Meadowlands Racetrack officials have announced that samples have been taken from Breeders Crown horses and sent to labs for analysis. In the track’s release on the subject, the Meadowlands’ chairman, Jeff Gural, took the opportunity to re-affirm his disdain for “dishonest” members of the racing community.
"I'd like to be crystal clear on this issue,” Gural said. “My partners and I did not make the financial investment, nor do we intend to endure the endless parade of headaches associated with running the Meadowlands in order to provide a place for dishonest people to race their horses."
The Meadowlands will play host to the Breeders Crown championships on Friday and Saturday. To take a look at Friday’s entries, click here (program pages). To take a look at Saturday’s entries, click here (program pages not yet available).
The contents of the Meadowlands’ release appear below.
As part of the continuing effort to insure a level playing field for those horsemen racing at The Meadowlands, samples have been taken from many of the horses competing in Breeders Crown races this weekend and will be sent to various labs equipped with the most current testing equipment available at the expense of The Meadowlands.
A number of trainers that ordinarily would not be competing at The Meadowlands will race in the Breeders Crown due to the rules for paid in events that govern these races. Their horses will be tested, along with a cross-section of all other trainers.
The Meadowlands requires all trainers to complete and sign a racing application that provides for out-of-competition testing at the request of the track before they participate at the meet.
"I'd like to be crystal clear on this issue. My partners and I did not make the financial investment, nor do we intend to endure the endless parade of headaches associated with running the Meadowlands in order to provide a place for dishonest people to race their horses," was Chairman Jeff Gural's statement on the topic.
"We thank the horsemen for being cooperative in the testing procedures as we continue to try and level the playing field for all of the participants. We wish safety and success to everyone," said Meadowlands General Manager / CEO Jason Settlemoir.