The ‘S’ Word Enters Horse Racing

The USA Olympic basketball team brought it every night and couldn’t wait to drop the hammer on Spain for the Gold medal and now the California Del Mar meeting.

Horse race betting faithful must adapt quickly and decisively in order to take advantage of these needed new rules.

With quotes like this from Dr. Rick Arthur, the equine medical director for the CHRB, the line has been drawn in the sand.

Arthur: “But these trainers have to realize the gravy train is over.”

The ‘gravy train’ is the grace period that was in effect so there would be an easy transition to a ‘no steroids’ world and some trainers decided to ride the steroid era for all its worth, before it came to and end.

Apparently two trainers, John Sadler and Mike Mitchell, paid little attention to the ‘grace period’ that was in effect and could tail off a bit after Del Mar is over.

What this means to horse betting enthusiasts is that they have to be very careful to back trainers that have been identified for overly using steroids.

The journeymen guys, the old-school trainers on the grounds, just may all of a sudden start winning races since the field will be on an even keel.

How stiff will the penalties be? Starting September 4 any positive test for steroids is a Class 3 violation with a minimum 30-day suspension, a fine of up to $10,000 and a forfeiture of purse.

This will hit not only the trainers, but also the owners, in the pocket book.

What horse wagering should look for in this new ‘no steroids’ era is for runners that are definitely fit and ready to run.

One of the things that steroids do, for horses and humans, is help them recover faster from strenuous efforts. They also help humans and horses get over ailments quicker.

Trainers that had no problem bringing horses back quickly, 2-weeks or sooner, may have to change that tactic in order to win races.

Forwardly-looking horse gambling should focus on some of veteran trainers on the SoCal circuit.

Trainers that bettors should pay strict attention to are Ron McAnally, Richard Mandella, and Bobby Frankel. All of these guys are patient and never rush their stock and that should bode well as far as having horses with a good foundation under them.

McAnally won a few races at Del Mar and his barn seems to be coming around big time as the year winds down. Mandella only had saddled 4 winners at the beach with only a couple of days left in the meet, but he did debut some well bred runners that figure to rest up, skip Fairplex, then live to fight another day, once the real racing starts again at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

If you told me that Bobby Frankel, with only a couple of days left at Del Mar, would lose with his first 17 starters, I would bet everything in my pocket against.

It is possible Frankel weaned his runners slowly off any steroids he may have been giving them, in anticipation of a huge showing this fall.

Cagey horse bettors should circle all of his runners when the Pomona meet ends.