US scene shaken by doping

Greg Wood in The Guardian chronicles the odor coming from across the pond: "Richard Dutrow Jr, who saddled a double in the Sprint and the Classic with Silver Train and Saint Liam, lost his licence for 60 days earlier this year, following a positive test for mepivacaine in 2003, and another for clenbuterol a year later. Add in the high-profile proceedings currently underway against Gregory Martin, who trained at Aqueduct in New York until earlier this year, and doping has been a key theme of the latest racing year in the States. Martin was arrested by federal agents in January, and has been charged with doping and race-fixing. A number of individuals linked to the Gambino crime family also face charges."