A Friend in Washington

According to TheHorse.com, on February 29, Representative Ed Whitfield of Kentucky (Republican) opened the televised congressional hearing on the use of steroids in sports by "claiming leaders of horse racing have repeatedly failed on promises to self-regulate medication issues." Whitfield, by the way, is a champion of the anti-slaughter movement and I will be covering his meeting with long-time equine advocate Staci Hancock, during my time in Washington, D.C.

Staci told me that Whitfield was one of the people who got her involved in the cause. It was Staci's efforts, writing letters to all living owners of Kentucky Derby winners, that got the Jacksons involved in the anti-slaughter movement.

Whitfield also wants to ban steroids from the sport of racing and made no bones about his position. "England, France, all of Europe, Japan, South Africa, Dubai, Australia: All of the major racing jurisdictions have banned the use of drugs still commonplace in America," he told the committee. "England. . . banned steroids in racing over 30 years ago."

He also wasn't afraid to name names, citing hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg, who told him "he had seen enough." According to Whitfield, Van Berg believes that
"drugs ranging from medications like steroids and clenbuterol to prohibited substances like EPO (erythropoietin) are slowly destroying horse racing in America."

The issue of drugs in racing has been around nearly as long as the anti-slaughter legislation. "Through the years--horsemen's groups, who claim that they represent every trainer and every horse owner, have been in the forefront to stop the adoption of more stringent drug rules," Whitfield elaborated. "And they have been, and continue to be, successful, to the detriment of the sport."

Personally I don't think that racing has much choice. If they don't clean up their act, there simply won't be any audience. I am very much looking forward to meeting this equine advocate.