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LAWSUIT FILED OVER HORSE’S
DEATH 7-2-14 By Glory Ann Kurtz Allaboutcutting.com COURT DISMISSES LAWSUIT, by JIM McCOLLEY, AGAINST BRUCE AND DENISE COLCLASURE, et al ADDENDUM AND UPDATE, BY: Richard E. “Rick” Dennis CPP Freelance Writer and Author WIND RIVER INDUSTRY NEWS March 31, 2021 LAWSUIT FILED OVER DEATH OF HORSE AT TRAINER’S FACILITY On July 2, 2014 Glory Ann Kurtz; Editor, allaboutcutting.com wrote and released an article on her website entitled: “LAWSUIT FILED OVER DEATH OF HORSE AT TRAINER’S FACILITY;” More specifically, “On July 18, 2011, a lawsuit was filed by Jim McColley (Plaintiff) against Bruce and Denise Colclasure and their Flying Bar Ranch Arena, Inc. (Defendants), in the District Court in and for Creek County, Oklahoma, Sapulpa Division. The petition reads: That on or about July 3, 2009, McColley contracted with the Colclasure’s to board, feed, and train his 2007 AQHA registered stallion, Hard Rock Acre, (nick-named) Rocky. However, on or about May 4, during training and with a rider on his back, Rocky collapsed and died. McColley is CLAIMING, the Colclasure’s failed to properly care for Rocky and negligently allowed the animal to ingest the “bovine feed supplement – Rumensin, which is known to be lethal to horses. He CLAIMS that the Colcalsure’s knowingly and intentionally bought the MGA with Rumensin for the purpose of feeding the supplement to Rocky and other horses housed at the Flying C Bar Ranch.” JIM McCOLLEY’S LAWSUIT PETITION CONTAINS SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS OF (DEFENDANT’S) WRONGDOING, HOWEVER THE COURT DISMISSED (PLAINTIFF’S) LAWSUIT WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Furthermore, and according to Denise Colclasure: The (Defendants) unequivocally have always denied any wrongdoing in this matter and also states: “Even though this lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice the damage to our training facilities reputation was already done and our business reputation is constantly being questioned due to the article written by Glory Ann Kurtz; and appearing on the internet absent of an addendum stipulating, the courts dismissal of the lawsuit.” Additionally, and according to Denise Colclasure, “this case has negatively impacted us and our training facility, this many years later.” For the record, In both civil and criminal matters, allegation are just one or more persons accounting of a specific incident as well as those involved, and each actors participation. Furthermore, an allegation of impropriety or wrongdoing is just that – an allegation, until evidentiary proceedings prove the allegation to be factual in order for the (Defendant) to be guilty of the allegations contained in the lawsuit’s petition. Notwithstanding, in this case, McColley’s lawsuit was dismissed, by the court, without prejudice. Therefore, no incidents of wrongdoing, on (Defendants) behalf was ever proven, in court, by the (Plaintiff). GLORY ANN KURTZ AND ALLABOUTCUTTING.COM - CLOSED Unfortunately for the Colclasure’s, Glory Ann Kurtz was unable to provide an addendum article stating McColley’s lawsuit was dismissed against the Colclasure’s. Another unfortunate fact for the Colclasure’s is: Glory Ann Kurtz developed a medical condition which caused www.allaboutcutting.com to be prematurely and permanently closed forever, therefore preventing any further updates to this article or any other previously written article, for that matter. Lastly, this premature closure also prevents the first article from ever being retracted or removed from the internet, by the author. However, the following links to Mrs. Kurtz’s original article is attached hereto which includes the original lawsuit filing, the dismissal, and the verification of the same. https://allaboutcutting.net/%E2%98%9B-lawsuit-filed-over-horses-death-7-2-14/ The links are located in a contributors comments, at the bottom of the original article. https://allaboutcutting.net/%E2%98%9B-lawsuit-filed-over-horses-death-7-2-14/ “UNTIL NEXT TIME, KEEP EM BETWEEN THE BRIDLE”
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A SHRINERS CHRISTMAS !!!
By Richard E. “Rick” Dennis CPP Freelance Writer and Author Copyright 2020 – All Rights Reserved IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS For some people, the true meaning of Christmas is the warmth and love of our families, a celebration of the home. For others, the real meaning-of Christmas is love for other people – “Peace on earth, good will toward men.” And of course, many Christians think the true meaning of Christmas is that it is the birthday of Jesus. Christmas is about closeness. It’s a time when families, friends, and loved ones — even those we tend to hold at a distance much of the year — come close together to celebrate God coming close to humans in the form of Baby Jesus. It’s a time to connect with people in special ways,... As a 32nd Degree Master Mason; Scottish Rite, my fondest memories are those helping people to regain light at the end of a tunnel of darkness, or hope – in a seeming hopeless situation or circumstance. The same is true with Children hospitalized, during the Christmas Holidays, with a deliberating injury, illness, or disease. A number of years ago, which began as a charitable jester has emerged into my annual Christmas tradition. A simple poem was written for hospitalized children at the coveted Shriner’s hospitals, which is now published annually. I wrote this poem to provide children at Shriner’s Hospital with a lasting gift, the “Gift of Giving.” This poem maintains the legacy of the birth of Jesus; our savior, and the son of GOD. It also maintains Santa Clause, and keeps the “Spirit of Christmas” tradition alive. Every child is special in someone’s heart - a true gift from GOD. It is to Children everywhere whom this poem is written and dedicated: Twas the night before Christmas and all through the barn, Not a creature was stirring to sound the alarm. All of a sudden and with a shout of glee, Ole Saint Nick suddenly appeared , over the trees. With a booming voice - sounding like thunder, Ole Saint Nick herded his pulling teams, from way off yonder. On Apollo, on Big E, on Morgan, on Gator, on Sparky and Chip, On Dually, on Rocket, on Wild Thing, and Rip. With the swooshing sound of air passing through wings of Wild Teal, Ole Saint Nick landed that sleigh, without even a squeal. The sled was laden with all sorts of toys. For all the barn critters - the girls and the boys. New buckets, brushes, combs, and riding pads were there. As Ole St. Nick went over the critter wish list, bill of fare. With the speed of the wings of flushing Grouse, Santa’s elves delivered presents, all over the barn house. The curious nature of the entire event, is Ole Saint Nicks tireless years spent; delivering presents to critters and children, on Christmas Eve. A Holy and rememberable day, for children and steeds. All the barn critters woke up at dawn, to the amazement of the presents and sleigh tracks on the lawn. No one remembers the arrival of Ole Saint Nick, But his yearly arrival on this special day, is sure to stick! Some say Ole Saint Nick doesn’t exist, Just a fairy tale - told throughout years spent. I’m hear to tell you girls and boys Ole Saint Nick is alive and real, He exists in our hearts, is passed on from generation to generation and the gift of giving makes Christmas and Ole Saint Nick, the best years deal! “Keep Christ in Christmas - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!” A CHRISTMAS REFLECTION – THEN AND NOW
By Richard E. “Rick” Dennis CPP Freelance Writer and Author Copyright 2020 – All Rights Reserved December 13, 2020 THEN … As a youngster growing up in Fungo Hollow, Alabama; a farming community located in Shelby County at the base of Oak Mountain, in the 1950s and 1960s, I was born into a family and community where Christmas was one of the most celebrated holidays of the year. By today’s standards, some would say our family was poor – but we never recognized or was aware of this class distinction. Growing up, I always had plenty to eat, 22 bullets to shoot, several pairs of overalls to wear and at least one pair of boots to wear a year. When I was not in school, hard work and assigned chores was the standard of the day. It seemed a never-ending supply of work was readily at hand requiring attention. As I was the oldest in my family, these essential after-school duties usually came my way first. I never did quite figure out why being the oldest meant you were assigned more work. I always figured being the oldest meant you could be assigned a managerial role. I soon learned this philosophy was not a viable thought process with my parents, nor my grandparents. Horses and mules were not used for recreational or exhibition purposes as they are today. Instead my family, as well as other families in my community, used these noble animals principally for plowing, cultivating and harvesting crops in the fields to provide food for the table and bring our sale crops to the train depot in Clanton, Alabama for shipment to the farmers market in Birmingham, Alabama. These animals were also used as our principle mode of transportation, to bring trees out of the mountains to provide firewood for the fire place and wood-burning heaters, the smoke house for meat preservation or the saw mill to provide lumber for building purposes. Tractors were non-existent in this time period. It was during this time of the year my family was catapulted into the Spirit of Christmas, which meant it was time to go up on Oak Mountain for the much-anticipated and celebrated Christmas tree cutting. My grandmother Jeanette, on my father’s side, was the matriarch of the designated Christmas tree selection and harvesting process. My grandmother, born out of a Scottish father and mother, always seemed to have a spiritual connection with the tree she selected. We would move over the mountains for hours viewing what seemed an endless supply of trees – but after each evaluation she would declare, “Nope, not the right tree!” Often times this tree scrutiny and survey continued for hours and miles of hard walking, until the moment of truth arrived when suddenly my grandmother would stop by a tree, grab and shake it, mentally eye it up and down, walk around it several times and turn with a big smile on her face and declare, “Kids, this is our Christmas tree!” When the selection process was over, the tree was harvested by the oldest family members with an axe or a crosscut saw, or both, and promptly loaded on the sled and pulled home with each family member sharing with their turn on the pull rope. When we arrived at home there weren’t any store bought ornaments to decorate our tree but we did have an ample supply of hand-made decorations acquired over the years from various family members. Each family member possessed one special ornament with his or her name scribed on it which made for a fast scramble to the ornament box to be the first to put their ornament on the tree. The remaining ornaments were made by us. Popcorn was popped, colored with food dye into various colors, strung on sewing thread and hung on the tree to form a sea of riveting colors. Everything kids could think of were eventually hung on our Christmas tree until the matriarch affixed the Star of David on top of the tree, signaling the decorating was over. The most valuable lessons I learned from my early childhood experiences and the Spirit of Christmas are – the family is the most valuable commodity we have, never forget your roots, always give something back, it’s better to give than to receive and it doesn’t matter how much or what you have, make the best of it because often times more is not necessarily better. NOW … Today some Christmas trees come complete out of a box, including lights and decorations. Christmas tree decorations and ornaments are manufactured in sizes, shapes and colors and readily available for purchase at department stores. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year have been replaced by the politically correct euphemism “Happy Holidays” and another politically correct euphemism has replaced “A Christmas Party” with “A Winter Party.” Horses and mules have been replaced by tractors as the principle cultivation tool in the farming community while establishing themselves as the principle means of recreation for the equestrian community as well as, in some cases, big business. In fact, an entire equestrian industry has evolved around the noble horse as well as the businesses that have emerged to support them: tack shops, feed stores, judges, horse training facilities, horse breeding facilities, medical facilities and veterinarians, drug manufacturers, horse trailer manufacturers, equestrian magazines, bit makers, saddle makers, etc., and include the nonprofit organizations that have emerged to support this industry. In the equestrian industry today, we are very lucky to have nonprofit’s such as the American Quarter Horse Association, National Cutting Horse Association, National Reined Cow Horse Association and the National Reining Horse Association, as well as other breed specific horse organizations that provide us with a place to exhibit our stock (professional and non-pro alike), meet new folks in the spirit of competition and establish new friendships along the way. These organizations are not always perfect but a lot of folks rely on these equestrian organizations, as well as the guys and gals that run them, as a source of revenue to provide sustenance for their families in the spirit of entrepreneurship. They not only provide a single source of revenue for some but a lot of enjoyment for families and individuals in the equestrian industry. Therefore, in the Spirit of Christmas, I would like to personally thank you – one and all for your time spent in these wonderful organizations and the contributions made by each one of you to support the equine industry. In my journey, I’ve never lost sight of the core principles I learned as a boy nor have I forgotten my roots or the Spirit of Christmas! In keeping with these ideologies, it has been my policy throughout my professional career to always give something back to the community from my professions: free drug lectures to schools, free time spent as a mentor with under-privileged children and free riding lessons for the youth – no matter what their financial position is. Over the years, my students have always generously paid me back by providing me with an exhilarating feeling from just watching their eyes light up when they finally execute a maneuver correctly or after completing their first show. When I see such happiness in a child’s eyes, it reminds me of days long ago on Oak Mountain harvesting that special Christmas tree on that cold winter day and that special lesson I learned during a time in my life long ago. “It truly is better to give than receive!” This Christmas is different due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. However, we can still enjoy our families and the Christmas Holidays. Therefore, at this very special time of the year, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress possible. It is with the Spirit of Christmas and personal gratitude that I would like to wish each and everyone one of you, especially the avid readers of “WIND RIVER INDUSTRY NEWS,” as well as all those in the equine industry, a Merry Christmas and a most prosperous, safe, and Happy New Year! “Until Next Time, Keep ‘em Between The Bridle” GRISLY SERIES OF HORSE MUTILATIONS MYSTIFIES FRANCE
Richard E. “Rick” Dennis CPP Freelance Writer and Author September 11, 2020 © 2020 All Rights Reserved Fanny LATTACH and AFP bureaus in France September 8, 2020, 5:29 AM CDT https://news.yahoo.com/grisly-series-horse-mutilations-mystifies-102908638.html ANIMAL ABUSE, IS JUST NOT A U.S.A. PROBLEM Recently, the U.S.A. News agencies has been reporting on a series of horse deaths contributed to the killing of horses for the illegal sale of horse meat, as well as the killing of horses for meat consumption. However, this news article reports the mutilation of horses for an unknown reason, and in a European Country. YAHOO NEWS REPORTS Didier Fruchet, owner of a horse club with some 80 animals outside Paris, looks with concern at his stables. "It's stressful to be thinking, 'what happened tonight?' When we arrive in the morning we don't know what we are going to find." He and other horse lovers across France have good reason to be worried. Over the past weeks the country has been shocked by a succession of mutilations of over 150 horses that have seen ears sliced off, genitals cut and skin lacerated. What is motivating the perpetrators remains a mystery. Hatred of animals? Inspiration by a warped sect? A macabre challenge spreading on social media? Or might the causes sometimes be natural? Investigators have no firm leads. According to the authorities, the attacks are by multiple perpetrators whose methods vary nationwide, further complicating the picture. Fruchet is taking no chances at his stables in the town of L'Isle Adam in the Val-d'Oise department north of Paris, which is also being patrolled by gendarmes as an extra precaution. He has invested in hunting cameras with night vision that photograph moving targets. "We do not care how much it costs when it comes to keeping our horses safe," he said. The Val-d'Oise recorded its first cases on Saturday: Two mares, who did not die, were wounded, one with a cut in the vulva and the other a slash of 30 centimetres on its flank. - 'We hardly sleep' - Reports have come throughout the summer, sometimes on an almost daily basis, of new horse mutilations across France. Police at the weekend sought two suspects in the Cote-d'Or region after a stables owner reported an intrusion on his premises and said one horse had been wounded. In a sign of how urgent the issue has become, a 40-member team of gendarmes, backed up by police dogs and a helicopter, were sent to the scene but so far have not found the culprits. Police on Monday made their first arrest in the nationwide investigation, detaining a man suspected of an attack on three horses the central department of Yonne, who matched an image circulated. But he was later released without charge. Eloise Lang, a rider in Coueron in western France, is still distressed after her horse Ambitieux was attacked. "I saw that he had a dozen traces of wounds... knife wounds... He had some on his shoulders, flank, chest. He had cuts that were up to a foot long," she said. "We hardly sleep anymore, we think about it all the time," she added. - 'Take law into their hands' - Similar acts have now been recorded in 20 of France's departments. "There are about twenty cases of cut ears, but there are also other incidents including genital mutilation and lacerations with sharp objects," Colonel Hubert Percie du Sert of France's gendarmerie told AFP. He said there were "many perpetrators and methods of operation." According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, 153 investigations have been opened nationwide into cases of violence against horses. France's national anti-sect agency La Miviludes, which is assisting the investigation, has not found evidence of a satanic rite so far, "but it is not something we are ruling out", du Sert said. Authorities are also concerned that the repeated attacks and failure of the police to find the culprits risk creating paranoia, with some even deciding to take justice into their own hands. In Quimper in the northwestern Brittany region, a mother, 52, and her daughter, 23, face a trial in January for threatening with weapons two people in a car whom they suspected of carrying out horse attacks after a licence plate circulated on the internet. "They admitted they were equipped with a machete-type knife as well as a pellet gun, and to have stopped a vehicle when they had no right to do so," the deputy prosecutor of Quimper, Emmanuel Phelippeau, told AFP. They risk up to five years in prison if convicted. "It is unacceptable that breeders, due to emotion, take the law into their own hands themselves", the prefect of the Finistere region Philippe Mahe, told reporters, insisting that the police mobilisation was "very strong." UNTIL NEXT TIME, KEEP EM BETWEEN THE BRIDLE YOLI’S WESTERN WEAR - DALLAS, TEXAS
CHARGED WITH MONEY LAUNDERING FOR DRUG CARTEL By Richard E. “Rick” Dennis CPP Freelance Writer and Author September 5, 2020 © 2020 All Rights Reserved FEDS SAY MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL BOSS “LA ROCA” USED DALLAS WESTERN STORE TO LAUNDER $10 MILLION DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) — The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas have confirmed that a Mexican cartel boss and nearly 30 of his co-conspirators have been charged with laundering more than $10 million. According to Erin Nealy Cox, the money came from drug proceeds and was laundered through a local western wear store. A federal grand jury charged 28 individuals connected to Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and other financial, drug, and gun crimes, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute heroin, and possession of a firearm. Dozens of those charged have already been arrested. “Drug cartels like CJNG wreak havoc across the globe, driving the spread of deadly drugs like meth and heroin,” said Cox. “We’re committed to tracking the money and disrupting these organizations by attacking their bottom line. By striking both the money and the drugs, we can more effectively impact the organization.” According to the 38-count indictment, Jose Valdovinos Jimenez, a boss also known as “La Roca” or “The Rock,” conspired with his co-defendants to smuggle hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine and heroin across the Mexican border, distribute the drugs in the United States, launder the proceeds, and then transfer the money back to CJNG leaders. Couriers were allegedly used to smuggle the drugs across the border, recrystallization laboratories to purify them, and stash houses to store the drugs. At Mr. Jimenez’s direction, dealers were believed to have transported drug proceeds to Yoli’s Western Wear, a clothing store on Buckner Boulevard in Dallas. The 23-year-old manager of Yoli’s, Ivan Noe Valerio, and his family members allegedly then counted the money, separated it into thousands of transactions, and ultimately sent it back to the CJNG in Mexico. During the course of the investigation, agents seized some 700 kilograms of methamphetamine, 80 kilograms of heroin, and $500,000. If convicted, Jimenez and Valerio face life in federal prison. To read the entire article, Click on the following Link: https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2020/08/28/drug-cartel-boss-co-conspirators-dallas-western-wear-store-launder-10-million/amp/ UNTIL NEXT TIME, KEEP EM BETWEEN THE BRIDLE McCONNEL TO INTRODUCE HORSE RACING SAETY LEGISLATION IN SENATE
By Richard E. “Rick” Dennis CPP Freelance Writer and Author September 1, 2020 © September 2020 – All Rights Reserved THE MECHANICAL HORSE, A HORSE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS On August 6, 2014 I authored an article entitled: “THE MECHANICAL HORSE, A HORSE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS. The article was authored in response to the growing horse doping issues coming to light, on the Thoroughbred Race Tracks. The first paragraph of the article specifically states: “At first glance, this articles title suggests an apparatus resembling a horse traveling on rails, making a series of stops and turns and acting much like the mechanical cow we see in the training arena. However, this article is about the horse that performs, whether on the racetrack or in the performance arena, under the influence of drugs.” The article continues. “Lately a heightened awareness of horse doping has been bestowed upon us by the news media, news articles and by legislative action in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D – New Mexico is a co-sponsor of a bill addressing the horse-doping fiasco in the United States. “The chronic abuse of race horses with painkillers and other drugs is dangerous and just plain wrong,” Udall said.” The article goes on to suggest; one day the Federal Government will step-in and intercede on the horses behalf. Apparently, that day has arrived with the intended introduction of legislation by Senator Mitch McConnell in the U.S. Senate targeting horse abuse and horse doping in-general. To read the entire Mechanical Horse Article, click on the following link: https://allaboutcutting.net/%E2%98%9B-mechanical-horse-under-the-influence-8-6-14/ MCCONNELL ANNOUNCES HE WILL INTRODUCE HORSE RACING SAFETY LEGISLATION IN THE US SENATE In an August 31, 2020 article, by Jon Hale, Louisville Courier Journal the author outlines McConnell’s intent: “LEXINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is putting his weight behind the latest effort to introduce universal safety regulations to the horse racing industry. In a ceremony at Keeneland on Monday, the Kentucky Republican announced he will introduce the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act in the Senate. The legislation builds on Horseracing Integrity Act, which had gained majority support in the U.S. House of Representatives but failed to gain traction in the Senate. Many advocates of the Horseracing Integrity Act, including Marty Irby, the executive director of Animal Wellness Action, previously identified Churchill Downs and McConnell as the chief obstacles to the bill. The new bill is endorsed by a large segment of the horse racing industry, including Churchill Downs, which was not a supporter of the previous House bill introduced by Kentucky Republican Rep. Andy Barr and New York Democratic Rep. Paul Tonko. McConnell said he decided to bring the various segments of the industry, which had clashed over previous proposals, together after reading a Washington Post editorial calling for the end of horse racing. “We’ve seen painful tragedies on the track in recent years," McConnell said. "Doping scandals have rocked the horse racing community. These challenges pose a threat, not only to this industry but also to the 24,000 Kentuckians who work in it. “... If we wanted to preserve horse racing and its future, we needed to act. We owe it to the horses, we owe it to the jockeys, we owe it to the trainers, breeders and fans to make thoroughbred racing as fair and as safe as possible.” The bill would create the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, a private, independent, self-regulatory nonprofit organization tasked with developing and implementing both a horse racing anti-doping and medication control program and a racetrack safety program. The authority would be governed by a nine-member board of directors made up of five members independent of the industry and four members representing owners and breeders, trainers, racetracks, veterinarians, state racing commissions and jockeys. The nationwide anti-doping rules developed by the authority will be enforced by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. The authority will also create an accreditation program to ensure racetracks comply with a set of training and racing safety standards, including racetrack design and maintenance; oversight of human and equine injury reporting and prevention; and procedures for undertaking investigations at racetrack and non-racetrack facilities related to safety violations. The Washington Post editorial that McConnell said spurred him to action was written in March after the arrests of 27 trainers, veterinarians and drug distributors as part of an alleged doping scandal. Those arrests followed increased scrutiny on the industry due to a rash of horse deaths in recent years. "The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act will bring 16 hands of integrity back to American horseracing by banning race-day doping," Irby said in a news release. "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and others are right to press the industry to create a uniform anti-doping standard that will protect the horses and the sport against the worst impulses of some of its actors." McConnell said he has already spoken with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., about his bill and anticipates bipartisan support for the legislation. Barr said he plans to introduce an amendment to make his bill mirror the one introduced in the Senate by McConnell. "This is not a particular bipartisan place we’re in right now in Congress, as you may have noticed," McConnell said, "but we’re hopeful a subject like this can overcome the partisanship that’s been pretty much on full display as we get closer and closer to the election." https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/horses/2020/08/31/mcconnell-introduce-horse-racing-safety-legislation-senate/5677999002/ FEDS CHARGE HORSE RACING TRAINERS, VETERINARIANS OVER “WIDESPREAD, CORRUPT DOPING SCHEME The article Senator McConnell is referring to can be read by clicking on the following link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/03/09/horse-racing-doping-indictment/ Eventually, the avenue of control that’s being sought after, is long overdue. Horses don’t deserve the treatment they’ve received over the decades from unscrupulous trainers and veterinarians whose only stake in the game is making more money. Unfortunately, for the horse it’s become a disposable entity, with the majority ending up on someone’s dinner plate in Europe or Asia after they’ve been crippled by illegal drug use on the race track or in the performance horse show arena. “UNTIL NEXT TIME, KEEP EM BETWEEN THE BRIDLE” BEST SELF-DEFENSE HANDGUN AND CALIBER
By Richard E. “Rick” Dennis CPP August 23, 2020 © August 2020 – All Rights Reserved REVOLVER OR SEMI-AUT0 As a former Drug Enforcement Special Agent and U.S. Army Military Veteran, during the Vietnam War, I’ve had the personal opportunity and experience of being in a vast array of combat situations (gun fights) as well as simulated gunfights and with a variety of weapons – both Military and Law Enforcement issued. In the Army, I was issued an M14 Select-Fire Assault Rifle as well as an M16 Select-Fire Assault Rifle. The M14 fired the 7.62 X 51 NATO round and the M16 fired the 5.56 X 45 NATO. The actual definition of an assault rifle differs from the false identity and moniker the news media defines an assault rifle. The look-a-like variant, or the AR15 style is actually a semi-auto (only) rifle and is styled after the M16 Military Assault Rifle. . However, the Military Assault Rifle is capable of two specific functions the look-a-like variant isn’t. With the flip of a select-fire-switch, it can operate as a semi-auto firing weapon, which requires a single trigger pull to fire each round, or as a fully automatic firing weapon which requires a single pull of the trigger pull to sustain continuous automatic rapid firing. In civilian use: Fully automatic weapons are illegal, except when a tax stamp is obtained from the ATF. After the Army, I joined a Drug Enforcement Group and was issued a standard Smith and Wesson Double Action Model 10 38 Special Service Revolver and an Ithaca 12 gauge 5 shot pump shotgun . In that era, the only semi-auto pistol available to the law enforcement professional was the Smith and Wesson Model 39 Single-Stack 9MM and the single action - single stack 1911 style 45 semi-auto pistol. However, both were prohibited for law enforcement use as were the 9MM and 45 ACP calibers they were chambered in. Another reason the Smith & Wesson Model 39 was prohibited was due to its constant jamming issues. The Smith 39 was designated as the “jam-o-matic” by the law enforcement community. In the late 1970’s law enforcement relaxed their attitude on caliber variations and firearms styles. Instead of just one firearm style and one caliber, the selection was expanded to include the 9MM, 45 ACP and 38 Special calibers. The firearms of choice included the standard double action revolver chambered in the 38 Special cartridge, the double action Sig 226 semi-auto in 9MM and the 1911 style semi-auto chambered for the time tested 45 ACP and 9MM cartridges. The drawback to the 1911 style semi-auto is that is had to be carried cocked and locked which means the hammer had to be cocked with the safety on. Prior to carry, each officer was required to qualify with the weapon and caliber, of choice, on the Practical Police Pistol Course which included firing 100 rounds of approved duty ammo. BEST COMBAT WEAPON: SEMI-AUTO OR DOUBLE ACTION REVOLVER First-of-all, pick a firearm that correctly fits your hand size. Second, pick a handgun that capable of performing the desired task it’s purchased for. For all practical self-defense and combat situations, the double action revolver is the best choice, from a myriad factors. 1) the double action revolver is a simple weapon consisting of a frame, a cylinder holding 5 or 6 centerfire cartridges, a hammer or hammerless design, and a trigger. With each pull of the trigger the cylinder rotates and loads a new cartridge to a new firing position. For more accurate shooting, the hammer can be cocked prior to each firing. When the hammer is cocked, it eliminates the movement of the revolver which is experienced when the trigger (only), i.e., double action mode is used to fire the weapon, and 2) because it’s simple and virtually fail safe, there’s no safety to disengage before firing, no failure to feed or failure to eject jams which are experienced with semi-auto’s, and all the shooter has to do is draw the weapon, acquire the target, and pull the trigger. Alone, this simplicity takes all of the guess work out of an already stressful situation. Remember, the decision to shoot or not to shoot is measured in milliseconds and not minutes or hours. Therefore, with the semi-auto the novice is handicapped in gunfight by trying to fumble around and feel for the safety to disengage it. A normal gunfight is over in 2 seconds or less – from start to finish. Time wasted trying to ready your weapon for firing, can mean the difference in surviving or death. The only drawback to a revolver is: It’s limited to 5 or 6 shots. However, the individuals purchasing a revolver only for self-defense purposes won’t find this much of a handicap. Speed loaders can be purchased, enabling the shooter to rapidly reload the firearm. For the record, revolvers are also made in the single action design, which requires the manual cocking of the hammer before a new cartridge is fired. When the hammer is cocked, the cylinder rotates to a new firing position. However, by modern standards, this type of action is antiquated and isn’t usable or practicable for all types of combat situations encountered during a self-defense experience. SEMI-AUTOS – SINGLE AND DOUBLE ACTION Semi-auto pistols are designed in four varieties: Single Action, Double Action, Hammer Fired, and Striker Fired. However, each firearm type shares the same commonality, e.g., they are of the John Browning blowback design, except when it’s gas operated, and they all can jam. Single Action Hammer Fired: This semi-auto is designed after the 1911 or John Browning style, where the hammer has to be cocked prior to firing the first round. Thereafter, each firing is accomplished with a single trigger pull until the magazine is empty. Double Action Hammer Fired. This semi-auto is capable of two firing sequences. The first is: The trigger is completely pulled to fire the first shot, which automatically cocks and releases the hammer reading the firearm for the next shot. Thereafter, the firearm is capable of firing with each trigger pull. Double Action – Single Action Capability. This semi-auto is capable of firing in the foregoing sequence as well as cocking the pistols hammer prior to firing the first round. After the first shot, the pistol is capable of firing with each trigger pull, until the magazine is empty. Striker Fired Semi-Auto Pistol. The striker fired pistol is a hammerless design and was developed by Glock Firearms. A spring surrounds the firing pin. When the the pistols slide is moved rearward, the firing pin spring is partially cocked. When the pistols trigger is pulled it cocks the firing pin spring the rest of the way and releases the firing pin to strike the cartridge primer. The problem with the striker fired semi-auto is: Overtime, the firing pin spring becomes weak with normal use and has to be replaced to make the firearm reliable, or the shooter will experience light primer strikes and can make the firearm nonfunctional. However, this requires thousands of rounds through the auto, before this becomes an issue. Semi-Auto Reliability Issues. The main issue with the semi-auto pistol is reliability. A failure to feed or a failure to eject a fired round will result in the semi-auto becoming inoperable. This is the last thing you need in a close-quarter gunfight. In order to clear the jam, the user has to rack the slide back on the firearm, clear the jam, and chamber a new round before the weapon is again, fully functional. Most semi-auto jams are related to the ammunition design used in a specific model firearm, the barrel feed ramp, as well as the magazine itself. A jamming issue could be something as simple as a weak magazine spring. Also, the semi-auto can become an issue with senior Americans and women who has weak hand strength and grip. This will cause the user to have a difficult time – loading, unloading, and clearing a jam when necessary. AMMUNITION CALIBERS AND REQUIRED FIRING CAPACITY Picking a firearm, a firearm caliber, and the number of rounds the firearm is capable of holding and firing is an individual choice. Some new firearm purchasers may think they need a semi-auto capable of firing 6 to 17 times. Others may opt for a 5 or 6 shot revolver. However, it doesn’t matter which firearm an individual chooses as long as the individual can become proficient in loading, unloading, clearing a jam, and shooting the firearm with proficiency and accuracy under a variety of conditions. Another factor to consider is confidence. The shooter must have absolute confidence in the firearm and caliber he or she opts to carry or have at home for self-defense purposes. However, when it comes to recoil sensitive shooters - the caliber is a specific matter of concern. It’s a handicap for the first-time firearm purchaser to select a firearm he or she isn’t capable of shooting and operating proficiently. Why pick a 45 ACP semi-auto when you’re only capable of shooting a 22 caliber handgun proficiently. For the first-time firearms purchaser, it’s better to locate a firing range that rents handguns, in various calibers, and try them out prior to making your final decision. Another handicap, is determined whether or not a firearm owner has picked a caliber that he or she will not be able to afford to purchase ammo for, in order to practice with and become proficient with. FBI GUNFIGHT STATISTICS FBI statistics indicate, the usual distance for a gunfight is 7 – 10 feet. PMA statistics suggests the average distance, at around 20 feet. This makes sense, as distance will favor the person with the most training. In a very stressful situation, the shooter which is able to control their emotions and has the most shooting experience has the best opportunity to survive a close quarter gunfight. The last thing the inexperienced shooter should be faced with is fumbling around trying to get the safety off while an assailant is advancing or shooting at you. FIREARMS SAFETY After purchasing your firearm, the first thing the new firearms owner should do is to enroll in a gun safety course and learn how to operate and store your firearm safely. If your intention is to apply for a concealed carry license, the second thing you should do is enroll in a firearms course with a certified firearms instructor. As the old saying, “It’s better to own a firearm, know how to use it, and never need it than it is not to own a firearm and one day need one” “UNTIL NEXT TIME, KEEP EM BETWEEN THE BRIDLE” 5 HORSES BUTCHERED NEAR TEXAS TOWN, SINCE MAY
By Richard E. “Rick” Dennis CPP Freelance Writer and Author July 13, 2020 © 2020 All Rights Reserved Over-the-years, U.S. based law enforcement agencies have documented and investigated horses being stolen and slaughtered in the U.S., for their meat. In a myriad cases, the slaughter either happened on the horse owners property, or the animal was taken a short distance away and slaughtered in the dead of night. Either way, it’s been proven - the rendered product (horse meat) was either for human consumption or it was being sold on the black market in the U.S. for the same reason. A grim reminder of horses being slaughtered in the U.S. for meat is realized in a December 13, 2019 news article, by Emilee Speck, which begins with a bold headline: 3 HORSES SLAUGHTERED IN FLORIDA, A REMINDER OF AMERICA’S HISTORY WITH HORSE MEAT. The article continues: ORLANDO, Fla. – After horses in three Florida counties were slaughtered law enforcement officers are investigating a potential black market for horse meat, reports CBS affiliate WTSP, and animal rights groups warn horses in the U.S. are not safe to eat because they are not raised to be food. Most recently, Tamara Weaver, of Sumterville, said her 10-year-old horse, Jayda, was found dead Wednesday across the street from where she was boarded. Weaver said the fence had been cut and evidence at the scene suggested that whoever was responsible was seeking the horse’s meat. In November, News 6 spoke with a family in Marion County after their horse was found dead. The family believes their horse was also slaughtered for its meat. A third horse death was reported Dec. 1 in Manatee County. It’s unconfirmed at this point if the horse deaths are related, however, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office put out a warning to equestrian owners this week. Headlines like this, is a stark reminder that horses are illegally being taken, slaughtered, and their meat is either being used for human consumption or it’ sold on the black market, in the U.S. However, as we all know: the slaughtering of horses in the U.S. for human consumption is illegal. The horse slaughter plants in the U.S. have long been closed and the chance of them ever reopening is, at best, very slim or non-existent. Even though, in the United States, horse slaughter for human consumption is illegal it doesn’t prevent horse “Kill Pen Operators” from loading up a trailer load of horses and trucking them across the Mexican and Canadian borders to slaughter plants for processing and deportation of horse meat to European and Asian markets. In an August 10, 2020 Fort Worth Star Telegram news article, the author - Michell Willetts writes: 5 horses butchered near Texas town since May - and police think someone’s eating them. At least five horses have been killed around Pearland, Texas since late May — but it’s the way they’re being killed and what’s being done to their carcasses that’s particularly disturbing to locals. Pearland police made their first discovery June 10. Responding to an animal cruelty call along the 14000 block of Kirby Drive, they found a horse, dead and butchered. Police told the property owner, Jason Bockel, that they had never seen anything like it, FOX 26 Houston reported. “They were just speechless,” he said. His son Tyler was the first to see the dead horse. He went out that morning to feed the horses, Goldie and Sugar, and found them tied to a tree. The killer — or killers — picked Goldie and spared Sugar. “I hit the ground immediately, she was butchered. She was murdered,” the son told FOX 26. “Nobody should ever have to go through that and see what I seen.” Goldie had been stabbed in the chest, according to police. After bleeding to death, the horse’s backstrap, and front and hind quarters were removed — cuts that lead police to believe Goldie was killed for her meat. Police discovered the two latest killings Saturday. The owner called police after noticing the animals were missing, and that fencing along their property had been cut. The horses were found half a mile away, butchered just like Goldie. Two more horses have been reported slaughtered in nearby jurisdictions, Pearland police says. One on May 22, the earliest known incident, and another June 29. Given the similarity and proximity of the killings, police told KHOU that the same person or group of people is likely responsible for all five deaths. To read the entire article click on the following link: Read more here: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/nation-world/national/article244866042.html#storylink=cpy BUTCHERING PROCESS MIMICS BIG GAME HUNTING PROCESS OF: “FIELD DRESSING AND BUTCHERING IN REMOTE WILDERNESS AREAS” The butchering process described by the author, is the same process big game hunters use to pack large downed animals such as deer, moose, and elk out of remote wilderness hunting areas. The method is quick, simple, and productive. The entire operation is performed without entering the interior body cavity of the animal. The skin of the animal is laid back, the choice meat is removed, e.g., front shoulders, tenderloin, and hindquarters and placed in game bags for transport, by pack animal, or human transport - leaving the remaining carcass and remnants for the scavengers. Remote wilderness hunting is usually performed on horseback and using mules, donkeys, and Llamas as the transport animals. EXTREME CAUTION IS ADVISED FOR TODAY’S HORSE OWNERS Today, it’s advisable for the recreational or professional horse owner to implement safe guards and prudent security practices to ensure the safety of their horses. If at all possible pastured horses should be stalled in a barn at night. Horses located on remote property should be checked on regularly. If possible, Closed Circuit TV security cameras should be installed in order to monitor the horses on the property as well as capturing the identity of any trespassers. CCTV cameras can be purchased over the internet and the installation instructions are readily available to the purchaser. Also, posting signs, on perimeter fencing and gates, stating “Premises under CCTV surveillance” or “Premises secured by Security Surveillance Cameras” is another good method of deterring would-be violators from crossing the fence and stealing your horses and butchering them for meat. Having dogs on your premises to alert you to the presence of an intruder is another way to secure your property. Another security method, is to contact law enforcement when your going to be out of town and ask them for periodic security checks. Another excellent security method, is to organize a neighborhood watch service where neighbor takes care of neighbor, or your horse may be the next victim. “UNTIL NEXT TIME, KEEP EM BETWEEN THE BRIDLE” PERSONAL DEFENSE FIREARMS
By Richard E. “Rick” Dennis CPP August 5, 2020 © August 2020 All Rights Reserved GOVERNMENT BACKGROUND-CHECK DATA SHOWS STRONG AND GROWING DEMAND DRIVING NEW 2020 FIREARM SALES. The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are reporting: As of July 13, 2020, or in the first six months of 2020, 19 Million firearms have been sold in the United States. The Brookings Institute reports: “There are more guns than people in the United States ( 400 million are in circulation for a population of 330 million people.) This represents, 1 firearm for every 20 Americans.” The types of self-defense weapons designs include: Long guns (rifles and shotguns), revolvers, and semi-auto pistols. Basically, any weapon type which can be used for self-defense purposes. Black powder weapons, were excluded. As the run on firearms purchases continues and increases – ammunition, on dealers shelves is either non-existent or in short supply. The vast number of firearms and ammunition purchases are directly attributable to the uncertainty of individual safety existing in our society, and the fear gripping the average American due to the Covid 19 pandemic. An uncertain future, is being driven by the news media’s ever constant - daily and hourly reporting, of anarchy and instability in the United States. Rioters, looters, and anarchists, are burning buildings, taking over government buildings – including Police Precincts, and assaulting, maiming, and killing American citizens and Law Enforcement officers. Extremist groups like Black Lives Matters (BLM) and ANTIFA as well as their members are terrorizing the general populous of the United States under the guise of protesting racial inequality. An example of BLM’s violent extremist intentions can be realized in one of their promoted slogans: “KILL A WHITE ON SIGHT, THEIR SILENCE IS VIOLENCE,” However, their actions and violent extremist slogans are having a reverse effect. Instead of cowering in fear, American citizens are arming-up to protect themselves, their property, and loved ones. AMERICAN CITIZENS FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THEIR LOVED ONES Another factor driving the upsurge of firearms and ammunition sales can be contributed to various government members, in control of the Democratic run cities and towns, who are unwilling to control its lawlessness by refusing to arrest rioters, looters, and anarchists. Instead of enforcing the rule of law, politicians are instructing law enforcement personnel to stand-down, during rioting and looting events. Citizens are no longer resolute, law enforcement can protect them. In simple terminology, these criminal actions can only be described as “mob rule” and are nothing more than domestic terrorists activities. It’s also being reported, these individuals are being paid for their lawless actions, by individuals, and organizations with an ominous agenda for the USA. The emerging sad commentary is: common criminals are martyred and revered while law enforcement personnel are vilified. The daily news cycles are filled with Democratic politicians and members of these domestic terrorists groups, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, demanding the defunding of police agencies across America and siding with lawless anarchists. In major U.S. cities; like Portland, Oregon, large swaths of real estate are being over-run and taken over by these self-proclaimed anarchists. Makeshift self-established rogue governments are replacing existing legal authority with anarchists, to occupy and govern these areas - known as, autonomous zones. In reality, autonomous zones are nothing more than anarchist operated crime infested areas where the rule of law is ignored, business owners and residents are being extorted and citizens are being assaulted, raped, and murdered. Today, our country more aptly resembles a third world country than the United States of America. Democratic leaders identity the anarchists as peaceful protestors and elevate their stature to “hero status. However, rioters, looters, and anarchists promoting violence aren’t – peaceful protestors, no matter how hard Democratic politicians and the news media promotes this false narrative. SELF-DEFENSE FIREARMS CLASSIFICATIONS Self-Defense firearms come in a myriad varieties: Double and Single Action Revolvers, Double and Single Action Semi-Auto Pistols, Single Shot, Semi-Auto, Pump Action, and Fixed Breech shotguns, and bolt, pump, single shot, and semi-auto rifles. Revolvers are chambered in either rim fire or center fire ammunition. Centerfire revolvers are capable of being loaded with 5 or 6 shots. Rim fire revolvers and semi-auto pistols are capable of holding significantly more rounds. The black rife or the AR 15 is the most popular rifle in America and is a favorite among citizens, for self-defense. SELF-DEFENSE AMMUNITION TYPE, CALIBERS, AND GAUGES Revolver and pistol calibers range from the diminutive 22 caliber rim fire cartridge, to the centerfire pistol cartridges capable of firing a myriad popular calibers ranging from: 5.7 X 28, 25 ACP, 380, 9MM, 32 Special, 38 Special, 357, 41, and 44 magnum cartridges, 10 mm auto, 44 special, 45 ACP, and the time tested 45 Long Colt. Other, more powerful cartridges are available but they are hard to shoot and may not be practical self-defense choice. In addition to the foregoing, some revolvers are also capable of firing 410 shotgun shells. The difference between a rim fire cartridge and a centerfire cartridge is: the primer to ignite the powder charge in the case, of a rim fire cartridge, is located in the rim. The primer to ignite the powder charge in a centerfire handgun cartridge is located in the center of the cartridge case itself. Overall, the center fire ignition system is more reliable than the rim fire version. The rim fire is capable of firing a lead projectile of either the hollow point or solid lead configuration. Centerfire handgun cartridges are capable of firing lead, jacketed or semi-jacketed hollow points, wad cutters, or soft nose projectiles. Shotgun gauges range from 410, 28, 20, 16, 12 and 10 gauge configurations. Shotgun shells are designed to propel lead, steel, or rifled slug projectiles. Shotguns and buck shot are a favorite among self-defense users, law enforcement, and the U.S. Military. A single load of buckshot is designed to propel a myriad shot pellets with a single firing. At close range a shotgun loaded with buckshot is devastating. In the law enforcement community it’s known as, the “Fight Stopper.” MILITARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SELF-DEFENSE AMMUNITION DIFFERENCES Ammunition for law enforcement is vastly different from ammunition for civilian self- defense purposes. Ammunition for military purposes is vastly different from either law enforcement or civilian self-defense purposes. Military ammunition is designed for tracer capability as well as piercing armor, barriers, and individual protective vests with steel plate inserts – body armor. Law enforcement ammunition has to perform a myriad functions. It must have barrier piercing capability while maintaining a sufficient amount of mass and energy to successfully dispatch a bad guy on the other side. Personal protection or self-defense ammunition is designed to protect an individuals health and welfare by quickly dispatching an aggressor, at close range. In the Military and Law Enforcement, I was designated a small arms expert and I served as a sniper on a law enforcement Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team as well as the pistol team. On the pistol team, I specializing in fast draw and multiple target acquisition and engagement. Between the military and law enforcement, I’ve fired just about every conceivable small arms combat round ever designed and in use today. In law enforcement, I carried the 38 Special, 9MM, and 45 ACP along with a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with either number 4 lead shot, 00 buckshot, or rifle slugs. The required shotgun round depended on the environment I was working in. In the Military I carried the M14 and the M16. The civilian version of the M16 is the AR 15. During my professional career, and as a combat veteran of many gunfights, I’ve witnessed individuals shot with a myriad ammunition types. I was Police Officer Standards and Training (POST), in the mid 1970’s. Today, in the private security sector operating as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP), or (Body Guard) I carry a variety of self-defense weapons to include: A Sig 226 15 shot 9MM, a Kimber 45 ACP, A Smith and Wesson 9MM Shield, and a 12 Gauge Benelli semi-auto shotgun. Each firearm is loaded with quality ammunition for its intended purpose. The pistols are loaded with Sig Sauer V Crown hollow points and the 12 gauge rounds are either 00 buckshot or rifled slugs. SELF-DEFENSE CARTRIDGE KNOCK-DOWN POWER One of the misnomer’s promoted about various self-defense handgun cartridges is: most shooter are under the impression that one shot from a handgun will completely incapacitate an aggressor. This is another fallacy. The human torso is in the same class as a deer, i.e., a light thin skinned animal. In order to completely incapacitate an individual with one shot, the shooter must hit the brain or the spine. If a brain or spine shot isn’t accomplished, the shooter must have a handgun cartridge which carries enough energy to create hydrostatic shock. Hydrostatic shock is the concept that a penetrating projectile (such as a bullet) can produce a pressure wave that causes “remote neural damage,” “subtle damage in neural tissues” and/or “rapid incapacitating effects” in living targets. Therefore a projectile with enough velocity and energy to produce sufficient expansion to creat a hydrostatic shock, makes the hollow point varieties the most preferable and desirable in self-defense handgun use. CHOOSING THE RIGHT SELF-DEENSE FIREARM Choosing the right firearm, for self-defense is an individual preference. My best advice is to go to a firing range where the shooter can rent self-defense firearms to try them out. Caliber is also an individual choice. Over-all, the best philosophy to adopt is to shoot a firearm and caliber the shooter is most proficient with, and has the most confidence in. There’s really no need in buying a 45 caliber pistol, if the shooter can’t handle the recoil and isn’t proficient with the firearm. After all, if the shooter is afraid of the firearm or can’t hit what he or she is shooting at, it’s a waste of money buying it in the first place.The apprehensive shooter won’t practice with the weapon enough, to become proficient. For senior citizens and small stature shooters without a lot of hand grip strength, I always recommend a revolver. Pushing a button and opening a cylinder is a lot easier that pulling back the slide on some semi-auto pistols. Another reason I recommend a revolver over a semi-auto is: a person shooting a semi-auto has to possess the hand grip strength necessary to pull the slide back and clear a jam in an emergency situation. Whichever, firearm a shooter chooses for self-defense the main recommendation is for the shooter to practice with the firearm enough to become proficient. FIREARM LAWS Each State as well as the Federal government has laws governing firearm possession, storage, and transportation. Before purchasing a firearm for self-defense the rule of thumb is to familiarize yourself with the firearms laws in your State of ownership. If the firearm owners intent is to qualify for a concealed carry permit, this information and requirements is readily available on the the internet. One mistake I see being made with firearm owners is mistaking owning a self-defense firearm automatically provides an individual to brandish a firearm and threaten a citizen with it. This philosophy, is a total fallacy. A rule of thumb to remember is, never pull your firearm unless your life, or the life of another is in eminent danger. FIREARMS SAFETY The most important aspect of being a responsible gun owner is to practicing safe firearms handling each time the firearm is picked up. The practice becomes more important when firearms are stored at home with young adults or children. It only takes a few seconds to ensure a firearm is safe and unloaded. “UNTIL NEXT TIME, KEEP EM BETWEEN THE BRIDLE” BOB BAFFERT
THOROUGHBRED RACING LEGEND SUSPENDED FOR DRUG VIOLATION By Richard E. “Rick” Dennis CPP Freelance Writer and Author July 18, 2020 © July 2020 – All Rights Reserved Posted On All About Cutting Online Magazine. Glory Ann Kurtz - Editor BOB BAFFERT SUSPENDED (15) DAYS FOR DRUG POSITIVES The Thoroughbred Racing Industry and the New York Times are reporting that Thoroughbred Racing Legend “Bob Baffert” has been suspended for (15) days following two of Baffert’s top Thoroughbred Race Horses testing positive for a numbing agent. In the New York Times July 15, 2020 article, by Joe Drape, Drape reports: Two top horses, including an Arkansas Derby winner, were found to have a numbing agent in their systems. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/15/sports/bob-baffert-suspended-charlatan-gamine.amp.html The Arkansas Racing Commission suspended the Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert for 15 days on Wednesday and vacated the victories of two of his horses after they tested positive for a banned substance. One of the horses, Charlatan, won a division of the Arkansas Derby on May 2. The colt’s owners will forfeit the $300,000 in prize money for finishing first. The owner of the other horse, a filly named Gamine, must forfeit a $36,000 first-place check won in an allowance race earlier that day. The suspension will run from Aug. 1 to 15. On June 20, Gamine won the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park in New York by nearly 19 lengths in a stakes-record time of 1 minute 32.55 seconds, a performance that inspired talk of the filly taking on males in the Kentucky Derby, which is scheduled for Sept. 5. Baffert is America’s pre-eminent active trainer. He has won the Kentucky Derby five times. In 2015, he trained American Pharoah, the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. Baffert won his second Triple Crown in 2018 with the colt Justify.Baffert has also caught the attention of regulators over the years. BAFFERT’S PREVIOUS DRUG TEST POSITIVES These are his 26th and 27th drug violations, according to public records compiled by the Association of Racetrack Commissioners International and the Thoroughbred Regulatory Rulings database maintained by the Jockey Club.Charlatan and Gamine had two samples test positive for lidocaine, a local numbing agent, according to a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case had not been fully adjudicated. The Times reported on the positive tests of their first samples in late May. Lidocaine can be used legitimately for suturing wounds or as a diagnostic tool to determine if horses are sound enough to compete. The drug may also be present in ointments or creams used on cuts or abrasions. It is regulated because of its potential to mask lameness in an unsound horse. In a hearing, Baffert and his representatives argued that the horses were accidentally exposed to the lidocaine by an assistant trainer, Jimmy Barnes, who had applied a medicinal patch to his own back. Barnes had broken his pelvis, and the brand of patch he used, Salonpas, contains small amounts of Lidocaine. The drug was transferred from his hands through the application of a tongue tie, they said. A lawyer for Baffert, W. Craig Robertson, said the trainer was disappointed in the ruling and planned to appeal. In a statement, he said, “This is a case of innocent exposure and not intentional administration.” Four days after Charlatan’s runaway victory in the Arkansas Derby, the colt’s stallion rights were sold for an undisclosed sum to Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms. The colt missed the Belmont Stakes with an ankle injury, and Baffert has said he will miss the Kentucky Derby, as well. Charlatan may be able to come back in time for the Preakness on Oct. 3. Baffert-trained Justify failed a drug test after winning the Santa Anita Derby, nearly a month before the 2018 Kentucky Derby. Justify wound up winning the Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont that year for the Triple Crown. The rule on the books when Justify failed the test required that the horse be disqualified, forfeiting both his prize money from the Santa Anita Derby and his entry into the Kentucky Derby. California racing officials investigated the failed test for four months, allowing Justify to keep competing long enough to win the Triple Crown. In August, after Justify’s breeding rights had been sold for $60 million, the California Horse Racing Board — whose chairman at the time, Chuck Winner, had employed Baffert to train his horses — disposed of the inquiry in a rare closed-door session. The board ruled that Justify’s positive test for the banned drug scopolamine had been the result of “environmental contamination,” not intentional doping. Baffert has denied any wrongdoing, but the quantity of the drug found in Justify suggested that it was present not because of contamination in his feed or his bedding but rather because of an effort to enhance performance, according to Dr. Rick Sams, who ran the drug lab for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission from 2011 to 2018. Mick Ruis, the owner of the second-place horse in the Santa Anita Derby, is in litigation with California officials to have his colt Bolt d’Oro declared the winner and awarded the $600,000 first-place check. Mick Ruis, the owner of the second-place horse in the Santa Anita Derby, is in litigation with California officials to have his colt Bolt d’Oro declared the winner and awarded the $600,000 first-place check. THOROUGHBRED RACING HAS LONG HISTORY OF HORSE DOPING It’s a known fact, the Thoroughbred Racing industry has a long and established history of trainers and owners doping horses, in order to enhance performance, to win Thoroughbred horse races. It’s also a know FACT, these Sports-Enhancing-Drugs are directly related to a significant number of horses being crippled on the racetrack at a very early age. Still another known fact is: A large majority of these Thoroughbred race horses; crippled or not, end up in the horse slaughter pipeline destined for horse slaughter plants in Mexico and Canada. THOROUGHBRED RACING INDUSTRIES - SMOKE AND MIRRORS Whenever, the Thoroughbred Racing Industry is under extreme scrutiny, by the public, its propaganda campaign kicks into high gear. There’s always an investigation – without resolution, it’s always someone else’s fault, or it’s bad track dirt that’s causing the on-the-track Thoroughbred Race Horse deaths. In truth and reality, it’s the Thoroughbred Racing Industries fault and lack of meaningful action - nothing more, nothing less. The Thoroughbred Racing Commission acts tough but in truth and reality, their actions can be seen as an appeasement to the public and nothing more. Sure, Thoroughbred Race Horses have positive drug test results, in some instances trainers are suspended, and in some cases they pay fines. However, the reality of the drug test positives are: No one goes to prison for these law violations which are nothing more than animal abuse, no one, if ever, is suspended from the industry for life, Thoroughbred Race Horses are still being crippled, the horse slaughter pipeline is still full of Thoroughbred Race Horses, and the betting public is still being fleeced out of their money, by unscrupulous trainers and owners. SMOKE AND MIRRORS. FEDERAL INTERVENTION It’s this authors opinion, that in order for the Thoroughbred Racing industry to be cleaned up it’s going to take Federal Intervention. Owners and Trainers have to go to prison and sustain hefty fines and penalties for their infractions as well as life suspensions from the industry. What’s happening now is nothing more than a slap on the wrist and an appeasement for the general public, without meaningful effective change being incorporated in the industry. “UNTIL NEXT TIME, KEEP EM BETWEEN THE BRIDLE!” |
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