Harness racing positives---better hope HISA not issuing penalties

[bond]

What a joke Harness racing penalties are--who the hell is in Charge???

Examples for just recently--We have 2 Oxymorphone positives one Minoxidil positive-- one Lyrica-- 1 betamethasone-guess the result??

1) The oxy's got small fine and a week(This is a Class 1)
2) Minoxidil---just a fine(Erv Miller got 14 days if I remember)
3) Lyrica--lost purse.--This shit-used on cancer patient to control pain.
4) Betamethasone--7days.(Burke--had one before-but swept under rug--probably serve time when racing closed)

If HiSA-was in charge-they accept no excuse ie"mitigating factors" unless its totally bulletproof.
1)-the OXY--would get 10 years and a huge fine
2) Minoxidil--huge fine and lengthy suspension(I heard its used in Gym--body builders use it)
3)Lyrica--huge fine and lengthy suspension( Powerful pain killer)
4)Betamethasone--Baffert lost the Kentucky Derby with this stuff--so severe penalty from HISA.
So in Harness--they just dish out penalties to suit--there is no across the board penalty rulings--all states make up there own.
If you are Big trainer--no problem. Small trainer--throw the book at them-make them scapegoats--whipping boys--that what it looks like to me.
Needs serious overhaul IMHO. Similar fines/time across all states for starters.

[tumbleweed]

Well said Bond!

[Parked]

3 cobalt positives and the slimebag does not get life or even a year ?? 

[Dingus]

Minoxidil, besides growing hair (rogaine), is also used to control high blood pressure.

[seen2much]

The penalty for cheating is not a deterrent & serving the days when you want is laughable. Is it any wonder how the game has gotten to where it is?

[bond]

Minoxidil, besides growing hair (rogaine), is also used to control high blood pressure.

Exactly Dingus---not even a suspension like Erv Miller got---this positive was with a female trainer! She going bald? More likely used it as performance enhancer---as it drops blood pressure and weightlifters increase their stamina I was told by a seasoned gym junky---and this trainer got 0 days!!!
As stated previously--HISA gave one trainer 10 years for Viagra--Minoxidil has no place in a horse--so Im sure HISA would not just give you a slap on the wrist-you will be out on your ass -and your horses too!
Another example of how drug positives should be handled by one body!!! Thereby experts can decide penalties--the same across the USA.

[Horsepower]

The real problem is that a trainer gets caught and they just switch the name to a new trainer and keep going. The horse trainer and the horses he or she trains should be suspended for a period of time and not allowed to race under any circumstances. That way the trainers, and owners both don't get to race. Hopefully that would have an effect on some of the cheating.

[The Exporter]

The down fall of policing racing is a direct result of lack of commitment from the states and local governments.
 Back when racing was a primary revenue stream for the governments, they committed more resources to protect it. Those resources are now dedicated to the real profit centers, the casinos, lottery and sports betting.  States are careful in doling out penalties in an effort to avoid legal challenges.
 A few therapeutic overages by some mutt at Monticello or even Cobalt positives does not warrant a huge legal investment as there is no threat to the revenue stream Monticello produces.
 As for the bigger picture and protecting the integrity of harness racing, that ship sailed decades ago.
 So with HISA, they force the industry to fund the policing efforts and have a war chest for the well healed horsemen and owners that find a need to challenge them.     

[Parked]

The penalty for cheating is not a deterrent & serving the days when you want is laughable. Is it any wonder how the game has gotten to where it is?

Fines and suspensions for the trainers has proven it is not enough.  The states don’t want to do much but and “extenuating circumstances “ or accepting 1/2 the penalty. The use of beards is laughable.  The only effective way to stop the cheating now is to hit the owners (which I am so understand the consequences) ..  if the trainer gets a positive all the horses listed under their control get the same days the trainer does.  Moving horses with judges permission goes put the window. 
Owners, pick your trainers carefully.   Trainers…race clean….   

[bond]

The down fall of policing racing is a direct result of lack of commitment from the states and local governments.
 Back when racing was a primary revenue stream for the governments, they committed more resources to protect it. Those resources are now dedicated to the real profit centers, the casinos, lottery and sports betting.  States are careful in doling out penalties in an effort to avoid legal challenges.
 A few therapeutic overages by some mutt at Monticello or even Cobalt positives does not warrant a huge legal investment as there is no threat to the revenue stream Monticello produces.
 As for the bigger picture and protecting the integrity of harness racing, that ship sailed decades ago.
 So with HISA, they force the industry to fund the policing efforts and have a war chest for the well healed horsemen and owners that find a need to challenge them.     

                                                 Hit the nail right on the head!
THIS is one of the main issues in Harness racing---A top trainer gets a slap on the wrist as a 1-10,000$ fine is nothing to them
However a small time trainer at Monticello gets a 5-10000 fine--hes liable to be broke!! Fines are BS--time off for horse and trainer far more effective-hurts both small AND large stable trainers
Then you have Judges and race offices--favoring their Pet trainers-those that either have the most horses or they have an "association" with---and the rule of Law -is thrown out the window. Thats why penalties are a joke!!
1) ANY horse that comes up positive and trainer gets days---the trainer AND the horse get the same time.No need for Beards.
2) States issue similar penalties for the SAME medication positives.

[Parked]

You make it too simple.  The states got things in this big mess and have no desire to do anything about it as racing is no longer the financial cash cow.  The politicians and commissions are whores. 

[The Exporter]

Absolutely! It is like any other business relationship. If you are a high earner, I need to protect my investment. If you are common and my balance sheet would not know if you were alive or dead, your not getting another thought of protection or investment.
 There is no political clout in spending your political capital on horse racing with the exception of a few major race meets.

[Dingus]

1) ANY horse that comes up positive and trainer gets days---the trainer AND the horse get the same time.No need for Beards.
2) States issue similar penalties for the SAME medication positives.

That’s fine when they test a horse, but what about the times they find syringes and unmarked bottles in the barn?  Are you going to suspend all the horses in the barn?

[Love For Animals]

This is the biggest reason harness racing is going away. Small trainers are gone, fans are gone, owners are leaving, and it is now at the point where who can out cheat who; and who has the judges, race secretaries, harness associations, commissions, etc. on your side. Everything is laughable but the abuse these animals are suffering. It is a disgrace!! Why so many excuses when each one of you cheaters know the multiple shots you give these horses and tubes you shove into these horses . You think it is okay, well I would love to do those same actions to you for 6 months....how do you think you would do?  Most of you scumbag cheaters could not spell INTEGRITY let alone be able to say it correctly, and I know you do not know what it means. HISA needs to take over harness racing and clean up this crap!!

[Zink]

Yes you are right this is a dying sport