Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Big Brown Owners To Stop Giving Performance-Enhancing Drugs To Horses
Posted on Monday, June 23rd, 2008
Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown‘s owners said on Sunday that they would immediately stop giving performance-enhancing drugs to their horses.
Michael Iavarone, co-president of International Equine Acquisitions Holdings, told the New York Times that the 50+ horses owned by his stable would be drug free by October, and that he would pay for tests to be administered by state or track veterinarians before and after each of their races to prove it.
“I know Big Brown or any of our horses do not need this stuff to win,” Michael Iavarone said to The Times of the horse that won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes before faltering in the bid for the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes.
“I’m not worried about an uneven playing field, either. The cost of the drug tests are a small price to pay for the integrity of the sport. I’m urging other owners to join us, and let’s turn the game around.”
Iavarone also said Big Brown’s trainer, Richard Dutrow, Jr., backed the self-imposed ban on all medications perceived to be performance-enhancing.
The decision comes 3 days after Congress held a hearing criticizing the drug policies of the horse racing industry.
The hearing was called after Eight Belles broke down at the Kentucky Derby last month and was euthanized on the track of Churchill Downs.
Tags: Big Brown
"Big Brown Owners To Stop Giving Performance-Enhancing Drugs To Horses" was posted on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 at 10:38 am and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Owners & Breeders, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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