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27 Apr 13
18:40
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Date Joined:
05 Jan 10
Pity they didn't get rid of Crisford as quickly..
Simon Crisford: Sheikh Mohammed will lead the way back
Press Association
Crisford recommended Al Zarooni to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as well as the founder of Godolphin Racing.
The Briton conceded he showed a "remarkable lack of judgement" after the trainer, who won the St Leger with Encke last year, was banned for eight years for administering anabolic steroids to 15 of his horses. Two of Al Zarooni's horses failed tests for painkillers last April, after which Crisford stressed to him the importance of keeping his medical records up to date.
"I think we have to be very clear about this situation," Crisford told Channel 4 Racing.
"A trainer is a licensed individual and it is his duty to take professional care of the horses in his stable. He runs the day-to-day management; my job is to look after the best interests of the owner.
"I simply cannot be aware of every single bit of medication that every horse in Godolphin is getting.
"Saeed bin Suroor and Mahmoud Al Zarooni are supposed to be professional trainers.
"One of them clearly wasn't."
He said Godolphin's founder will lead the way back.
"It will take a long time to recover from this, but Sheikh Mohammed will make sure everything is done and that the stable is 100 per cent clean before any horses get transferred to any other stables," Crisford said.
He said he had stressed to Al Zarooni that he needed to "keep his records maintained in a much more efficient manner".
He added: "I had lengthy conversations with him about that but I'm afraid he's betrayed the trust we put in him and he's let everybody down, not only Godolphin but the British public, too.
"We'll have nothing to do with him again and I have no sympathy for him … I haven't considered my position because I've been told to clear this mess up and that's what I'll be doing."
The British Horseracing Authority chief executive Paul Bittar stressed the investigation is not yet complete and further charges could be brought against the other individuals who were involved.
He said: "Rarely do we have a situation where the trainer puts up his hands and gives us a list of everybody else that has been involved in the giving of the medication.
"Ultimately, we were able to deal with it quickly because of the public interest issue.
"We certainly didn't do this on Godolphin's terms but rarely do you get their level of cooperation.
"There have been some suggestions that Al Zarooni wasn't even in the country when the steroids were administered but the evidence we have - written evidence from Godolphin and Al Zarooni - suggests that he was A, in the country, and B, he was responsible for directing the administration of the drugs.
"Some of the investigations are on-going. The vet's assistant who has been mentioned is a nebulous term in a way as he's not really a vet at all, he just simply assists but he's not captured under the rules.
"The interviews with the foremen are on-going and that part of the investigation is on-going but because of Al Zarooni having responsibility for the horses we needed to deal with him first.
"We asked Al Zarooni if he'd ever administered steroids before and he said he hasn't. Both his yard and Saeed bin Suroor's have been tested before and all those results came back negative
Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/sport/horse-racing/simon-crisford-sheikh-mohammed-will-lead-the-way-back#ixzz2Rgci5WUF
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook
Simon Crisford: Sheikh Mohammed will lead the way back
Press Association
Crisford recommended Al Zarooni to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as well as the founder of Godolphin Racing.
The Briton conceded he showed a "remarkable lack of judgement" after the trainer, who won the St Leger with Encke last year, was banned for eight years for administering anabolic steroids to 15 of his horses. Two of Al Zarooni's horses failed tests for painkillers last April, after which Crisford stressed to him the importance of keeping his medical records up to date.
"I think we have to be very clear about this situation," Crisford told Channel 4 Racing.
"A trainer is a licensed individual and it is his duty to take professional care of the horses in his stable. He runs the day-to-day management; my job is to look after the best interests of the owner.
"I simply cannot be aware of every single bit of medication that every horse in Godolphin is getting.
"Saeed bin Suroor and Mahmoud Al Zarooni are supposed to be professional trainers.
"One of them clearly wasn't."
He said Godolphin's founder will lead the way back.
"It will take a long time to recover from this, but Sheikh Mohammed will make sure everything is done and that the stable is 100 per cent clean before any horses get transferred to any other stables," Crisford said.
He said he had stressed to Al Zarooni that he needed to "keep his records maintained in a much more efficient manner".
He added: "I had lengthy conversations with him about that but I'm afraid he's betrayed the trust we put in him and he's let everybody down, not only Godolphin but the British public, too.
"We'll have nothing to do with him again and I have no sympathy for him … I haven't considered my position because I've been told to clear this mess up and that's what I'll be doing."
The British Horseracing Authority chief executive Paul Bittar stressed the investigation is not yet complete and further charges could be brought against the other individuals who were involved.
He said: "Rarely do we have a situation where the trainer puts up his hands and gives us a list of everybody else that has been involved in the giving of the medication.
"Ultimately, we were able to deal with it quickly because of the public interest issue.
"We certainly didn't do this on Godolphin's terms but rarely do you get their level of cooperation.
"There have been some suggestions that Al Zarooni wasn't even in the country when the steroids were administered but the evidence we have - written evidence from Godolphin and Al Zarooni - suggests that he was A, in the country, and B, he was responsible for directing the administration of the drugs.
"Some of the investigations are on-going. The vet's assistant who has been mentioned is a nebulous term in a way as he's not really a vet at all, he just simply assists but he's not captured under the rules.
"The interviews with the foremen are on-going and that part of the investigation is on-going but because of Al Zarooni having responsibility for the horses we needed to deal with him first.
"We asked Al Zarooni if he'd ever administered steroids before and he said he hasn't. Both his yard and Saeed bin Suroor's have been tested before and all those results came back negative
Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/sport/horse-racing/simon-crisford-sheikh-mohammed-will-lead-the-way-back#ixzz2Rgci5WUF
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook
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A racing Journalist who became manager of the biggest horse racing establishment in the world and failed dreadfully. . . Blames everyone but himself.
Charlton calls for 'level playing field' over drugs
By Andrew Scutts 7:45PM 27 APR 2013 racingpost.com
LEADING trainer Roger Charlton, who has been at the forefront of the social media debate surrounding anabolic steroids and Australian-trained horses, in the wake of Mahmood Al Zarooni's eight-year ban, banged the drum on Saturday for a "level playing field debate".
Charlton has asked about the testing of any Australian horses who compete at Royal Ascot this summer - Black Caviar's half-brother All Too Hard is among those due to travel - although no overseas horse has ever tested positive for a banned substance after racing in Britain.
In Australia, horses can be prepared for a race with the assistance of steroids, though all traces of the drug must have cleared the horse's system come raceday.
With a raft of Australian-trained runners, notably Black Caviar and other sprinters, winning at Royal Ascot in recent years, Charlton strongly believes the different policies adopted in various racing jurisdictions worldwide should be harmonised.
"British racing is the cleanest racing in the world, we're proud of that, and that is demonstrated by how few positive tests there are," he said.
"Most of those positive tests - and I've had one - are when the wrong food or bucket is given; negligence if you like, they are not deliberate.
"I think there is a debate about steroids and all we want, whether human or horses, is a level playing field, and I think it's unfortunate that animals or humans are given steroids."
He also told Channel 4 Racing: "I asked the question would you want to buy a mare if she'd been on steroids or use a stallion that had been on them or buy a yearling from another country other than the UK that had been on steroids? The answer is none of us wants that.
"I think it would be fair if we had the same rules. I can appreciate different countries have different rules. You are allowed to use them in Dubai but not Europe. It would be much nicer if none of us used them."
He added: "We want international competition, Dubai has been fantastic for racing. I would like more Australians to come to Royal Ascot, it's good fun, but I'm posing the debate that I'd like to have a level playing field."
Godolphin trainer Al Zarooni was disqualified on Thursday after admitting 15 horses were administered steroids, notably former Qipco 1,000 Guineas favourite Certfiy, who along with her stablemates is banned until early October
By Andrew Scutts 7:45PM 27 APR 2013 racingpost.com
LEADING trainer Roger Charlton, who has been at the forefront of the social media debate surrounding anabolic steroids and Australian-trained horses, in the wake of Mahmood Al Zarooni's eight-year ban, banged the drum on Saturday for a "level playing field debate".
Charlton has asked about the testing of any Australian horses who compete at Royal Ascot this summer - Black Caviar's half-brother All Too Hard is among those due to travel - although no overseas horse has ever tested positive for a banned substance after racing in Britain.
In Australia, horses can be prepared for a race with the assistance of steroids, though all traces of the drug must have cleared the horse's system come raceday.
With a raft of Australian-trained runners, notably Black Caviar and other sprinters, winning at Royal Ascot in recent years, Charlton strongly believes the different policies adopted in various racing jurisdictions worldwide should be harmonised.
"British racing is the cleanest racing in the world, we're proud of that, and that is demonstrated by how few positive tests there are," he said.
"Most of those positive tests - and I've had one - are when the wrong food or bucket is given; negligence if you like, they are not deliberate.
"I think there is a debate about steroids and all we want, whether human or horses, is a level playing field, and I think it's unfortunate that animals or humans are given steroids."
He also told Channel 4 Racing: "I asked the question would you want to buy a mare if she'd been on steroids or use a stallion that had been on them or buy a yearling from another country other than the UK that had been on steroids? The answer is none of us wants that.
"I think it would be fair if we had the same rules. I can appreciate different countries have different rules. You are allowed to use them in Dubai but not Europe. It would be much nicer if none of us used them."
He added: "We want international competition, Dubai has been fantastic for racing. I would like more Australians to come to Royal Ascot, it's good fun, but I'm posing the debate that I'd like to have a level playing field."
Godolphin trainer Al Zarooni was disqualified on Thursday after admitting 15 horses were administered steroids, notably former Qipco 1,000 Guineas favourite Certfiy, who along with her stablemates is banned until early October
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