There are so many horses there (probably about 150) that the only two options are 1) bring in a new trainer to take over (if so who?) or 2) disperse them all amongst existing trainers. There is no way Saeed could take them all on. I'm not sure who the assistant at Al Zarooni's is, and to be honest if it was like Saeed's a lot of the training was done by the assistants anyway, but it is possible they will rush him through the licencing committee. That will take time though, you need to attend 3 week long courses at the Racing School (I've done two of them!), submit a business plan (that will be the easy part!) and attend an interview at BHA where you are quized on your background and knowledge.
By locking down the stables and judging by the text of Sheikh Mohammed's recent statement, Al Zarooni is to be essentially the scapegoat- and his head will quickly roll. It begs the questions....Given no-one is going to accept Al Zarooni's claim to "ignorance of the rules," can we in any way believe that he did what he did "off his own bat," whether feeling under pressure to give success to the Maktoums or even believing he could get away with it? As already stated, this will not suffice. Given the hierarchy involved, we have to believe that any arbitrary and solitary action by Al Zarooni in administering steroids would, if discovered, condemn him to a life of disgrace and ostracism from his Islamic world. Surely he must have known this. Either way, the reflection in the Maktoum's mirror depicts horror for Sheikh Mohammed. Events suggest that his Godolphin operation is devoid of the controls, regulation, and impeccable standards expected of such an enterprise. And what can one say about Simon Crisford? Will his head roll also, or will Al Zarooni's departure be the sole signal in the process of rebuilding trust and integrity? Al Zarooni's unusually swift appearance before the BHA suggests parties wish to employ the guillotine post haste and wash away the blood very, very quickly.
By taking out a Licence you are stating that you will abide by the Rules of Racing. It's a bit like signing a contract where you agree to the terms and conditions, regardless of whether you have read them or not. Ignorance is never a defence.
Get week three done quick PN, you get my vote. One of the interesting sub-plots here is the fact that there is not worldwide universal agreement about the use of all drugs in racing. Surely with horses travelling the world over to compete for huge sums of money it is time that everyone played to the same rule book. If youngsters in one country are being given growth enhancing steroids then they are gaining an unfair advantage. My first reaction to this was that someone on the inside had bubbled Zarooni, the vet or an employee. I find it impossible to believe that he didnt know what he was doing. I also find it difficult to believe that management higher up were not complicit too. The fallout from this will be far reaching. Yet again racing shoots itself in the foot!
My mate and I were discussing another irony of all this the other day Stick. The American raiders in Dubai were being praised for going against the grain and not using any medication and indeed they reckon more of the middle distance horses will be rolling up at Ascot. I doubt they're going to be amused to now learn that they were probably running against the host's horses who were powered by rocket fuel...... Oh and there's no way Al zarooni could have been doing it on his own. Given that Johnson carried the can and now MAZ it leads me to wonder if Nicky Henderson is the only trainer in the world who uses a vet rather than purchase and administer the drugs himself? I doubt it somehow..... Something very fishy afoot if you ask me. The trainer has to have the book thrown at them but if those who have devoted their lives to safeguarding and maintaining the health of animals have been going round giving horses steroids when it's against the law they surely have to bear responsibility as well.
It's now being reported that Al Zarooni will no longer have legal representation at the hearing this afternoon. Whether that is because he has declined it, or Sheikh Mo has withdrawn his legal team, who knows. Under the Rules of Racing the buck stops with the trainer. It is his name above the door, so he has to be responsible for all goings on. Even if it turned that Al Zarooni had been, for example, mislead by others at the stable about the legality of steroids, he would still be deemed to be at fault as it is his responsibility to be fully aware of the rules and regulations and to implement them.
hmmmm. goat and scape-- he is not one individual going round with a bag of steriods , jackin up his mules, this was an organised and effective scheme. Will the BHB go for an enquiry, or get the broom out and lift up the carpet?
I think the BHA have no alternative but to throw the book at Al Zarooni, but whether they can take any further action against the stable, I don't know. It has been suggested that Sheikh Mo should not have announced that there would be an internal investigation with every horse blood tested, and that he should have requested that the BHA come in and interview everyone and take the samples themselves. For transparancy if nothing else.
How can Sheikh Mohammed allow one of the assistants to rise up to trainer? Surely they are tainted as well: perhaps unfairly, but tainted. Given the situation Sheikh Mohammed has done the right thing so far, but his next step is difficult. Either he offers the stable to someone from outside (and drastically clears the ranks of the training staff at MAZ's stable) or he disperses the horses to credible trainers (or a bit of both). So I agree with you PN, maybe you should take part 3. Who is a trainer who could take on such a big job and have the credibility to do it.
I think Al Zarooni is being made the fall guy here... no legal representation - so he'll take the full wrap and a new trainer will be sought as back up. Its clean that way and they will just blame it all on the trainer and the wider world will just see it as a bad trainer in flat racing. We dont know what goes on behind the scenes but its quite possible he might be getting a sum of money to keep things hush hush. I believe cheating has gone on here and someone higher up has sought to gain an unfair disadvantage by winning races follwoing doping of horses.. Shocking stuff and not good for the image of racing!
Sheikh Mo going around saying this and that - easy to do that - we'll never know if he was implicitly involved in the cheating or not! A Lot of people will suspect that he was.....
Al Zarooni has arrived at High Holborn acompanied by Simon Crisford. Apparently there was a bit of a scrum and one photographer was seen leaving with blood on his chin.
This isn't the first drugs scandal in this sport and unfortunately will not be the last. If you lot are interested there is an excellent journalist called David Walsh who has effectively spent his entire career investigating drugs in cycling and specifically Lance Armstrong's indiscretions. I went to a lecture he hosted about 2 months ago. I would recommend one of his books to all. Eye opening doesn't do it justice.
Enquiry still on going. There is talk that it will be resolved today so I'd expect they'll want to get the statement outn before 5pm to make the news/papers etc.
Results coming through: Horses affected have been banned from racing for 6 months (until 9 October) The BHA's Jamie Stier: "The length reflects a period beyond which we're confident no benefit derived by the horses."
I'm about to leave the office and will not be home for an hour or so. Sod's Law the news will break while I'm away!
The Americans are far from innocent when it comes to horses running on drugs. in fact they are probably the worlds worst.
