The following is Meadowlands Chairman Jeff Gural’s response to owner Bruce Trogdon, who has blamed Gural’s out-of-competition testing rules for not supplementing his top three-year-old colt Fear The Dragon to the $700,000 Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace on July 15.
While in favour of the work Gural has done to maintain The Meadowlands and implement an improved racing product, Trogdon took issue with the concept of a 150-mile two-week stabling rule for The Meadowlands' stakes. Gural's response to Trogdon's statement is below.
“While we can appreciate Mr. Trogdon's position, everyone else has accepted the terms of our out-of-competition testing program and is ready to race. We host nearly $12 million in stakes races at the Meadowlands and no other harness track produces nightly wagering handle at our level. We achieve all of this without purses that are inflated by money from alternative gaming. Most importantly, we care about the integrity of our races, especially our signature events. If that makes us a 'B Track' as Mr. Trogdon alleges, I would like to know what an 'A Track' is.”
I can certainly see Bruce
I can certainly see Bruce Trogdon's point.
Different rules for different horses based upon where they reside.
If you have a two week stabling rule it should be for ALL horses regardless of where they reside or no two week stabling rule for all. It doesn't make sense to pick and choose who to apply and who not to apply the rule to.
After all, what does the rule accomplish? It discriminates is what it does.
Let's assume that some illegal supplements are given to a horse. This can be done as easily at a barn five to 149 miles away as it could be 151 miles away.
I applaud Jeff's integrity (always have) on this but I think he missed his own point he was trying to make.
Mr. Bruce Trogdon I used to
Mr. Bruce Trogdon
I used to respect your judgment but you're way off base here. Play by the rules or don't play.
In reply to Mr. Bruce Trogdon I used to by Marv Chantler
BTW... he chose not to
BTW... he chose not to play.
He stood up for what he believes in as Mr Gural has.
Harsh rule for those who live 151 miles or more away from East Rutherford.
Quite the massive advantage for those who live in the backyard of the Meadowlands.
Very unfair. Out of competition testing can easily be done regardless of where you live.
I'm all about integrity in
I'm all about integrity in racing and protecting the public. I was a big fan of if Mr Gural a few years back when he communicated his vision on positive tests and the fact if a trainer received one they would not be welcome to race at his tracks. He let me down when (certain trainers) fell into that category a while back. Still racing at Gural tracks.
Jeff's position is in the
Jeff's position is in the best interests of those committed to the fairest possible competition. It is impractical to permit participants to stable wherever they wish or usually do and there is an incredible range of options available within that area and at Vernon. It is unquestionable that the Meadowlands Staking Program is a critical asset to the industry and breeders. Bruce and his farm are highly respected for good reason and I think there is great goodwill for his success with Fear The Dragon. There certainly is on my part. I respect his decision not to race for whatever reason but I think he is unwise to be petulant and making declarations about future Staking decisions because he has the "it" horse at this time. It isn't the class that I expect from him. Clay