IAVARONE DEATH THREAT: IT’S NEWS TO NYRA
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008The head of security for the New York Racing Association told the Paulick Report Tuesday that no security resources were used to protect IEAH president Michael Iavarone on Belmont Stakes Day, June 7, the day Iavarone said he had been the subject of a “serious death threat.”
Iavarone said in an interview during ABC’s telecast of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships last Saturday that 
New York Police Department detectives came to his house June 7 to notify him of the threat, which he said came from “an extremist” in Tallahassee, Fla. A letter from this individual allegedly stated that if anything happened to Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes, neither Iavarone nor his family would be safe. The threat was said to have been relayed to the NYPD by the Tallahassee Police Department.
Kenneth Cook, vice president of security for the New York Racing Association, indicated that he was not made aware of any threat to Iavarone from the NYPD or FBI. “In the weeks and months (leading up to the Belmont Stakes), we had continuous contact between myself, the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, NYPD, Nassau County Police Department and the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority),” said Cook. “We did not divert a single resource to heighten protection for Michael Iavarone.”
Cook, a former deputy superintendent of the New York State Police who joined NYRA in 2003, added: “There’s a reason why you coordinate your efforts with all the agencies — there was so much information shared that day. Chiefs of police and bureau commanders participated. It would have been a catastrophic error not to communicate that kind of threat. We had celebrities here, along with the governor. Not a single asset was diverted (to protect Iavarone).
Asked if that meant NYRA was not aware of any death threat against Iavarone, Cook said, “You can read between the lines.”
An FBI agent contacted by the Paulick Report would neither confirm nor deny the existence of a death threat: “We don’t comment on this type of inquiry.”
Kelly Wietsma, a publicist for IEAH, said the threat was very real. In a comment posted on the Paulick Report article recapping Iavarone’s revelation during the ABC telecast about the alleged threat, Wietsma said: “In total, there were at least eight detectives on hand at Belmont Park that day that were sent by the NYPD. It was explained to me, by one of the plain clothes detectives, upon their arrival that the NYPD and FBI had received a letter that was forwarded to them from the Tallahassee Police Department, threatening the lives of the owners and trainer of Big Brown if the horse were hurt or killed. I was able to view the letter, and read it myself. It went on to say that no one at Belmont Park would be safe.
“This was extremely troubling as we did not know who sent the letter or how serious the threats were. They were obviously serious enough to the NYPD to send officers to Mike’s house and to Belmont Park. Michael Iavarone knew nothing of the threats until the officers showed up at his house that morning. You may not have seen detectives with him but they were by his side at all times throughout the day. He was not allowed to go to the paddock area, men’s room, the jockeys room or anywhere on the premises without them.”
The Paulick Report has been unable to confirm the incident with the NYPD’s office of public information.
Copyright © 2008, The Paulick Report
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