(Reuters) – A racing Hall of Fame-nominated horse trainer was cleared by Kentucky gaming officials on Thursday of abuse allegations leveled against him by animal-rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission said in a report published on its website that PETA’s claims that Steve Asmussen, his top assistant, Scott Blasi, and other staff had administered various performance enhancing and pain-masking drugs to horses and used electric shock paddles on them were unfounded. “When first reading the allegations and viewing the video, concern was raised,” the report said. “After a thorough and rigorous investigation, no evidence of a rule violation was found.” Asmussen’s nomination to the Hall of Fame was tabled last March while the Kentucky and New York state racing commissions conducted investigations, after PETA posted a video online that was recorded by an undercover investigator working for Asmussen.
Kentucky investigation clears horse trainer of abuse allegations
