Posts Tagged ‘doug o’neill’

Fermin’s tenure as head of the state agency, which lasted three years, ended in 2007  when she said she did not want to relocate to Sacramento, home of the CHRB’s headquarters, as required by the board. There were several controversies and internal turmoil during her time as executive director, and some critics reportedly accused her of showing favoritism in appointments and contracts.

Foremost among those critics is owner Jerry Jamgotchian, who has filed several lawsuits against the CHRB, sent hundreds if not thousands of e-mails critical of Fermin, former CHRB chairman Richard Shapiro and others, and recently told the Paulick Report Fermin was “the most corrupt” executive director and steward in CHRB history.

When Fermin (pictured, left) was named one of three stewards for the Del Mar meeting, resuming a career she began in 1981 as the first female steward in California history, Jamgotchian requested a hearing with the CHRB to stop the appointment, saying that Fermin was biased against certain trainers and owners. The furor over the appointment ramped up when several trainers, including Mike Mitchell, Jeff Mullins, Art Sherman and Doug O’Neill, appealed to have Fermin recuse herself from judging races in which they have horses. There have been accusations that Fermin specifically targeted certain trainers in post-race drug testing while she was CHRB executive director. Fermin told the San Diego Union-Tribune the accuslations were “baseless” and “twisted.”

Jamgotchian’s complaint against Fermin stemmed from an incident in 2005 involving a horse owned by Jamgotchian that he wanted to scratch from a race at Del Mar. After a steward refused to allow the horse to be scratched, the horse ran and suffered an injury. UPDATE: While Jamgotchian has alleged that the horse, John’s Kinda Girl, was injured in that Aug. 14, 2005, race, the filly subsequently worked out three times over the next six weeks, and raced Oct. 7, 2005, and 12 more times in the next year, winning two of those races.

Jamgotchian’s request for a hearing before the Del Mar meet opened was denied when Fermin declined to attend. After the board met privately in executive session on Thursday, CHRB chairman John Harris said during the public portion of the regularly-scheduled monthly meeting that the stewards named for the Del Mar meeting would be retained. Harris also was board chairman when Fermin was appointed CHRB executive director in 2004.

Things appeared to change somewhat on Friday, however, when owner Martin Wygod, a member of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s board of directors and one of the most influential owners in California racing, reportedly asked Fermin to recuse herself from presiding over a race in which one of his horses was running. According to a report in the North County Times, former jockey Luis Jaurequi, now a “safety steward,” would have substituted for Fermin in judging any inquiry or claim of foul involving one of Wygod’s horses in that race. Does that mean Fermin would have judged foul claims in the same race if they didn’t involve Wygod’s horse?

Wygod is believed to have been upset with Fermin ever since an incident involving 2-year-old champion Sweet Catomine at Santa Anita three years ago when the filly left the grounds for medical treatment prior to the Santa Anita Derby. Wygod was charged, following an investigation led by Fermin, with having the filly falsely identified when she was vanned out of the stable area and exhibiting conduct detrimental to racing. The charges, which could have resulted in Wygod having his owner’s license suspended, were dismissed following a hearing.

Jamgotchian went on to say that Wygod threatened to scratch his horse from the race if Fermin failed to recuse herself as a steward in that race. “Fermin agreed,” Jamgotchian wrote, “and her recusal was made in front of fellow Stewards Scott Chaney, Tom Ward and in the presence of other parties in the room, including Wygod.”

Jamgotchian said he called Wygod’s attorney, Roger Licht, “to confirm the above facts regarding their recusal agreement with Fermin” and that Licht told him “there was an ‘oral’ confidentiality agreement in place with Fermin and that he could not discuss Fermin’s recusal.”

Jamgotchian said he also tried unsuccessfully to speak with Fermin by telephone before the first race and said he intends to file a complaint with the CHRB regarding the “Wygod recusal” and demand an investigation by the CHRB because of what he called a “unilateral” decision and one that was not publicly disclosed.

If the North County Times article and Jamgotchian’s assertions are accurate, it appears either the CHRB or Fermin are applying a double standard when it comes to Fermin recusing herself from races in which the principals involved feel as though there is a bias by her against them. If she recused herself in a race involving Wygod, shouldn’t she do the same in races involving the trainers who have made similar appeals?

Copyright © 2009, The Paulick Report

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California racing fans who are curious why Del Mar’s leading trainer, John Sadler, reportedly has had 18 horses test positive for steroids since July 1 will have the opportunity to quiz him on the subject during a “Donut Days” promotion at the Southern California seaside racetrack Saturday morning from 8-10 a.m. The program, emceed by track announcer Trevor Denman, promises a “behind-the-scenes look into the world of Thoroughbred racing.” If medication issues come up with questions from the audience, however, it may not be the behind-the-scenes examination the track’s marketing department was looking to promote.

(UPDATE: Sadler scratched from Donuts Days)

Sadler, with 25 winners from 83 starters at the current meet for a 30% win percentage, will saddle Zappa in Sunday’s Pacific Classic. But he’s been in the news this week following a search of his Del Mar barn by California Horse Racing Board investigators and the disclosure by CHRB executive director Kirk Breed that Sadler’s horses have accounted for 18 of the 38 positive tests among all trainers for anabolics since July 1. Mike Mitchell, who is second behind Sadler in the Del Mar trainer standings, has had 10 horses test positive for anabolic steroids, according to Breed. Those figures were first reported by Thoroughbred Times. A total of 418 tests have been conducted.

Jeff Mullins, third in the trainer standings, is facing a possible suspension and fine after one of his horses exceeded the permitted level for TCO2 (bicarbonates, or milkshaking). The positive occurred while Mullins was on probation for an earlier violation. Doug O’Neill, who is fourth in the trainer standings, was forced to have his horses stabled in a detention barn at the outset of the Del Mar meeting because of an earlier medication charge by the CHRB.

Sadler currently is president of California Thoroughbred Trainers and Mullins is on the organization’s board of directors.

The CHRB’s ban on anabolic steroids was phased in after testing began July 1, with warning letters issued for positive tests during the month of July. Starting Aug. 1, a positive test was to be considered an official violation, with a notation on the trainer’s record and public notification, but no penalties were to be assessed until Sept. 4, when steroids are reclassified from Class 4 to Class 3 drugs. Beginning with races on Sept. 4, steroid positives could result in a fine, suspension and redistribution of the purse.

The CHRB’s chairman, Richard Shapiro, and executive director Breed have admitted with the benefit of hindsight that the phased-in approach was a mistake. On Thursday, the CHRB took an additional step of announcing that any horse administered anabolic steroids on or after Aug. 22 will be placed on the vet’s list for a minimum of 30 days.

A Thursday press release from the CHRB quoted an “obviously angry” Shapiro saying, “We mean business!” after the board’s medical director, Rick Arthur, reported  at a Medication Committee meeting that some trainers were still using steroids. The press release also quoted CHRB vice chairman John Harris saying: “We will have no sympathy for any owners or trainers who flaunt our rules.” The meeting occurred the day after the search of Sadler’s barn.

The “Donut Days” promotion takes place at the west end of the grandstand. Other scheduled guests are retired Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye and Jockeys’ Guild representative Darrell Haire. 

Donuts are being provided by Yum Yum Donuts.

Copyright © 2008, The Paulick Report

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Asmussen, the leading North American trainer by wins and earnings in 2008, is also the conditioner for 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin.

Copyright ©2008, The Paulick Report