According to a report, Stolis Winner, victor of the $1.9 million All-American Futurity, the richest quarter-horse race in the world, has been disqualified after post race tests
from the September 1, 2008 event show the horse had caffeine in its system.
The Daily Racing Form has reported that Stolis Winner's trainer, Heath Taylor, has been suspended six months and fined $1,500. The connections of Stolis Winner will also have to return the purse winnings from the event. Taylor and Stolis Winner's owner/breeder Jerry Windham appealed the ruling to the New Mexico Horse Racing Commission and were granted stays.
The article states that Taylor has denied any wrongdoing since the caffeine positive was made public last fall.
(With files from The Daily Racing Form)
I have huge issues!!! If
I have huge issues!!! If they are going to test for caffeine, they need to make sure there is no such prohibited substance in the test barn.
This is not just a quarter
This is not just a quarter horse issue. If they try to take away someones livelyhood over 46 nanograms of caffeine it affects everyone in the horse business.
It is my understanding that
It is my understanding that the level of caffeine in Stolis Winner fell within the National Racing Boards acceptable level but New Mexico has a more strict zero tolerance policy. If caffeine has not been found to be a performance enhancing drug and is a very possible contaminant due to coffee, soda and some candies being used by those doing both the collecting and testing, at some time during the day, then it seems to me that New Mexico is out of line on their zero tolerance policy. While I do not advocate allowing the use of any type of performance enhancing drug that might be hazardous to the equine athlete to be acceptable some common sense needs to be implemented in the regulations. I am sure that the Commission is well aware of the repercussions that come from such a "hot" test and the penalties that result. They create an unnecessary negative image that an already critical public is waiting for to continue pressing for the removal of all equine sports. I am not suggesting sticking our heads in the sand but are we trying to cripple our sport or are we using good judgment to perserve both the safety and integrity of our passion. If I am missinformed about the legal levels mentioned above I apologize.
Is it just me, or isn't a
Is it just me, or isn't a 1,500 dollar fine for cheating in a 1.9 million dollar race a little ridiculous? I wouldn't call a 1,500 dollar fine a "deterrent". "If I cheat and win and don't get caught...I win almost a million dollars. If I get caught...they slap me with 1,500 dollar fine"....
hmmmm, what should I do, what should I do?
As I am a new fan of horse
As I am a new fan of horse racing -- is caffeine considered a drug in the horse racing world??????????
who cares. its quarter horse
who cares. its quarter horse racing
This ruling seems to be a
This ruling seems to be a joke. I would like the New Mexico Racing Commission to explain why, after the horse was tested and came back clean (and purse money distributed), that they would come back and retest the horse. Did someone suggest to them that the horse should have been found positive for caffeine? Heath Taylor is very successful and I don't think ever has had a bad test before. Did someone who was jealous of Heath get to the horse and then complain when the horse initially tested negative?
Another question: Is coffee, soda pop, and candy prohibited from the test barn? If not, I have huge issues!!! If they are going to test for caffeine, they need to make sure there is no such prohibited substance in the test barn. Sadly, I doubt such is the case.
My respect for the New Mexico Racing Commission is non-existent right now. If it is standard procedure to retest horses after initially testing them and finding them clean, and if caffeine containing substances are not allowed in the test barn, then I apologize. Otherwise, here is a major issue that the racing commission created for themselves.