Their inaction and silence is deafening. Congressional oversight now! It’s fundamentally clear that the racing industry cannot police itself. Please, do not even think that each state can do this! That’s the current problem — all the separate state racing commissions do or do not do whatever they please and who do you report them to? I know of instances where reports were called into the racing commission about horses racing with fractures and they did nothing — not even a hands on lameness exam with the excuse they have no funds! Gee, I’m short of funds this year, maybe I won’t pay my state taxes.

Also whoever suggested involving the FBI, hurray! Let’s end this lawlessness. FBI investigations with criminal penalties for fixing races in violation of the Interstate Horseracing Act for trainers, owners, and those that supply the drugs –dare I say the veterinarians? Of course, more severe criminal penalties when injury and deaths occur because of illegal substances. This must include the corticosteriod joint injections that veterinarians knowingly and greedily inject into horses that would otherwise never pass a lameness exam because trainers request them and owners willingly pay for them. No more inject and run which is blatant in claiming races across the country. Bettors are deceived, the field is far from fair, jockeys are at risk and horses are dying in the dirt but because they are not seen on national TV, they never make the news (just as someone commented above). And all the while, the industry feigns its ability to be able to count training or racing injuries or deaths so that the public can even know this figure. Maybe they just can’t count that high.

The medication rule was written years ago by trainers and veterinarians, so the laboratory is required to use insensitive and outdated testing methods. It boggles the mind to think what they would be finding if they were allowed to test Florida’s samples the way they are required to in other racing states. Instead, the lab is expected to hold a blood sample up to a light bulb and see if they can see any molecules. Not surprisingly, there aren’t many positives generated. Imagine what Kirk’s numbers would be if real testing were performed.

So 30 violations in a 6 year period and he’s still in business. Don’t blame him. Blame the guys who let him.

Extra juicy quotes from Ziadie the Victim, the juiced one is at the bottom:

“Ziadie appealed the ruling to the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee. The court is reviewing the appeal, and has put a stay on the 60 calendar-day suspension until after it completes that review.

Thus, it is almost certain that Ziadie will be able to saddle horses at Calder Race Course on July 11. He has entries in four races that day, including two of the graded stakes on Calder’s Summit of Speed card.

Ziadie, 40, has won four training titles at Calder meets and one at Tampa Bay Downs, all since 2006.

“When you are on top, everyone wants to see you fall,” he said on July 9 when asked about the heavy suspension.

Ziadie has 15 Calder wins this year through July 9, and is third in the track’s trainer standings.

The Pari-Mutuel division’s Web site shows him with 14 fines and/or reprimands for medication violations since the start of 2008. None of the other trainers among Calder’s top 10 in wins this year have more than five of those violations during that period.

“We abide by all the rules on medications,” Ziadie said. “I am not not sure why they (violations) keep coming up. Maybe some have been from carelessness or misjudgments (by his employees).””