Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Derby Controversy

Aired May 12, 2003 - 10:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: For the jockey who won the Kentucky Derby, a picture perfect victory turned into a major controversy. Jose Santos is meeting with race officials today to talk about a photo that some suggest that the jockey may have been holding something besides just a whip when he crossed the finish line last week.
Richard Eng writes horse racing for "The Las Vegas Review Journal," and he joins us now to talk some more about this controversy.

Good morning, Richard.

What do you make of this? I've seen the photograph. If we could put this up on the screen so folks can see it, we'll know what we're talking about here. I've seen this a ton of times, and at first blush, it does look like there may be something in his hand.

What do you make of this?

RICHARD ENG, "LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL": Well, the think I make out of it, Leon, is I think this photo is pretty much taken out of context, because while it looks incriminating to some degree, if you look at the entire scope of the stretch run at Churchill Downs for the derby, whether it's videotape or still photography, there is really nothing you can see that the jockey did that was wrong or carrying a device, but this one photo looks shady, but that's why I teal it's taken out of custody.

HARRIS: I read somewhere he said he had a cue ring in his hand at one point during the race. What exactly is that?

ENG: Well, there is no such thing as a cue ring, and this part of a problem, Leon, that I have with the entire story. I almost think that it's more of a question of integrity of the journalism versus -- rather than the integrity of horse racing, because the reporter really misquoted Jose Santos and what he said very incorrectly. He did not say anything about a cue ring. What it is a cue ray, which is a copper bracelet that people wear for arthritis.

HARRIS: No kidding a cue ray. I've seen those before. I know what that is. So you think this is a case where a newspaper just jumped to a conclusion there and ran too far? So what do you think is going to happen with all of this?

ENG: I know they are meeting right now as we speak. The we is the stewards for the Kentucky Racing Commission who adjudicate over at Churchill Downs, and Jose Santos and his lawyer are there meeting with him now. I spoke to the track about 10 minutes ago, and I really believe that after that meeting is over, hopefully this incident, for horse racing's sake and for Santos' sake, will be over.

HARRIS: All right, I'm hearing there may be a 2:00 p.m. press conference on all of this.

Richard, have you ever heard of any jockey actually carrying something in his hand and using it? I've heard guys talking about some sort of a battery-operated device that may shock a horse or whatever. Have you heard about anybody using that? And do you know if it works?

ENG: I'll tell you what, Leon, in the old days, there probably were more incidence of something like this. Part of the lore of racing is there has been some larceny in the past, especially with money involved, but with the advent of all the videotape, and the cameras and things like that, and stewards looking over the races very carefully, I think it happens extremely rarely.

But there was a famous incident a couple of years ago in the Arkansas Derby where a horse called Valhall (ph) won the case, and the jockey Billy Patine (ph) was discovered with an electrical device, and he was barred from track for five years, and the horse was disqualified and all the horse purse month taken way. So very rarely, I guess, it does happen, but not so hutch in modern era.

HARRIS: I can't think of a sane five foot tall man who would want to shock a horse in the first place and get on his back. Doesn't even make sense.

All right, Thanks, Richard. Richard Eng, we thank you for your insight from Las Vegas, and we'll wait and see what happens this afternoon.

ENG: My pleasure, Leon.

HARRIS: Take care.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired May 12, 2003 - 10:45   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: For the jockey who won the Kentucky Derby, a picture perfect victory turned into a major controversy. Jose Santos is meeting with race officials today to talk about a photo that some suggest that the jockey may have been holding something besides just a whip when he crossed the finish line last week.
Richard Eng writes horse racing for "The Las Vegas Review Journal," and he joins us now to talk some more about this controversy.

Good morning, Richard.

What do you make of this? I've seen the photograph. If we could put this up on the screen so folks can see it, we'll know what we're talking about here. I've seen this a ton of times, and at first blush, it does look like there may be something in his hand.

What do you make of this?

RICHARD ENG, "LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL": Well, the think I make out of it, Leon, is I think this photo is pretty much taken out of context, because while it looks incriminating to some degree, if you look at the entire scope of the stretch run at Churchill Downs for the derby, whether it's videotape or still photography, there is really nothing you can see that the jockey did that was wrong or carrying a device, but this one photo looks shady, but that's why I teal it's taken out of custody.

HARRIS: I read somewhere he said he had a cue ring in his hand at one point during the race. What exactly is that?

ENG: Well, there is no such thing as a cue ring, and this part of a problem, Leon, that I have with the entire story. I almost think that it's more of a question of integrity of the journalism versus -- rather than the integrity of horse racing, because the reporter really misquoted Jose Santos and what he said very incorrectly. He did not say anything about a cue ring. What it is a cue ray, which is a copper bracelet that people wear for arthritis.

HARRIS: No kidding a cue ray. I've seen those before. I know what that is. So you think this is a case where a newspaper just jumped to a conclusion there and ran too far? So what do you think is going to happen with all of this?

ENG: I know they are meeting right now as we speak. The we is the stewards for the Kentucky Racing Commission who adjudicate over at Churchill Downs, and Jose Santos and his lawyer are there meeting with him now. I spoke to the track about 10 minutes ago, and I really believe that after that meeting is over, hopefully this incident, for horse racing's sake and for Santos' sake, will be over.

HARRIS: All right, I'm hearing there may be a 2:00 p.m. press conference on all of this.

Richard, have you ever heard of any jockey actually carrying something in his hand and using it? I've heard guys talking about some sort of a battery-operated device that may shock a horse or whatever. Have you heard about anybody using that? And do you know if it works?

ENG: I'll tell you what, Leon, in the old days, there probably were more incidence of something like this. Part of the lore of racing is there has been some larceny in the past, especially with money involved, but with the advent of all the videotape, and the cameras and things like that, and stewards looking over the races very carefully, I think it happens extremely rarely.

But there was a famous incident a couple of years ago in the Arkansas Derby where a horse called Valhall (ph) won the case, and the jockey Billy Patine (ph) was discovered with an electrical device, and he was barred from track for five years, and the horse was disqualified and all the horse purse month taken way. So very rarely, I guess, it does happen, but not so hutch in modern era.

HARRIS: I can't think of a sane five foot tall man who would want to shock a horse in the first place and get on his back. Doesn't even make sense.

All right, Thanks, Richard. Richard Eng, we thank you for your insight from Las Vegas, and we'll wait and see what happens this afternoon.

ENG: My pleasure, Leon.

HARRIS: Take care.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com