Santa Anita takes precautions for Cup
The Breeders' Cup will increase the number of veterinarians on site during its world championships this fall at Santa Anita, where 30 horses died during the racing meet that recently concluded.
That's according to Craig Fravel, president and chief executive of the Breeders' Cup, who said reaction to the board of directors' decision to keep the two-day event at the historic Southern California track has been “very supportive.”
“People had every opportunity to know what the facts are before they decided,” he said Monday. “The fact that it was a unanimous vote is reflective of the sentiment in the room.”
Santa Anita will host for a record 10th time on Nov. 1-2.
Besides the 14 vets on-site during Breeders' Cup week, there will be 20 on hand during the two days of racing, Fravel said.
“Every horse gets examined two times, probably more,” he said. “We have the strictest medication rules. We'll be looking at horses throughout the summer and fall before we get to the Breeders' Cup. We certainly don't mind people asking those questions.”
The event will be run under the house rules adopted by track owner The Stronach Group to improve safety. Those include a reduction in the use of race-day Lasix, an anti-bleeding medication.
MO REJECTS PLEA DEAL IN DWI
Former Jet Mo Wilkerson, 29, who now plays for the Packers, was offered a plea deal for a June DWI incident, which would lay only a $500 fine on Wilkerson, along with requiring the defensive end to attend an impaired driver program and agree to a 90-day suspension of his driver's licence.
Wilkerson rejected the deal, though the offer doesn't appear to have been rescinded just yet.
His trial date has been set for September 3, before the start of the regular season.
Wilkerson was pulled over after allegedly rolling through a stop sign while driving a Rolls Royce in Washington Heights in the early morning hours of June 1, according to the NYPD. He failed a breathalyzer test, scoring .09, just over the legal limit, police said.
“I had a shot and two beers,” Wilkerson told police at the time.
Wilkerson spent seven seasons with Gang Green before being cut, and was then given a one-year, $5 million contract by Green Bay in March 2018.
The former Pro Bowler only played three games last season before breaking his ankle in a Week 3 matchup against Washington, forcing him into seasonending surgery.
NEYMAR FACES FINE
Brazil striker Neymar could face punishment after missing French champion Paris Saint-Germain's first day of preseason training on Monday without informing the club.
Neymar's spokeswoman, Day Crespo, denied the allegation PSG was not informed, and added the player will return to France on July 15 as agreed “weeks ago.”
PSG said in a statement that “Neymar was not in attendance at the agreed time and place” and this was “without the club's prior authorization.”
PSG added, “It regrets this situation and will therefore take appropriate action.”
Crespo told The Associated Press the club knew Neymar scheduled a video shooting on July 10 and an event at his institute three days later. “Neymar's institute has organized this event for five years and everyone knows of those dates,” she said. “After those dates he will be present with the group on July 15, as he informed the club weeks ago.”