jail over use of this juice. Here, Rhys Nicholson- despite seeming as unhelpful as he possibly be during the inquiry - cops $4,500 in fines and is free to go about his business!

Why would any person new to the game want to get involved? Why are long term participants walking away?

PP's column questioning whether we should "legalise drug" however was pointed directly at The Fortunate Son, which ran 1:49.4 winning by more than 20 metres at Menangle on Tuesday. In my half-century's involvement in the business has taught me anything it is horses of the ilk of this one only record times like this when travelling in the back of a float.

I had forgotten where I picked up that analogy Kev but its certainly something I've carried on thinking.

As for letting it be a drug FFA. It simply would not appease RSPCA/PETA etc.

Looks like they are regressing to the bad old days in the US. I'm not sure if they ever went away. Australia? well, I did mention the 1980s ( Etorphine - elephant juice, Sublimaze - fentanyl, EPO and a few more ). Thoroughbred horse trainers were convicted of using the drug here in WA in the 80s one trainer was convicted twice it became so serious that it was reported any further positive swabs to Etorphine would see the perpetrator doing jail time. It was also suggested harness racing was not without fault either.

Remember the outrage in the US of rattlesnake venom being used a few years back. Here, in Australia: Racing stewards have received intelligence that a form of sea snail venom has been imported into Australia and used to manage pain in horses suspected to have raced in the thoroughbred and harness codes this was in 2019.

It's just naive to think horse trainers and their vets are not looking for that winning edge but as I said if it is detrimental to a horse's wellbeing then that is criminal. Whenever one of these drugs and the drug cheat is exposed it brings nothing but suspicion and shame to whatever code of racing.