It may not take the game down, but is it going to do an even greater amount of harm than it's image has already suffered for decades? I'd count on it. Matter of fact, I'd take it to the bank...that, yes, it will. The piece Joe Drape did two years ago? Its nothing compared to this undercover work--four months with video and documentation. It doesn't hold a candle to this.
I despise PETA, but, this time, these people ain't played. This isn't sophomoric and small time. They worked diligently, methodically--carrying out a well planned operation. They're going to take on this sport from top to bottom. From the the Jockey Club, that's run it for so many decades (into the ground, btw) all the way to the lowly paid illegal backside worker. It will have, as someone said, "a ripple affect". As far as trainers having illegal workers, they've already nailed Romans. This one's nothing new. This has been going on for years.
These trainers, for their treatment of these animals, are screwed. Nothing has ever been recorded, or alleged, on this damaging a scale. No one has ever gone in wearing a wire. Maybe, finally, it will clean up this sport. Its way, way past due as every one of us here have known for a long time. The men running this game have done nothing for it, but look out for their own interest. They will work together on ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that doesn't directly benefit themselves. State to state cooperation = 0. They don't care about the animal, the backside workers, or anyone else. God knows they care nothing about BETTORS.
Ray Paulick is a guy who doesn't usually flinch, but when he states, "this video is hard to watch", one figures, yes, its gonna be pretty bad.
To learn that a horse was running on, literally, no hoof, one so full of holes and in that kind of pain--is devastating to me. I sat here with tears rolling down my face. Until, I got mad as hell. The more I listened to Scott Blasi throughout both videos the madder I got.
We're hearing--first hand--straight out of a top trainer's assistant's mouth exactly how he views the horses in his care. If Blasi has no more feeling than this for the animals in his care, he should carry his sorry lowlife self back to wherever in the hell he came from. Texas or Oklahoma. He makes me sick!!
https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocac...Action&id=5345
On PETA's page, note the green box, as Paulick did. They're not asking the sport to be stopped, they're asking that it be cleaned up. I've never loved horses more, and I love this sport. But, gentlemen, you ain't seen nothing go down like you're getting ready to see. And its time. Either one continuing to load horses full of drugs, I hope he won't know where his next meal's coming from, or whether he's gonna be living in a run-in shed. I'm tired of this kind of treatment of horses.
