Trainer Miller Critical of Arkansas Derby Scratch

Trainer Peter Miller criticized California regulators and the racing office at Oaklawn Park May 1 after his 3-year-old ridgling Wrecking Crew was scratched from the first division of the May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1) because of a California Horse Racing Board rule.

According to Miller, Wrecking Crew was scratched because the horse had been placed on the veterinarian's list after being treated with Clenbuterol in California to treat a respiratory issue in early March. The rule, which Miller said he and his two veterinarians were unaware of until days ago, requires a horse treated with Clenbuterol to show no presence of the drug in the blood or urine after a workout before it can be removed from the veterinarian’s list. Miller said the horse was never tested because he was unaware of the regulation.

Veterinarian's lists, compiled at tracks across the country, show horses ineligible to race for a length of time pending regulatory approval, for reasons such as unsoundness, medication use, or respiratory bleeding.

The details of the scratch were first reported by Horse Racing Nation.

Use of Clenbuterol, a medication used therapeutically as a decongestant and bronchodilator, has become more restrictive in recent years, partially because it is suspected the drug can build muscle mass in racehorses and potentially elevate performance.

Miller believes the CHRB rule makes little sense because horses are not allowed to run on Clenbuterol in California, making a test for a between-races workout unnecessary.

"It's absolute idiocy," he said.

The CHRB defended the Clenbuterol rule, which took effect Jan. 1, in a statement from spokesman Mike Marten, who provided documentation that practicing California veterinarians, including those employed by Miller, were made aware of the regulation via email, as was the California Thoroughbred Trainers organization.

Miller said it has become increasingly challenging for trainers to keep up with rules in California when amendments are regularly made by the CHRB.

"Progress is moving forward. But just moving the ball around isn't progress," he said.

Miller feels Wrecking Crew's owner, Rockingham Ranch, was shortchanged. He estimated Rockingham Ranch will lose thousands of dollars from flying the horse to Oaklawn in Arkansas and eventually back to California, without a start to show for it.

He feels the Oaklawn Park racing office should have notified him of the veterinarian's list issue at the time of entries April 26 before the horse traveled to Arkansas days later. 

According to Marten, Wrecking Crew, a son of Sky Kingdom , was designated as being on the veterinarian's list since March 10 in the InCompass computer system that racing offices utilize.

Wrecking Crew had morning-line odds of  20-1 for the first division of the Arkansas Derby before his scratch. Charlatan is the even-money favorite.