Op/Ed From Dan Liebman

Years ago, in a stand-up comedy routine, Steve Martin suggested a way to greatly reduce the crime rate: death penalty for traffic violations.

A joke, sure, but it makes you wonder, if the penalty for, say, running a red light, was to lose your license for 90 days, what effect that would have on that infraction.

Things have certainly changed in that regard. Not that many years ago, the first DUI was routinely amended to a lesser charge, like reckless driving. Today that never happens.

In light of the indictments announced Monday, it is time for Thoroughbred racing to strengthen its penalties for egregious infractions.

Granted, an indictment is an allegation. Nothing has been proven. But, should it be found that trainers, veterinarians and others conspired to obtain misbranded performance enhancing drugs and administer them, they should be banned for life from the industry.

The fact one of the “headline” horses mentioned in the indictments is Maximum Security (New Year's Day) gives rise to the questioning of his entire career. Would he have won races–stakes or otherwise–without the PEDs?

Should Maximum Security be disqualified from all his races? Should racing authorities be able to recover purse monies already paid to the horse's owners?

One hates to use the NCAA as a role model–knowing how inefficient that organization is–but it does have the authority to vacate championships retroactively. Should Maximum Security have his championship taken away?

Horses don't choose their owners, who in turn choose their trainers. Nor those chosen by the trainers, such as assistant trainers, veterinarians, blacksmiths, dentists, grooms, exercise riders, etc.

Horses cannot talk before being injected, jugged or dosed with a medication. They are merely the recipient of the medication, usually administered as well-intentioned, but as we have always known, not in every case.

The allegations in the 27-person indictment would be profound no matter the trainers and horses involved. But the fact prominent trainers Jason Servis and Jorge Navarro are among the indicted, and horses such as Grade I winners Maximum Security and X Y Jet (Kantharos) are included, brings more attention to the heinous nature of the crimes…and that is actually a good thing.

Headline names should prod individuals and organizations within racing to act, and act quickly.

Imagine the conversations being held in Saudi Arabia, where just last month racing officials there offered the largest purse in racing history and now are wondering if they gave the winner's share to cheaters.

Imagine the conversations among racing fans wondering if X Y Jet really died of an apparent heart attack as reported.

Imagine the conversations between bettors who surely feel as if they were duped in races in which horses trained by Servis and Navarro were victorious.

Horses are noble animals and horse racing is a wonderful sport. The vast majority of men and women who participate have the welfare and safety of the horse as their top priority.

It is time for those men and women to unite and discuss what penalties–harsh penalties–should be meted to individuals who violate the principle of putting welfare and safety first.

They may not get a second chance.