- This topic has 31 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 9 months ago by
.
- Posts
Here are the findings of the investigation well, those that they are prepared to tell the public anyway. Can’t believe they have said investigation was ‘extensive and thorough’ and yet failed to interview the man who owned the horses.
The same ruler of Dubai where the Dutch woman was originally jailed for reporting that she was raped! The same man that many on here voted owner of the year!
Horseshit!
Nobody else in the yard knew anything about it? They are having a laugh, or running scared, more like.I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highwaysI think it inconceivable that the infidels at BHA could even consider that the, some say autocratic and dictatorial Sheik, might have anything whatsoever to do with the training of his horses.
Its a cover up , pure and simple
All concerned in the BHA should resign
how can anyone have any confidence in racing after this entire episode
its disgusting
imo
Ricky
Some thoughts.
It strikes me as being inconceivable that a tightly run organisation like Godolphin would not have standard operating procedures across all its stables and why would the control at Moulton Paddocks have been allowed to be so lax, unless by design.
As the de-facto boss of Moulton Stables how is Crisford’s position still tenable?
So both MAZ and the vet are supposedly in Dubai yet they cannot be contacted – sorry don’t buy that one – if they are in Dubai and old Mo said so they would be immediately contactable.
Why are the BHA so afraid and in so much awe of Old Mo – why is he seemingly untouchable?
In his statements after the affair first came to light Bittar was so far up Mo’s backside there was a worry he would never be seen again. Why was his lackey interviewed and not the main man himself?
It seems the BHA are prepared to accept the MAZ version of events but it has already been shown there were inconsistencies in his evidence, in which case why should any of it be believed?
The only clear conclusion of this report is the confirmation the BHA have no "control" over this matter at all but the entire investigation has been driven and influenced by Godolphin.
"Dear Holiness,
OK Mo here’s the deal. We can’t say nothing at all, so we’ll have a little moan about procedures at Moulton, we’ll make some airy fairy assumptions just to underscore the duplicity of that terrible chap / stooge Al Zarooni and then life can carry on as normal.
"Some hacks like that tiresome Greg Wood will make a song and dance about it all but it will soon blow over.
"Is that OK with you My Lord and Master Mo the Almighty?
Sincerely
The BHA"Think I agree with most of what paul has said.
When it all came out I initially though well done to the BHA for their prompt action but am now wondering if there was a motive behind that. Thought it very strange that they did a joint press conference with Crisford.
"In view of the fact that Mahmood Al Zarooni had left the country and was not responding either to direct efforts to contact him or via his previously engaged solicitors, it was not considered the best use of the sport’s funds and resources."
I see they fall short of saying that he has returned to Dubai. You surely couldn’t pass wind in that country without the monarch’s blessing, and we’re lead to believe that the law starts and finishes with him, so were AZ residing there I think you could quite fairly conclude that the Sheik would be failing in a duty to racing by providing this crook with a safeguard against closer scrutiny.
The entire thing reads -at least between the lines- as though maximum deference has been paid toward the Sheik’s sensitivities. I find it difficult not to see the whole investigation and report as total whitewash.
I guess the whole episode casts an unedifying super trouper over the sport’s growing dependency upon Arab participation and sponsorship.
Not a good day for my town.
Edited for spelling mistakes.
May as well as not bothered having a hearing, it has just made them look a laughing stock.
Looks like they are scared of Godolphin quitting the British racing scene, but if that was what a proper investigation caused then so be it.
I’m reminded of a scene in
The Naked Gun
where Leslie Nielsen’s hapless Lieutenant Dreben orchestrates a car accident, ending up with the vehicles piling into a fireworks factory. Subsequently, the entire building blows sky-high in a shower of rockets, catherine wheels and bangers.
As a crowd gathers, Dreben says "Nothing to see here. Please disperse. Nothing to see here at all…"
Mike
Why are the BHA so afraid and in so much awe of Old Mo – why is he seemingly untouchable?
All men are equal but some men are more equal than others……
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Don’t see what else the BHA can do.
1. Sheikh Mohammed is a Prime Minister, Vice President and Constitutional Monarch. That grants him certain immunities (yes even from the BHA). Didn’t hear anyone calling for the Queen to be questioned over the Moonlight Path affair, and anyway when was any
owner
ever hauled over the coals for a doping offence?
2. Al Zarooni won’t say anymore, can’t be forced to talk (by the BHA) and now resides thousands of miles away in another sovereign state. Nothing the BHA can do about that.
3. The blokes who administered the juice cannot be charged. Nothing the BHA can do about that.
4. The BHA interviewed "Godolphin employees and contractors", they all said their piece. And it probably went along the lines of what Godolphin have said from the outset. What else can the BHA do?
5. Reports by investigating officers are always confidential. Nothing new in this case.
6. Anything that happened in Dubai is completely beyond the jurisdiction of the BHA.
So in fairness they went in, tested the horses, banned the trainer, banned the horses and told the stable to get its act together. Honestly don’t see what else they could do given the circumstances.
The only complete **** up was the BHA allowing Crisford to act as judge and jury when the story broke, rather than treating him as the defendant that he actually was.
Personally I’d have huge questions about Al Zarooni’s evidence given the seven subsequent positive tests which came to light that he failed to mention but I fail to see what else the BHA can do.
Anyway the Godolphin brand is forever tainted imo, and that’s more damaging than any punishment the BHA could ever dish out.
I was always a fan of their openness, their global approach, the fabulous website with all the free Timeform info, Frankie, their sheer passion for racing….
Now I can’t be bothered with Godolphin anymore. Won’t even visit their website again.
Shame.
Don’t see what else the BHA can do.
1. Sheikh Mohammed is a Prime Minister, Vice President and Constitutional Monarch. That grants him certain immunities (yes even from the BHA). Didn’t hear anyone calling for the Queen to be questioned over the Moonlight Path affair, and anyway when was any
owner
ever hauled over the coals for a doping offence?
He is still subject to the rules of racing and let’s be honest he isn’t exactly a "hands off" owner.
When it suits them Goldolphin are very quick to point out just how involved in the day to day operation he is, yet when the guano hits the fan he’s suddenly very detached.
I don’t think you are comparing like with like regarding The Queen. Totally different set-ups, a single horse as opposed to a systemic doping operation.
2. Al Zarooni won’t say anymore, can’t be forced to talk (by the BHA) and now resides thousands of miles away in another sovereign state. Nothing the BHA can do about that.
Indeed the BHA cannot BUT old Mo could easily insist he talks as by not talking MAZ is doing further damage to the reputation of Godolphin. If MAZ was truly operating alone it would very much be in the interests of Godolphin for MAZ to fully cooperate.
6. Anything that happened in Dubai is completely beyond the jurisdiction of the BHA.
But not Old Mo and if he really cared about the integrity of the sport in the UK he would be bending over backwards to ensure there was full assistance to any BHA investigation.
At the end of the day he is an arrogant dictator, used to getting his own way. An arrogance that, in his eyes, does not allow any questioning of what he does.
The only complete fu*k up was the BHA allowing Crisford to act as judge and jury when the story broke, rather than treating him as the defendant that he actually was.
That certainly was a massive own goal
This is all too much, I’m ageeing with Paul again
The big thing in this case is that this was a one owner yard. I also don’t see how Crisford can go on. His arrogance over this matter is only second to that of the owner. An owner who feels he can dictate to racing just as he dictates to the people of his country.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.