Rick Dutrow's long-running quest to return to horse racing hit another roadblock Tuesday afternoon after a Kentucky Horse Racing Commission committee unanimously asked him to withdraw an application for a trainer's license.
The KHRC's license review committee has the ability to grant a license unconditionally, grant a license with specific conditions, deny an application, or grant an applicant the opportunity to withdraw their application. Committee chair Kenneth Jackson explained that the last outcome is provided to the committee as an option because a denial from one commission can negatively impact someone's application in another jurisdiction.
Karen Murphy, attorney for Dutrow, agreed to withdraw the application on his behalf but expressed frustration that the committee provided no overview of its discussion, which was held in closed executive session.
“I don't know what you want,” said Murphy. “I don't know what you considered. I don't know what you sound so unpersuasive that you take this action, which I find to be profoundly disappointing. I'd like an answer.”
Jackson declined to provide any further comment on the matter to Murphy or other meeting participants.
In 2011, Dutrow was handed a 30-day suspension by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board for possession of hypodermic needles and a 60-day suspension for a butorphanol overage around the same time. The Board later revoked his license for 10 years and issued a $50,000 fine for the two offenses. The KHRC denied a renewal of his license the same year. Dutrow did not actually begin serving his ten-year sentence in New York until he had exhausted his appeals process in 2013 and as such, will be suspended there until January 2023.
Dutrow has tried repeatedly to have his sentence in New York shortened, but has been unsuccessful thus far.
“The racetrack means everything to me, my family. It's really been a hard time with this,” said an emotional Dutrow via video conference. “Since I've been away, I've had a chance to reflect on things and look at myself and I know that I'm part of the problem. There's no question about that. But I've done a lot of time for this. I just need an opportunity to train horses. That's all I want to do, it's all I've ever wanted to do. I'm sorry to take up your time and cause all this stuff, I just need to train horses. Please.”
Trainer Dale Romans, surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage, and former steward Steven Lewandowski also testified on Dutrow's behalf.
“The more I would look into it, I thought, 'I cannot sit on the sidelines and let this happen to one of my colleagues,' because what would ever stop it from happening to me?” said Romans. “What this case, I think, boils down to is a vendetta in New York and with all the evidence that has come out, it's obvious.”
Bramlage, who treated a number of horses in Dutrow's care in his time on the track, said he believed the trainer's management of horses was excellent.
“The legal question is yours, but my experience with Rick is in how he treats his horses, and his approach to training is impeccable,” said Bramlage. “He never takes shortcuts…he always goes with the best alternative for the horse, he never sacrifices the horse's welfare to win a purse before something becomes clinical. He's always done it the right way.”
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