Muscle Sport Magazine » Kentucky Derby

Breeders’ Cup Steroid Testing Spells the End of an Era in Horse Racing

Joe Pietaro — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:15:22 +0000

Eight Belles’ Death, Big Brown’s Winstrol Use Polarized What was Always the ‘Norm’

On the heels of the state of New York changing its horse racing steroid policy, the upcoming Breeders’ Cup this weekend will have testing for the banned substances. The ‘Sport of Kings’ has always been accepting of the use of performance-enhancing drugs and the recent windfall attempting to connect misfortune with steroids has all of a sudden changed that method of thinking.

If anyone believes that the death of Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby and the hoof injuries to Big Brown have anything to do with steroids, then they will probably also believe that Barry Bonds felt he was only using flaxseed oil. Horses do have unfortunate accidents on the track, some resulting in their demise. Those incidents have absolutely nothing to do with steroids. It is simply another excuse to hang something on without finding out the true cause.

Starting January 1, new rules will be in place that will set limits on the amount of steroids that will be permitted, according to a vote passed by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.

With the upcoming Breeders’ Cup in Santa Anita, trainers will face a one-year suspension from the event if there is a positive test of any amount of steroids or EPO found. There will be a total of five horses chosen for testing after all Breeders’ Cup Challenge races – one at random and the top four finishers.

Steroids in the News…Again!

Leigh Penman — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:59:36 +0000

By Leigh Penman

Just as the ups and, mainly, downs of Wall Street seem to be forever in the news so does the use of anabolic steroids in various sports. This week saw the spotlight turning once again on the world of horse racing. On Tuesday (October 14) the New York Racing and Wagering Board let it be known that it is implementing new rules as regards the administration of anabolic steroids in the world of horse racing.

This is a follow up to the earlier revelation that the recently retired racehorse, Big Brown, was juiced on Winstrol whilst competing in the Kentucky Derby. Even though this was in fact entirely legal in terms of horseracing protocol, board chairman John D. Sabini stated in an article in the ‘Daily News’ that by imposing limits on four steroids currently used in horse racing New York would be leading the pack when it came to preserving integrity within the sport. He also made it clear that the intended message to owners and trainers was, “If you flaunt our steroid rules, you will be held accountable.”

According to the new rules, four steroids will be permitted for use by racehorses, but only one of the four may be found in the horse at any one time (therefore ‘no stacking on the track!’).

The four permitted steroids are: stanozolol (Winstrol), boldenone (Equipoise), nandrolone (Durabolin) and testosterone. The reasoning being that small concentrations of these substances would not be significant enough to affect a horse’s performance.
The rules will go into effect on January 1 2009.

CANSECO IN FERTILITY RAP!

Meanwhile on the human side of the anabolic coin, former slugger Jose Canseco was caught trying to smuggle the female fertility drug Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) across the border from Mexico last week. Canseco, who authored the 2005 book “Juiced” exposing the use of anabolics in baseball, was charged with Introduction into Interstate Commerce of a Misbranded Drug (considered a misdemeanor).

According to the report, Canseco, a female driver and the female driver’s “minor daughter” were stopped by Customs and Border Protection agents entering California at the San Ysirdo checkpoint. An inspection of their vehicle revealed six vials of HCG and 10 syringes in the armrest compartment.

Canseco was detained for nine hours by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and had to consent to a search of his Los Angeles home as a precursor to his release. No drugs were found on inspection and Canseco was released pending a court date on Nov 4.

Canseco claimed that the drug was for personal use due to the fact that previous steroid use has left his testosterone levels extremely low necessitating a hormone therapy plan.
He also said that he was in Mexico seeking “inexpensive dental implant work”..So I guess he was doing a ‘Wal-Mart’ one stop-shopping trip!

Whatever the case, the fact remains that hard-core steroid use does lead to testicular atrophy, low testosterone and sperm counts in male athletes. The drug HCG is frequently used to prevent this. You wanna know a better way of preventing this condition? Stay away from ‘roids altogether!

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Relocating to New York in the late 1990s she focused her writing attention to crystal healing techniques and metaphysics – however, she still maintained a five day workout schedule during this time and gained her personal training certificate.

Having also studied pharmacology in relation to sports performance, her writing began taking her in that direction until the present day which sees her embarking on a return to the magazine world, as well as extending her web-related work in the bodybuilding and fitness field.

Leigh has been working out for close to thirty years so she is clearly a writer who ‘walks her talk.’
She can be contacted personally at zeal2heal@yahoo.com or you can also check her out at New York’s favorite metaphysical store www.stickstoneandbone.com.

Dutrow a Late Scratch at Congress

Joe Pietaro — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:27:27 +0000

Big Brown’s Trainer Under the Weather, Will Miss Testifying

The star witness expected to headline Congress’ latest inquisition into drugs and sports will be a no-show. Rick Dutrow, Jr., the trainer of almost-Triple Crown winner Big Brown, had to pass up an opportunity to publicize himself again due to a virus.

The Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection will go on in their hearings on horse racing and what can be done to improve the ‘sport of kings.’ Dutrow, who can be kindly described as the court jester, would have been asked a lot of questions, according to Rep. Ed Whitfield of Kentucky. Steroid use is just one of the many topics being investigated by the committee, and Dutrow’s comments concerning the use of winstrol would have surely come up.

According to a survey conducted by the Associated Press, there have been 5,000 horse deaths in the past five and a half years, with Eight Belles being the latest immediately following the Kentucky Derby.

No doubt that the economic aspect of horse racing was a driving force behind these hearings. Every bet placed legally at the track or at OTB has a percentage that goes to the government. They are merely protecting their investment. Regulations differ from state to state, and the result of the hearings will hopefully mean that there will be one governing body to make the major decisions, such as a commissioner in place like in many of the major team sports.

But all of this will have to take place without the input of the most annoying man this side of Simon Cowell. Get well soon, Ricky. The hearings won’t be the same without you and your narcissistic ways.

Dutrow: Big Brown to Receive Steroid This Week

Joe Pietaro — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:56:55 +0000

Attention-Seeking Trainer to Also Testify in Front of Congress

It appears as if Big Brown has one more race in him before being put out to stud. On Tuesday, Rick Dutrow, Jr., the colt’s trainer, said that the horse will be injected with Winstrol over the weekend. If he is healthy, Big Brown will run on either August 3 (the Haskell at Monmouth) or August 23 (the Travers at Saratoga). Now all we have to wait for is for Dutrow to try to take this statement back (as he did after the Preakness) and for the odds makers to figure on a strong bounce back run for the three year-old after receiving some gear.

Dutrow will have a busy week with an invitation from Congress for next Thursday. “Breeding, Drugs, and Breakdowns: The State of Thoroughbred Horseracing and the Welfare of the Thoroughbred Racehorse” is the latest interference on the sports world by members of the United States government. Expect him to make a horse’s ass out of himself, similar to Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Raphael Palmiero and Sammy Sosa have in the past.

The hearings, which will be held by the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, were called for following the tragic death of Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby.

Since Big Brown failed to win the Triple Crown at Belmont, Dutrow has been looking to place the blame on everything from the jockey (Kent Desormeaux) to the weather and track surface instead of taking any responsibility. With his fifteen minutes of fame nearly up, the brash and egotistical trainer will not disappoint and should put on a wonderful show in Washington.

We will all know that he was well-prepared if he either waves his finger during testimony or claims that he “misremembered” when he said that he gave Big Brown steroids.

Photo credit: Bloodhorse.com

Will Winstrol Be on Big Brown’s Travers Menu?

Joe Pietaro — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 23:55:05 +0000

If 3 Year-Old Runs, Dutrow & Iavarone May Enhance Chances

Big Brown may become just another footnote in the long list of almost-Triple Crown winners. The three year-old colt could have rode off into the sunset draped in carnations if he could have pulled off winning the Belmont Stakes this past Saturday. But it was not meant to be and now many questions have been raised about the future of the horse.

If he is not retired, the next race for him could be the Travers in August. The next question would be if trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. would administer Winstrol in preparation of the race, one that could mean a lot of money – not only in potential winnings, but more importantly his stallion career. It would behoove the Big Brown camp to ensure a win to erase the disappointing performance at the sweltering Long Island race track.

Dutrow admitted that prior to the impressive Kentucky Derby win, he gave Big Brown a shot of Winstrol. The trainer then flip-flopped on the subject after the next race. At first, he said that he did in fact give the steroid to the horse for the Preakness, another race where Big Brown dominated. Later on, he recanted and said that he didn’t give the horse Winny. He has been consistent in stating that he did not give Winstrol to Big Brown before Belmont, and it was obvious after the horse was eased out of the nine-horse race, dropping all the way back after holding onto third place at the beginning.

Dutrow, during an interview with New York Newsday, became agitated and refused to answer any further questions about steroids after reiterating that he didn’t use the drug in the last race and that he doesn’t use Winstrol “to help horses run faster.” Dutrow, who has been raked over the coals for his brash and outspoken way, made himself look worse than Roger Clemens with such a ridiculous statement. Steroids in sports are used for one reason and one reason only – to enhance the performance of the athlete, let it be a pitcher or a racehorse.

Bottom line is if Big Brown has a better chance to win at Saratoga by getting a shot of Winny, expect his owner and trainer to not give in to the public pressure concerning steroid use on horses. There are millions of dollars at stake, along with the reputation of a horse that could either be forgotten or remembered as a champion that had one bad day.

Winstrol-Free Belmont for Big Brown

Joe Pietaro — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:22:11 +0000

Trainer Dutrow to Lay Off the Juice on the Cusp of the Triple Crown

Timing is everything, especially in the ‘Sport of Kings.’ The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports has been a favorite for well over a century, and a horse going for the Triple Crown only enhances the excitement. After Big Brown left the rest far behind in the first two legs at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, the Belmont Stakes has become the top story.

The ‘favorite’ tag became even larger for Big Brown after Casino Drive was scratched the morning of the race. Even before that, the confidence level from the Big Brown camp was blatantly obvious. Trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. has been very open of the fact that he feels that there is no competition for his thoroughbred. While that may have some truth to it, then outspoken Dutrow has been in the forefront of every story on Big Brown.

That confidence may have gone up to the next level when Dutrow made a statement concerning the use of Winstrol for all the horses in his stable, including Big Brown. He told reporters that the horses receive a monthly shot of Winny, which is legal in New York State (at least for veterinary purposes), but that he would not administer the steroid for Belmont. “It’s just too much for three races in five weeks,” he said. That doesn’t quite add up, according to what Dutrow claimed about the shots being only monthly.

If the horse receives a monthly shot, then the schedule should stand pat. When Dutrow said that it would be too much, was he implying that Big Brown receives Winstrol before each race? If not, then the ‘three races in five weeks’ reason would not come into play.

Is Dutrow over-confident? Although the rest of the remaining field does not appear to be strong enough to beat Big Brown, the rough mile and a half track can be quite a challenge, especially in the 90-plus degree heat expected throughout the day on Saturday. If there ever was a time for a horse to receive that ‘extra push,’ it would seem like a race of endurance due to distance and weather such as this one would be the obvious choice.

In 28 of the 37 states that thoroughbreds race, steroids are perfectly legal and should be expected. When there is big money and fame on the line, every edge will be looked for. And if one of those are allowed – especially when it comes to an animal and not a human being (sorry, PETA) – they will be used even if health is a concern. Athletes have already proven this time and time again.