Veteran California-based trainer Bruce Headley has announced he has joined the Water Hay Oats Alliance, a grassroots movement which supports federal legislation to prohibit the use of performance-enhancing drugs in horse racing and the appointment of an independent anti-doping program run by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
In announcing his support for WHOA, Headley released the following statement:
“At 16, I began galloping 15 to 30 horses a day during the Korean War for the most and the best California horsemen. I learned valuable horsemanship from them.
In the 60's, I began buying horses in partnerships. I selected, broke, and initially galloped these horses which included over 125 stakes winners, among them Eclipse winner Kona Gold and other Grade I winners. These horses raced on water, hay and oats.
In the history of Santa Anita, only four horses have won graded stakes at the age of nine. I trained two of these horses.
I attribute my horses' longevity and soundness to running drug free. Water, hay and oats are essential to the longevity of our Thoroughbreds and the integrity of horse racing as a national sport.”
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