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Trainer Dutrow suspended for 30 days
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Kentucky Derby and Preakness winning trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. was suspended for 30 days for violating doping rules. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission issued the suspension more than a year after tests revealed Salute the Count had excessive amounts of Clenbuterol after finishing second at Churchill Downs. Clenbuterol helps burn fat while promoting muscle growth. In humans, the drug is used to treat asthma. It is illegal to administer it on race day, but states vary on the length of time beforehand that it can be administered. A day later, Dutrow led Big Brown (who was receiving monthly injections of the steroid Winstrol except for the Belmont) to a win at the Kentucky Derby.
In addition to the suspension, Dutrow is required to return the purse money from the race. This suspension was initially going to take place last year and was only going to be for 15 days. If implemented in 2008, Dutrow would have been fined or suspended at least once for the past nine years. The longer suspension was a result that the commission felt Dutrow was working the system.
It was Dutrow and his admission that Big Brown was using steroids that led to a Congressional hearing last year and steps to clean up the sport. Some of the steps seem to be working with no Kentucky racehorses testing positive in 2009 for steroids out of nearly 1,500 tests from March to May.
This progress is a step in the right direction, but the sport could benefit from some simple changes. Simplify the process by creating a national governing body with national rules and implement a transparent drug testing program with strict penalties similar to baseball with a three strikes leading to a lifetime ban.
With Dutrow’s past, it’s amazing that his services are constantly in demand. Maybe with the new changes, owners will start to think twice about the bad publicity being involved with questionable trainers, but as in baseball, people will do whatever it takes to win.
Robin Bush, our Horse Racing Examiner, can be found here. Follow me on twitter.
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