Other than the shame it could bring on the sport and the possible damage to the horses (not in that order of course) the most horrendous aspect of this episode is it's given that plum Simon Crissford another chance to be Mr Sanctimony personified. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/22258011
Seems like an honest mistake to me, don't see why he'd intentionally do it. Ashame as it'll no doubt wreck his training career, can't see Sheik Mo giving him anymore horses after this. He's a far better trainer than that Bin Suroor arse, so I think it'd be in Sheik Mo's long term interests to still back him after he's served a ban, which looks inevitable
Crisford is no plum - nice, honest chap. Shame for the horses at the end of the day, guessing the man at the top will be fuming as well.
It sounds to me like it was an ignorance to the rules more than anything, I can't see why he'd try and dope his horses against the rules intentionally, knowing how much testing goes on. He clearly didnt realise you couldn't do it during the close season
Well maybe he should learn to read the rules or stay out in Dubai and train at Jebel Ali the cheating ignorant bastard.
Don't get me wrong being ignorant to the rules, is no excuse. I just don't think this was deliberate. He deserves a ban, but I hope he still gets backed by Sheik Mo afterwards, as he's a very talented young trainer
That won't cut it with the authorities though. If I was training i'd have the common sense to find out what I can and can't give my animals, anything else would be ignorance. It sounds like a lying man trying to play dumb to me but we must wait until the findings are accurate and the facts are in place.
'' Because the horses involved were not racing at the time, I did not realise that what I was doing was in breach of the rules of racing '' Imagine an athlete using this excuse after being caught out before competing at a major event? It wouldn't wash would it. Al Zarooni clearly knew what he was doing and Im amazed at his stupidity espcially in the lucrative position he's in already, Complete madness. I feel sorry for the punters who will probably lose out on antepost bets backing Certify for the Guineas. Sheikh Mohammed should send his horses back to Henry
How long has Cecil got left training horses? A year maybe 2 if he's lucky. So no point sending then to him. Send them to a younger trainer. David Simcock would do well with a few Godolphin horses, as would Hughie Morrison. Though I doubt he'd give either of those 2 very talented and underrated trainers a chance
I've just seen this and am shocked. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse at all, and to be honest is incredibly unlikely. The hoops you have to jump through in order to get a training licence mean that you simply cannot know about these things. He will certainly be given a hefty ban for this.
Thats rubbish Shergs, you cannot give a racehorse anabolic steroids full stoo. In season or out of season they are banned and I bet someone at the yard tipped the authorities off! This is a life ban I reckon!
As the Racing Post have pointed out, HoJo got a 1 year ban after just one horse in his yard tested positive for steroids. If the same standard is applied he's looking at 10 years minimum.
Interesting that whilst Al Zaroonis high as a kite horses do well, Bin Suroors are finishing nowhere! Godolphin has to be written off now. Why don't they just let the proper trainers train?
Kind of tongue in cheek that comment on Cecil Shergar, Surely theres too many horses at Godolphin for SBS to look after entirely. Like you say it'd be nice if he spread them round the smaller yards...
It is the rest of the staff I feel sorry for. I know many of the girls in the office and they will all have a cloud hanging over them now. If the yard is shut down and horses dispersed, dozens of people will lose their jobs.
Granted there are far to many horses for SBS to look after, not to mention the fact the guy is incapable. There are so many good young trainers out there, that would do Sheik Mo proud if he gave them a chance with some of his very expensive well bred 2 year olds
