NEWS
Congress questions Dutrow’s clenbuterol penalty
Posted: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 10:43 AM
RICHARD DUTROW JR.
Photo by Z
by Jeff Lowe
Representative Bobby Rush (D-Illinois), chairman of the Congressional subcommittee that is examining safety and drug issues in Thoroughbred racing, sent a letter to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Monday requesting an explanation for the 15-day suspension that the regulatory body recently issued to trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. for a clenbuterol violation on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Rush addressed the letter to Robert Beck Jr. and referred to him as chairman of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, even though Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear reconstituted the agency this month and renamed it the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Beck is still the chairman.
In the letter, Rush asks Beck why Dutrow was suspended for 15 days when Kentucky regulations call for at least a 30-day suspension for a second offense, and Dutrow had a previous clenbuterol violation in New York in 2004.
“This matter raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the sport’s current regulatory system,” Rush writes.
John Veitch, Kentucky’s chief state steward, told Thoroughbred Times after the recent violation was announced that Dutrow is not considered a repeat offender in this case because clenbuterol is a Class 3 drug, middle of the road in terms of seriousness by industry standards. For such an offense, repeat-offender status only kicks in if multiple infractions occur in a 12-month period.
Rush requested a response from Beck by Friday.
The commission granted Dutrow a continuance on Monday, which pushes back his appeal of the penalty. He had been scheduled to meet with a hearing officer on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. Another hearing date has not been scheduled.
Dutrow said on June 27 that he was responsible for the violation and described it as a barn mistake. He said he was appealing the suspension to make sure he did not have to serve it during an important period for his stable.
On Sunday, Dutrow will saddle dual classic winner Big Brown for the Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) at Monmouth Park, which will be his first start since being pulled up in the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 7.
Jeff Lowe is staff writer of Thoroughbred Times
