Doug O'Neill Update

[Shelby]

http://www.drf.com/news/oneill-face-stewards-following-winning-horses-positive-drug-test-santa-anita

The California Horse Racing Board has filed a complaint against trainer Doug O’Neill after one of his starters at Santa Anita in February tested positive for etodolac, an anti-inflammatory medication not permitted for use in racehorses. The positive test was taken from a post-race urine sample from Separate Forest, the winner of the fifth race at Santa Anita on Feb. 5. Separate Forest earned $22,800 of a $40,400 purse in winning a $40,000 claimer on the hillside turf course as the 8-5 favorite.

~~read the rest at the link above~~


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Is a class 3 violation the highest/worst level?

[johnhannibalsmith]

...

Is a class 3 violation the highest/worst level?

No, class 1 is, and sanctions against the trainer are mandated (until appeal).

[andymays]

I'm told the medication in question is about the same as advil.

I think O'Neill has reached a point where it's very personal between him and the CHRB. Where it goes nobody knows.

[Shelby]

I'm told the medication in question is about the same as advil.

I think O'Neill has reached a point where it's very personal between him and the CHRB. Where it goes nobody knows.

So, you're saying that a different trainer wouldn't have been in trouble for this?

[andymays]

So, you're saying that a different trainer wouldn't have been in trouble for this?

I really don't know. In the past the CHRB has been accused of testing some barns and not testing others.

The medication stuff bothers the hell out of me because it's bad for racing. They need to set uniformed standards for testing and have uniformed penalties that increase in severity according to numbers of violations until that person is barrred from racing. It's a heavy thing to take away someones ability to earn a living but at a certain point it has to be done. Again the process has to apply to everyone and not just a select few who the jurisdiction doesn't like. It's more likely that a guy with a huge barn will have more positives so I don't know how that would figure in the process.

[Spalding No!]

Interesting but trivial notes on the case:

1) The horse in question, Separate Forest, I think was running for the first time for O'Neill, having been claimed off Richard Mandella.

2) Separate Forest is a half sister to Indiano, the Panamanian wonder horse that nearly won the allowance race the other day at GP.

[Shelby]

I really don't know. In the past the CHRB has been accused of testing some barns and not testing others.

The medication stuff bothers the hell out of me because it's bad for racing. They need to set uniformed standards for testing and have uniformed penalties that increase in severity according to numbers of violations until that person is barrred from racing. It's a heavy thing to take away someones ability to earn a living but at a certain point it has to be done. Again the process has to apply to everyone and not just a select few who the jurisdiction doesn't like. It's more likely that a guy with a huge barn will have more positives so I don't know how that would figure in the process.


I see what you're saying.

It seems like Mr. O'Neill is in trouble a lot more than any other trainers, but maybe I just pay attention more when I see his name.

[Shelby]

Interesting but trivial notes on the case:

1) The horse in question, Separate Forest, I think was running for the first time for O'Neill, having been claimed off Richard Mandella.

2) Separate Forest is a half sister to Indiano, the Panamanian wonder horse that nearly won the allowance race the other day at GP.

I know Indiano got second, but I didn't get to see the race. Was it a close second?

[andymays]

I see what you're saying.

It seems like Mr. O'Neill is in trouble a lot more than any other trainers, but maybe I just pay attention more when I see his name.

He's has been a little "in your face" with them over the last couple of years so that is working against him. I don't know him but he has certainly taken over the Mullins spot as Southern Californias most controversial Trainer.

[Beachbabe]

I know Indiano got second, but I didn't get to see the race. Was it a close second?


Shelby,
Indiano lost by 1/2 length to a nice sprinter named Escort. The chart says he was gaining on the winner, but imho, I thought Escort won a bit easier than the chart reveals. It looked to me that JV didn't push Escort till the last 1/16th when he looked over his shoulder & saw Indiano moving closer.

[Stillriledup]

Interesting but trivial notes on the case:

1) The horse in question, Separate Forest, I think was running for the first time for O'Neill, having been claimed off Richard Mandella.

2) Separate Forest is a half sister to Indiano, the Panamanian wonder horse that nearly won the allowance race the other day at GP.

I tried to do research on that Panama horse and couldnt find any videos online or any information about him being a 'wonder horse'.

[Stillriledup]

More trivia about the horse in Question. This Forest horse was the horse that Russel Baze won his 11,000th lifetime race on last August at the fairs.

[Shelby]

I tried to do research on that Panama horse and couldnt find any videos online or any information about him being a 'wonder horse'.

Well, I don't know about the term "wonder horse", but I was impressed by this:

http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorseInfo.cfm?refno=8326366&registry=T#

5 wins in a row including a grade 2 and 3....I don't know who else was in the races, but, still, pretty impressive IMO.

[nijinski]

I'm told the medication in question is about the same as advil.

I think O'Neill has reached a point where it's very personal between him and the CHRB. Where it goes nobody knows.

You are right , this is an NSAID and I personally know that similar anti inflammatory meds are used frequently in the track.. Unfortunately it can lead to stomach
ulcers , but I've not heard anyone else called out on these.