Trot Insider has spoken to New Jersey Racing Commission executive director Frank Zanzuccki regarding the ongoing lidocaine situation with trainer Mickey Burke.
According to Harness Racing Communications, the Burke-trained Doggone Incredible and Smashingpringipisa each produced positive post-race tests for lidocaine at the Meadowlands Racetrack on December 9, 2006 and March 22, 2007, respectively.
HRC reported last week that the NJRC and counsel for Burke had mutually 'tabled' a proposed settlement meeting regarding the positives. The meeting had been scheduled for Wednesday, November 19.
"Two days before the meeting, counsel called for clarification of some of the wording of the agreement," Zanzuccki told Trot Insider. "We all wanted to ensure that the settlement continues to go forward. We all wanted to be sure and completely clear on the terms of the agreement."
Zanzuccki told Trot Insider that the date of the next possible meeting where the issue can be addressed is February 4, 2009.
(With files from HRC)
It continues to befuddle me
It continues to befuddle me that this industry continues to coddle those who continually and effectively contribute to the erosion of the credibility of harness racing.
Individuals found to be quilty of such a serious breach should be banned permanently.
If a bank manager was caught stealing such an individual would no longer be employed in the banking industry.
Individuals who cheat in harness racing do so at the expence of their fellow horseman and the gamblers who expect all participants to play fairly. Without gamblers there is no industry.There are lots of alternative oppourtunities for gamblers. The days of horse racing as the only game in town are over.
Two year delay in settling
Two year delay in settling this case
smells funny.
pretty sad state of affairs
pretty sad state of affairs when a trainer of this profile can buy his way out for over 2 yrs without any type of punishment .ontario hung robinson out to dry for lidocaine
How about this term, your
How about this term, your guilty, your screwed, now sit down and shut up. I didn't know you could have a mutually agreed settlement for positive tests. I guess that makes it, kind of legal. The obvious settlement is that each racing commission continues to make horrible brutal mistakes when dealing with positive tests. Now tell us again why you think betting has decreased and people have stopped coming to the races. First Ontario with aminorex, then Kentucky with EPO and now this. Wonderful leadership, we're definitely going to bring this industry to the top of it's game with this mentality.