Is Ten Months Unacceptable or Just the Way It Is?
2/16/10 by Terry Cullipher
The year is 2010. State of the art technology surrounds us all. It has been made easy and readily available to anyone and
everyone that wishes to use it. For most people, it's their right as to whether they choose to use the latest technology or
remain in the twentieth century.
But for government, car manufacturers, casinos, drug testing laboratories, and such, it's not a choice. For these types of
entities, it's a must. These people are held to the highest standard, anything less is unacceptable in today's world. These
are the people that the we all, as Americans, depend on to protect the best interests of the public, and their
responsibilities, or lack of, should not be taken lightly.
When it comes to regulating horse racing, the responsibility isn't any different. One hundred percent accuracy is
demanded, and the effort to achieve such is expected.
For the integrity of the sport of horse racing, one would expect that the handling of blood / urine samples for horse racing
would be performed with the highest care and regard to all parties involved, including the betting public.
When it comes to this, the expectations the betting public has in The Isle of Capri Pompano Park Judges and Florida Division
of Pari-Mutual Wagering isn't any different than any other pari mutual racing jurisdiction.
For the Florida Division of Pari Mutual Wagering, the contract laboratory used for testing of blood / urine samples obtain
from horses is second to none. Dr. Sams is a world renown chemist and is well respected by his peers and colleagues in the
industry. In fact, many other states such as New Hampshire and Kentucky send their blood / urine samples to a laboratory
in Florida. So it is safe to say Florida has one of the best, if not the best, equine toxicology testing labs in the country.
Where the state of Florida Division of Pari Mutual Wagering falls short is the way their positive tests have been handled. On
different occasions, of which involved multiple trainers and horses, there was drug testing that resulted in positive tests.
The problem that has been brought to light is not the laboratory testing procedures, it is the Florida's Division of Pari
Mutual Wagering delay in notifying the trainer. What is of great concern, is waiting TEN months to notify some trainers of
their positive test.
Or worse, not looking at the test results for ten months.
If the state stewards and other members of Florida's Division of Pari Mutual Wagering and The Isle of Capri Pompano Park
Judges all have email, why wasn't it utilized? Believe it or not, email is a very important way of communication in not only
Corporate America, but the private sector as well.
Whatever the reason for the delay in notification and the lack of communication, it is absurd. One would think that any
excuse is unacceptable.
This is a serious problem that currently exist with the testing notification procedure in Florida.
Whether it is etorphin, morphine, cocaine, bute, banimine, or dmso, there is no excuse to play the waiting game. Allowing
horses and trainers to make starts for ten months after a positive test, without having knowledge or notification and / or
penalties, damages the integrity in horse racing and jeopardizes the way the betting public views the sport.
How many bets can be made on a horse in ten months?
In regard to the drug testing process, the time has come for the Florida Division of Pari Mutual Wagering to take the step
into the twenty-first century. Every other horse racing jurisdiction notifies the trainer within days after a drug test comes
up positive. Not
months -- not TEN months later.
It makes you wonder about the folks that sit on the Florida Division of Pari Mutual Wagering; Do they really care? Or, are
they just waiting for their next paycheck?
COMMENTS
2/16/10 by Terry Cullipher
The year is 2010. State of the art technology surrounds us all. It has been made easy and readily available to anyone and
everyone that wishes to use it. For most people, it's their right as to whether they choose to use the latest technology or
remain in the twentieth century.
But for government, car manufacturers, casinos, drug testing laboratories, and such, it's not a choice. For these types of
entities, it's a must. These people are held to the highest standard, anything less is unacceptable in today's world. These
are the people that the we all, as Americans, depend on to protect the best interests of the public, and their
responsibilities, or lack of, should not be taken lightly.
When it comes to regulating horse racing, the responsibility isn't any different. One hundred percent accuracy is
demanded, and the effort to achieve such is expected.
For the integrity of the sport of horse racing, one would expect that the handling of blood / urine samples for horse racing
would be performed with the highest care and regard to all parties involved, including the betting public.
When it comes to this, the expectations the betting public has in The Isle of Capri Pompano Park Judges and Florida Division
of Pari-Mutual Wagering isn't any different than any other pari mutual racing jurisdiction.
For the Florida Division of Pari Mutual Wagering, the contract laboratory used for testing of blood / urine samples obtain
from horses is second to none. Dr. Sams is a world renown chemist and is well respected by his peers and colleagues in the
industry. In fact, many other states such as New Hampshire and Kentucky send their blood / urine samples to a laboratory
in Florida. So it is safe to say Florida has one of the best, if not the best, equine toxicology testing labs in the country.
Where the state of Florida Division of Pari Mutual Wagering falls short is the way their positive tests have been handled. On
different occasions, of which involved multiple trainers and horses, there was drug testing that resulted in positive tests.
The problem that has been brought to light is not the laboratory testing procedures, it is the Florida's Division of Pari
Mutual Wagering delay in notifying the trainer. What is of great concern, is waiting TEN months to notify some trainers of
their positive test.
Or worse, not looking at the test results for ten months.
If the state stewards and other members of Florida's Division of Pari Mutual Wagering and The Isle of Capri Pompano Park
Judges all have email, why wasn't it utilized? Believe it or not, email is a very important way of communication in not only
Corporate America, but the private sector as well.
Whatever the reason for the delay in notification and the lack of communication, it is absurd. One would think that any
excuse is unacceptable.
This is a serious problem that currently exist with the testing notification procedure in Florida.
Whether it is etorphin, morphine, cocaine, bute, banimine, or dmso, there is no excuse to play the waiting game. Allowing
horses and trainers to make starts for ten months after a positive test, without having knowledge or notification and / or
penalties, damages the integrity in horse racing and jeopardizes the way the betting public views the sport.
How many bets can be made on a horse in ten months?
In regard to the drug testing process, the time has come for the Florida Division of Pari Mutual Wagering to take the step
into the twenty-first century. Every other horse racing jurisdiction notifies the trainer within days after a drug test comes
up positive. Not
months -- not TEN months later.
It makes you wonder about the folks that sit on the Florida Division of Pari Mutual Wagering; Do they really care? Or, are
they just waiting for their next paycheck?
COMMENTS
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