Steve Asmussen accused of animal cruelty by PETA

[iceknight]

I attended a meeting by PETA recently. I realized one thing, PETA does not need to do any of what they have been doing.....
if more humans treated animals better and did not think they were mere objects for human use, entertainment and worse, in some cases sadistic treatment.

As for horse racing, when the combination of breeding unsound horses and casual euthanasia (especially if there is no stud value) happening as normal business practice goes away, then and then only the industry can complain about others that euthanize hurt pet animals which cannot be sheltered/paid for/taken care of anymore.

[Mineshaft]

Originally Posted by olddaddy

A month away from derby, 2 big derby preps tomorrow in the nations biggest markets, national coverage for both, if this story doesnt gain legs soon it will be business as usual till this sport buries itself.

Just my opinion but this story has died somewhat and I don't see it gaining legs in the next month. The video was not bad as some people are making it out to be. Only the buzzer and Blasi cussing about an owner was the only bad thing in the video. Everything else was legal and within the rules of horse racing. And if you don't think that Zayat knew about the horses foot then I have some beach property to sell you in Arizona.

[cj]

Originally Posted by Mineshaft

Just my opinion but this story has died somewhat and I don't see it gaining legs in the next month. The video was not bad as some people are making it out to be. Only the buzzer and Blasi cussing about an owner was the only bad thing in the video. Everything else was legal and within the rules of horse racing. And if you don't think that Zayat knew about the horses foot then I have some beach property to sell you in Arizona.

I suspect there will be more released and pretty soon.

[OTM Al]

Originally Posted by cj

I suspect there will be more released and pretty soon.

Count on it. He's just warming up

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/sp...sers.html?_r=0

[Tom]

The video was his "Derby prep."

[Delawaretrainer]

Originally Posted by OTM Al

Count on it. He's just warming up

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/sp...sers.html?_r=0

6 times mores likely to break down on dirt? Synthetic has .122% breakdown rate dirt has .209%. That's for 2009-2013. Turf is in the middle. Where does this guy get his numbers?

For anyone watching this debate, you will see that trainers with turf horses (lopresti with wise dan or graham motion) will be against the change as some turf horses can also run well on synthetic. On average others will be happy with the change because horses get other injuries on synthetic that aren't catostrophic but may be career ending. My farrier had to start stocking shoes with toe clips to stabilize shoes for synthetic. I think it's cool to have synthetic tracks in case you have a cheaper turf horse, gives you another option

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by Delawaretrainer

6 times mores likely to break down on dirt? Synthetic has .122% breakdown rate dirt has .209%. That's for 2009-2013. Turf is in the middle. Where does this guy get his numbers?

For anyone watching this debate, you will see that trainers with turf horses (lopresti with wise dan or graham motion) will be against the change as some turf horses can also run well on synthetic. On average others will be happy with the change because horses get other injuries on synthetic that aren't catostrophic but may be career ending. My farrier had to start stocking shoes with toe clips to stabilize shoes for synthetic. I think it's cool to have synthetic tracks in case you have a cheaper turf horse, gives you another option

He's never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

[MONEY]

"When the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission earlier this month cleared Asmussen and his assistant Scott Blasi of all charges brought by PETA, the Kentucky regulatory body said the online video it was provided by PETA lasted only 22 minutes and 17 seconds. In expressing frustration with how PETA handled itself, the KHRC determined that the video had been highly edited. PETA had suggested the video showed equine abuse at the Asmussen stable in 2013 at Churchill Downs."

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...ted?source=rss

[chadk66]

I'm sure this comes as no surprise to anybody.

[Grits]

Blasi's trainer's license has been reinstated in Kentucky.
How nice of her to text him the day before she unloaded...

Blasi, 41, also said he'll take more care about who he hires in the future. Blasi had a personal relationship with Rosen, who sent him a text message one day before the video was posted on the New York Times website saying, "You're a good person." Blasi said he has not communicated with Rosen since that day.

Too, KHRC received edited video of only 22 minutes. The NYSGC received seven hours of video. Big difference. Maybe this is the reason a statement hasn't come forth in NY quite yet.

The New York State Gaming Commission said it has concluded its investigation of PETA allegations against the Asmussen stable, although those findings have not yet been released. PETA provided the New York regulator with much more video, more than seven hours, than it turned over to the KHRC.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...#ixzz3QEgZ82tA