“Michael Austin was the trainer of the horse Freds Finale when he raced at the Meadowlands on June 26. Following the race, Freds Finale was [tested]. A report from Industrial Labs identified the presence of oxymorphone in the urine. Mr. Austin was offered the opportunity to have the split sample tested at an independent lab and declined.” They then added this: “The presence of oxymorphone in a horse…is in direct violation of the rules and regulations of the Racing Commission.” But of course. For oxymorphone in his horse, Austin was fined $5,000 and suspended for one year.
In Delaware, under “Cruelty to a Horse”: “On Oct 21, the judges were informed by DHRC investigator Handley Orr of written statements from witnesses describing what they had seen Shane Griffith do to a young horse at Dovington Training Center. Griffith was suspended indefinitely based on the evidence that was presented. The DHRC board of judges…were convinced that it is in the best interest of racing and for the protection of the well-being of the horses that Shane Griffith could come in contact with.”
What Griffith did to that “young horse” is as yet unknown. We have filed a FOIA.
Then this: Back on Jan 7, Depoli suffered a fall (below) at Parx. Although he survived, he was not afforded a safe landing, with owner/trainer Joann Bertone remaining hellbent on squeezing every last dime out of him. Nine months after that fall, Depoli is back in action, with these results: Oct 8 at Penn, second-to-last, 12+ lengths back, “was asked…but made no rally”; Saturday at Parx, last, 23+ back, “broke a step slowly…gave way.” These were races 45 and 46 for this poor boy, now six.
These evil people are sadistic and greedy! They are NOT HORSEMEN!
You don’t kill your horses by abusing them to death if you love them.