Bill Heller
| #SOUNDBITES |
#SOUNDBITES Are there adequate protocols and security on the backstretch to prevent outsiders from tampering with horses? If not, what would you suggest?
#R alph Nicks The answer is yes. The tracks have fences around all the way—all the tracks I’ve ever been at.
# Leah Gyarmati I imagine it varies from track to track. I can only speak about New York. In New York, it is adequate—even more so over the last year because of COVID. Everybody is being secure. Everybody is watching. They’re much more observant. Obviously, nothing is perfect or foolproof, but they’ve done a very good job here.
# Simon Callaghan I think there is. Tracks are different. At Santa Anita, security is tight. We’ve got a night watchman. I have people at my barn 24/7. We’ve been doing that for quite a while. It’s very important to have someone there at night. We want to make sure that there are no problems.
# Rusty Arnold No. They could do more. We need a stable gate. We can’t prevent people from coming on the backstretch at Keeneland.
# Kevin Attard Speaking of Woodbine, I think security is pretty strict. You’re not getting past the security gate without proper credentials. Especially with the whole COVID pandemic, things are just that much more strict. Obviously, I feel pretty confident outsiders aren’t going to come in, but that doesn’t prevent other licensed personnel from getting to horses, affecting people’s careers.
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