Dexter you are right, someone somewhere knew about this. Even if it was just the vet that Al Zarooni will have purchased the steroids from. The Guardian have run an excellent follow up piece here.
Also, BHA have issued a statement to say that the dates for the disciplinary panel hearing will be confirmed tomorrow morning. Expect them to sit within a matter of weeks, they won't want this hanging over the sport for long.
The Australia situation is unnerving. It is just as things used to be in the USA. The catalyst for change was the public outcry when Rick Dutrow bragged to the media about the steroids he used to give Big Brown prior to his Kentucky Derby win.
Was Black Caviar tested for steroids when she was over? Would a Oz horse be governed by UK rules when racing at Ascot? If so then surely if she's ever used steroids she should be disqualified shouldn't she?
The testing agency acted on a tip off so someone knew and they said something. Who that someone is is anyone's guess but I assume those on the inside are aware of his/her identity.
Black Caviar will have been tested for steroids, amongst other things, when she ran at Royal Ascot. If she had tested positive she would have been disqualified. However, that is not to day she has never received them, as it is perfectly legal in Australia for a horse to receive steroids in training. The steroids will leave the horse's system (in terms of giving a positive test) in a fairly short space of time, but they can continue to have muscle building effects for some months.
Obviously I go along with the general consensus on here that ignorance of the rules is no excuse, but if the authorities do throw the book at Al Zarooni (as one suspects they will), the boss surely has to be looking at other members of the Godolphin management team as well because the trainers actually come quite a way down the food chain in their system. It seems very unlikely to me that the day-to-day running of the training operations are not monitored from higher up and somebody clearly has not been doing their job and pointing out that rules were being broken. Surely vets issue invoices for the drugs that they give to the horses and somebody should have noticed that banned substances were being administered. Al Zarooni might be ignorant but they cannot all be that stupid. Although my Guineas’ filly benefits from the enforced absence of one of the market leaders, I would rather have seen all the best candidates show up on the Rowley Mile on the first weekend of May and the race will have that “Certify absent” mark next to it. The flat season has barely started and already the theme for the season in the media has been set. We had the Frankel Factor setting the high standard last year whilst this year we are already in a hole that needs quickly filling in not digging any deeper.
Agree with others - someone somewhere, most especially the vets, must be complicit in this. It will be worng for Al zarooni to carry the can alone unless, of course, he was buying them off someone not related to horse racing and going round the stables in the dead of night administering them himself. Not altogther likely I'd say...... I wonder if frankie knew
You don't get much higher profile than Godolphin, but what interests me is how much this profile will affect the level of punishment meted out. The knock-on effect on staff and employees will be enormous-likewise the shame cast upon the Maktoum family. Will the authorities seek to employ 'mitigating circumstances' in an effort to minimise the damage to racing? The man in the street will be watching intensely. He fears and suspects that high-profile individuals and organisations are ever liable to receive favourable treatment and that essentially we are still living in a class-ridden society. Forty six years ago, the "Hill House saga" left a sour taste in the public mouth. The horse had been a red hot favourite when running in a race prior to the Schweppes Gold Trophy- but was well beaten. His subsequent runaway success at Newbury was followed by high levels of cortisol being found at a post-race drug test. When the Equine Research Establishment ruled that the steroid cortisol is produced naturally in the body- and Ryan Price resumed training after investigations lasting six months- it was impossible not to believe that powerful forces were at work to protect the upper classes and their connections. However, that 'cause celebre' pales into insignificance when compared with this current sensation. The whole Maktoum family is under the microscope- a family to whom reputation and standing is "everything." To merely sacrifice Al Zarooni -in this instance- will NOT suffice, even though it will undoubtedly happen. The two main questions are....What punishment will be administered and, arguably more important, what will Sheik Mohammed do? Don't hold your breath!
Good point Tam - wonder what would have happened if this was discovered at the yard of one Mr. B. Curley?
Awful story for racing but fascinating to see how it will all pan out bearing in mind Sheik Mo's sphere of influence in British racing which extends all the way to bank rolling our only terrestrial racing coverage on channel 4. Like others I can't believe that one guy can do this alone especially within the organisation he was working where the top man has a reputation for a hands on approach. I see this Chrisford chap has been tasked with an urgent review of all their procedures. Well if Zarooni operated alone then that won't take long as there clearly weren't any. The Morning Line may actually be worth a look this week as well as the presenters battle between getting to the heart of the story and preserving their bank balances. Uncomfortable but compelling viewing I think.
potentially very serious for horse racing this story - I noticed a headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror today "Racing in crisis" which is not what you want to read at the start of the flat season and a day after Sprinter Sacre won his 10th race in a row. I was most disappointed with Certify being withdrawn from the Guineas (typical I had my first ever ante post bet on that particular race!) not just because of my bet but because I really did think she was one of the most exciting 2 year old fillies I have seen for years. Reading that australian article the irony of course is that had she been flown over from there for the Guineas then it appears there would not have been a problem. Surely there has to be worldwide rules for all horses?? the most worrying aspect if this story got any bigger is as Chaninbar has mentioned - if it wasn't for the Sheikh then there would be no terrestrial racing coverage in the UK - and this is absolutely vital to the sport
BHA have confirmed the disciplinary hearing will take place at 2.30pm tomorrow press release here Al Zarooni has also informed BHA officials that 4 other horses, that were not tested, also received steroids: Comitas Sashiko Tearless Vacationer All four have been banned from running.
Unfortunately there are no world wide medication rules for horseracing, just look at the mess the USA is in over Lasix (anti-bleeding medication). They are the only major racing nation in the world that permits it.
Without the Arabs, and especially the Maktoums, British flat racing is ****ed. So a cynic might say it's in everyone's best interests if a scapegoat is quickly hung drawn and quartered (which I believe they still do in Dubai) and nobody does too much digging into the full extent of the possible complicity of others.
A statement has been put out by Sheikh Mo: "I was appalled and angered to learn that one of our stables in Newmarket has violated Godolphin's ethical standards and the rules of British racing. I have been involved in British horse racing for 30 years and have deep respect for its traditions and rules. I built my country based on the same solid principles. There can be no excuse for any deliberate violation. Godolphin is fully cooperating with the British Horseracing Authority to get to the bottom of this matter and take any appropriate disciplinary action. I have ordered the Godolphin management to undertake an immediate review of our internal procedures and controls to ensure to prevent any reoccurrence of this type of activity in any stables of mine. We will be locking down the Moulton Paddocks stables with immediate effect, and I have instructed that I want a full round of blood samples, and dope testing done on every single horse on that premises. I can assure the racing public that no horse will run from that yard this season until I have been absolutely assured by my team that the entire yard is completely clean. I have worked hard to ensure that Godolphin deserves its reputation for integrity and sportsmanship, and I have reiterated to all Godolphin employees that I will not tolerate this type of behaviour." From Godolphin's website
I'm not sure if that means there will be no runners from Saeed's yard either, but the above is the only realistic course of action. They now have to prove that everything is above board.
