Chief Stipe

VanMeter Gets $25,000 Fine, Suspension Overturned An arbitrator Sept. 26 overturned the fine and suspension handed down to trainer Dennis VanMeter by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit. The 76-year-old VanMeter was initially provisionally penalized with a two-year suspension and a $25,000 fine for negligence following the positive test for isoxsuprine in his horse Templement , after a June 7 allowance race at Thistledown. Templement's positive test resulted in VanMeter's provisional suspension July 6. According to the National Library of Medicine, Isoxsuprine "has been suggested for use in horses for treatment of navicular syndrome and laminitis." Arbitrator Laura Abrahamson in her judgment noted VanMeter did not contest the positive result, lab procedure, or the analyses of the sample taken from Templement. But said that finding the defendant at no fault or negligence is "to be reserved for the truly exceptional case," which she believed this was. The West Virgina-based VanMeter shipped Templement to Thistledown and the barn of his friend John Brown. Unbeknownst to VanMeter, Brown's stable pony Bucky had been treated with isoxsuprine mixed into his feed for five years. Brown removed Bucky from his stall in order to house Templement. VanMeter did not know of Bucky's medication, which had contaminated the stall. Days later, one of Brown's horses tested positive for the banned substance as well as Templement. In ruling in favor of VanMeter, Abrahamson noted that contrary to HIWU's contention he should have asked Brown about any potential contamination, VanMeter had no reason to suspect such a condition for his horse. Abrahamson also noted that while the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority classifies isoxsuprine as a banned substance, the Association of Racing Commissioners International does not and the ARCI's classification was in place prior to HISA's implementation. HIWU contended that VanMeter could not "establish by a balance of probabilities that he acted with either No Fault or Negligence, or No Significant Fault or Negligence" and was not entitled to a reduced penalty. It also argued that VanMeter could not prove that Templement's positive test was a result of being in the same stall that Bucky previously occupied. But HIWU believed VanMeter was still responsible because he did not ask Brown whether any of his horses were taking a banned substance. In addition to VanMeter's fine and suspension, HIWU sought Templement's disqualification from the race in which he finished last, forfeiture and repayment of his $650 winnings, and a 60-day period of ineligibility that would be subject to a negative finding test administered by HIWU. Because the 60 days had passed and VanMeter did not contest the positive result, that portion of the penalty remained intact. Templement finished sixth in the June allowance race. She has had three works this month at Mountaineer Racetrack Casino & Resort in West Virginia.

VanMeter Gets $25,000 Fine, Suspension Overturned An arbitrator Sept. 26 overturned the fine and suspension handed down to trainer Dennis VanMeter by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit. The 76-year-old VanMeter was initially provisionally penalized with a two-year suspension and a $25,000 fine for negligence following the positive test for isoxsuprine in his horse Templement , after a June 7 allowance race at Thistledown. Templement's positive test resulted in VanMeter's provisional suspension July 6. According to the National Library of Medicine, Isoxsuprine "has been suggested for use in horses for treatment of navicular syndrome and laminitis." Arbitrator Laura Abrahamson in her judgment noted VanMeter did not contest the positive result, lab procedure, or the analyses of the sample taken from Templement. But said that finding the defendant at no fault or negligence is "to be reserved for the truly exceptional case," which she believed this was. The West Virgina-based VanMeter shipped Templement to Thistledown and the barn of his friend John Brown. Unbeknownst to VanMeter, Brown's stable pony Bucky had been treated with isoxsuprine mixed into his feed for five years. Brown removed Bucky from his stall in order to house Templement. VanMeter did not know of Bucky's medication, which had contaminated the stall. Days later, one of Brown's horses tested positive for the banned substance as well as Templement. In ruling in favor of VanMeter, Abrahamson noted that contrary to HIWU's contention he should have asked Brown about any potential contamination, VanMeter had no reason to suspect such a condition for his horse. Abrahamson also noted that while the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority classifies isoxsuprine as a banned substance, the Association of Racing Commissioners International does not and the ARCI's classification was in place prior to HISA's implementation. HIWU contended that VanMeter could not "establish by a balance of probabilities that he acted with either No Fault or Negligence, or No Significant Fault or Negligence" and was not entitled to a reduced penalty. It also argued that VanMeter could not prove that Templement's positive test was a result of being in the same stall that Bucky previously occupied. But HIWU believed VanMeter was still responsible because he did not ask Brown whether any of his horses were taking a banned substance. In addition to VanMeter's fine and suspension, HIWU sought Templement's disqualification from the race in which he finished last, forfeiture and repayment of his $650 winnings, and a 60-day period of ineligibility that would be subject to a negative finding test administered by HIWU. Because the 60 days had passed and VanMeter did not contest the positive result, that portion of the penalty remained intact. Templement finished sixth in the June allowance race. She has had three works this month at Mountaineer Racetrack Casino & Resort in West Virginia.

No I don't think she is a good "lay bet". $1.75 at the moment is a bit short for me but I wouldn't bet against her. But that's a good multiplier price.

As for Imperatriz being in the squeeze box at 5 - don't horses have jockeys to steer straight? Did anyone mention she smashed the track record for 1000m at Moonee Valley when winning last start?

Has a good record on all tracks. Won from a Heavy 10 to a Good 3.

FFS - I'll put it another way - you find the horse that is at what you assess to be at the worst unders to lose i.e. the best priced loser which is a horse that its odds are much lower than its assessed chance. At $1.75 - yes it is a bit under. As for it being "fair value" - are you saying bookies should be fair? 4 wins and one placing from 5 2nd up starts. Many experienced pundits are saying the draw suits her - won't be stuck on the rail looking for a gap but should be one out ready to pounce. Jockey change? Are you serious? Opie has ridden her 9 times for 7 wins. Rides her in track work back in NZ. Bigger field? Hardly huge. One more than her last start!! As for Asfoora - coming back in distance second up.

Yes in know how it works - you pick the best priced loser. Now who do think will beat Imperatriz? Which one of the other 7 horses?

Hyperbole. I know about it and I'm not everybody. You speculate all the time that "there must be more to this than meets the eye". Mind you you think @Archie Butterfly is an investigative journalist based on reading its (a butterfly is an it) headlines only.

Perhaps not. Is it theone clear day rule or the 48 hour rule? Does 1 clear day not mean 24 hours before start time?!

They don't treat anyone any differently from anyone else. We've seen the danger of your suggested approach with Operation INCA.

They haven't "covered up" anything. It's been reported. What you are disappointed to not see is long winded speculative opinion pieces based on assumptions. That isn't real journalism.

Not correct. An anomaly would be detected requiring more definitive tests. I've explained this to you many many times. I imagine the samples the Stewards obtained will be tested very thoroughly. If they don't find anything then there was nothing to find.

Then why only two horses?

But they're not. You assume that "anyone is interested". How long should it be played out in the media?

1)Gammalite do you believe she knew what she was doing was in breach of the rules. She said she didn't. 2) did she have an intent to help the horses performances by giving the raceday treatment. Doubtful the solution used would enhance the horses performance. 3)do you believe that is the first time she has given raceday treatments? Probably not if she didn't know. 4) do you believe a trainer or athlete can be great at what they do and also use performance enhancers? Without being detected - No. 5)do you believe all performance enhancers will be picked up in testing? Yes. But the solution being used wasn't a performance enhancer and is unlikely to be picked up unless the TCO2 passes the allowable level.

You're "inclined to lay her" because you can't pick anything to beat her.

There has been plenty of intrigue on whether the A$20 million carrot of The Everest (1200m) would prove too enticing for Te Akau Racing with their star sprinter Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), but they have put the nail in the coffin of that idea this week. Te Akau principal David Ellis has confirmed once more that she will remain in Melbourne at their new Cranbourne base and target three Group One races, starting with Friday’s Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley. “It was an interesting decision, but we’d pretty much made up our mind a month or six weeks ago that we’d go for the Group One races,” Ellis told Racing.com. “We’ve been offered some positions (in The Everest) by really good judges in Australia, but we’ve decided that we want to keep her in Melbourne to race this spring. “We think she’s slightly better left-handed than right-handed and she’s already had a long trip over form New Zealand to Melbourne, so I don’t think she needs another long trip up to Sydney. “We love racing in Melbourne, our owners love it so with our base there, it was a pretty easy decision to make in the finish. “We have got a lot of owners going over and it will be a fun night.” Imperatriz impressed with her first-up victory in the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at The Valley earlier this month, adding to her previous heroics when winning the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at the Melbourne track in March. She had a hit-out at The Valley on Tuesday morning over 800m alongside stablemate Zourion and trainer Mark Walker was pleased with what he saw from the five-year-old. “It’s just been a balancing act trying to keep her fresh enough to go another 1000m, but Ben’s (Gleeson, assistant trainer) been happy with her the whole way through, and I thought her work was good,” Walker said. “In a perfect world you’d be going 1100 if not 1200m, so we’ll just have to see Friday night if she is fresh enough. “She’s actually a Group One winner over a mile at home in New Zealand but I think her pet distance is 1200 if not 1400m. It’s a bit of a juggling act trying to go 1000m again.” View the full article

The whole Cobalt saga is a can of worms. In my opinion trainers on both sides of the Tasman were unfairly treated.

Completely different scenario. Do you really think a cup of coffee would enhance a horses performance?

Perhaps he would be treated differently 52 years later with the improved testing technology.

Good Luck getting a lucid explanation other than it being a cheap sarcastic shot aimed at Bosson.

Oh so the official report isn't entirely accurate? Regardless Russo as the instigator got what he deserved and lucky not to lose his job.

Can you post your speed map for us all to have a look at?

I didn't say no one was talking about it which is about as accurate as saying everyone is.

Unlikely as it appears that the Stewards took the equipment as evidence. Easy to prove that it was the drench solution that Stewart admitted using.