Tagged: thoroughbred racing

Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. is asking New York's top court to overturn his 10-year ban by the state Racing and Wagering Board for equine drug violations, saying it raises substantial civil rights issues.

In asking the Court of Appeals to hear Dutrow's case, attorney Michael Koenig says it should decide whether the appearance of bias by racing board Chairman John Sabini cost the trainer his right to a fair proceeding.

Each of the Triple Crown events—the Kentucky Derby, Maryland’s Preakness and the Belmont Stakes in New York—is run on a dirt track. Some in the horse racing industry want to end that tradition and lay down potentially-safer synthetic tracks. But with grandstands increasingly empty, critics say track owners are putting profits over safety. As part of our "Track Tech" series, WEKU’s Matt Laslo looks at the future of track material technology.

“Track Tech” is a collaboration between WEKU, Louisville Public Media, and N-P-R’s Innovation Trail.