June, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Baffert Vs. NYRA: The Jockey Club Asks To Weigh In On ‘Deleterious Effects Of Improper Drug Use’

Attorney Susan Phillips Read has filed a request on behalf of The Jockey Club to provide an amicus brief in the civil lawsuit filed by trainer Bob Baffert against the New York Racing Association, reports bloodhorse.com. The brief would provide Judge Carol Bagley Amon in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York “a unique perspective on issues involved in this litigation” and “supply information that should be helpful to the court and its decision-making.”

(An amicus brief is provided by a person or entity who is not a party to a case who assists a court by offering information, expertise, or insight that has a bearing on the issues in the case.)

Following the announcement that Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone, and considering a spate of recent positive tests from Baffert's barn, the New York Racing Association announced last month a ban of trainer Bob Baffert from racing or stabling at any of its tracks. Baffert and his lawyer responded by filing a civil suit claiming NYRA does not have the legal authority for a suspension.

Read told bloodhorse.com that The Jockey Club's brief will stand in opposition to Baffert's efforts to be granted a temporary injunction to lift the NYRA ban.

“TJC has long believed that horses must only race when they are free from the effects of medication, and vociferously advocated for the passage of The Horseracing Safety and Integrity Act,” Read wrote in the official request to provide an amicus brief. “TJC thus has a special interest in sharing with the Court its perspective regarding the deleterious effects of improper drug use on the health of horses, the Thoroughbred racing industry, and public trust in the honesty of competition.

“Further, TJC, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries and Thoroughbred Safety Committee, has access to information not necessarily available to the parties,” Read added.

Godolphin Duo Light Up Leicester

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a high-profile Godolphin auction purchase.

5.45 Leicester, Novice, £8,000, 2yo, 7f (AWT)
PRIVATE SIGNAL (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), a 680,000gns purchase by Godolphin at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale, bids to build on a narrow second at Doncaster earlier this month. Out of a half-sister to the G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Matron S. heroine Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) from the family of Fame and Glory (GB), he is one of two from the Charlie Appleby stable alongside the unraced Stormy Ocean (Frankel {GB}), a 480,000gns Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 graduate whose dam is a half to Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

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Al Zarooni Planning Return To Training

Mahmood Al Zarooni, who in April 2013 was banned eight years by the British Horseracing Authority after 11 horses in his care tested positive for banned anabolic steroids, is planning a return to training in the UAE with his ban having recently come to an end, Racing Post reports. Al Zarooni told that publication he will begin training from Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club in the coming weeks and expects to have 20 horses in his care.

Al Zarooni was a private trainer for Godolphin based in Newmarket at the time of his rule breach, and had won 12 Group 1s for Sheikh Mohammed in the three years he was employed by him. Al Zarooni told Racing Post he takes responsibility for the steroids scandal that engulfed him, having admitted in 2013 that he himself brought the drugs into the country, though he claims he thought he could administer them to horses that weren't racing and that he wasn't trying to enhance performance.

“I have to rebuild my reputation,” he said. “What I did was a big mistake, I learned a lot of lessons and now I have to prove myself again and show this mistake will not happen again.”

“I want to make my file white,” he added. “Many people when they hear the name Al Zarooni will think of the black mark [next to his name] because of doping horses and say, 'He's a cheater'. I want to prove I was not a cheater, I never even thought about that. It was a mistake, but my horses weren't doped for racing, it was to help them heal. Most of these horses have been through hard work and they have small problems. Some have suspensory or tendon problems and it helps them heal. That was the idea. My horses were never caught in any race because it was never anything I did when they were racing.”

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‘I Learned From My Mistake’: Mahmood Al Zarooni Returns To Training After Eight-Year Ban

Former Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni is to restart his training career in the UAE with a mission to “clean my name”.

Al Zarooni served an eight-year steroids ban, which he completed in April 2021, and is setting up a public stable at Sharjah racecourse.

“I applied for my licence to the Emirates Racing Authority and they approved it,” he said. “I want to come back and show that Mahmood wasn't cheating. I want to clean my name.

“I made a big mistake and I learned from my mistake. I want to prove that I was clean, I was trying my best to be clean but this mistake happened.”

Al Zarooni, 45, trained three Classic winners during his time in charge of one of Sheikh Mohammed's two Newmarket stables. However, he was cast out of the sport in disgrace when he was disqualified for eight years by a BHA disciplinary panel after 11 horses in his care tested positive for the anabolic steroids ethylestranol and stanozolol.

The ban was reciprocated worldwide but now Al Zarooni is free to work again in horse racing and has formed a partnership with Marwan Abdul Rahman, who has been working as an assistant trainer in Dubai.

“Marwan had talked to me about doing something together,” said Al Zarooni. “When my ban finished and I got my clearance for the BHA we decided to have a public stable and we will be based in the Sharjah Equestrian Club.

“Sheikh Adbullah Bin Majid [chairman of Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club] is one of the founders of the sport of horse racing here and has always been a grateful supporter to all small trainers and owners. I have been one of them during my early days before joining Godolphin. I would like to thank him for his support and hope my second rising will be from his center.

“Sharjah has everything you need in terms of facilities so I hope we can do good,” he went on. “I hope owners will support us. I would like to have some international owners, especially English owners, because I receive many messages from them asking me to come to Newmarket. I love and miss Newmarket but it's difficult to do that at this time.

Al Zarooni added: “Marwan is a horse guy, he's been an assistant trainer for about four years. I think we can do good.

“The stable is ready and we have around 20 horses there already. I have been visiting every two or three days but from next month I will be full time. We have to start from the bottom and see where we can reach. It won't be easy.”

As a Godolphin trainer, Al Zarooni's major wins included the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks with Blue Bunting in 2011, the Dubai Sheema Classic and Prince of Wales's Stakes with Rewilding the same year, and the Dubai World Cup in 2012 with Monterosso.

He recorded his last Classic victory with Encke, who in landing the 2012 St Leger denied Camelot an historic Triple Crown after the Coolmore colt had won the 2,000 Guineas and Derby.

Al Zarooni has claimed the use of steroids was for therapeutic treatment on horses out of training and not to cheat. In Dubai, the administration of steroids was permitted out of competition until May 2013.

“Eight years was too harsh,” he said. “I am not saying I shouldn't have been punished. I had to be punished, but I think eight years was like a sentence for killing someone. I thought they would ban me for three years, four years maximum. So I am still feeling bitter.

He added: “I am very happy to be back doing what I like. It's been a very tough eight years. Working with horses is like a drug, so to be away from them hurt. I am very happy that I will be with them again.

“I am sure it will be a very difficult time to start with the coronavirus situation as there is a shortage of Asian riders and I am too heavy to ride. We will start from zero again and try our best.”

This story was reprinted with permission by Horse Racing Planet. Find the original piece and more content here.

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