Chasing Dr. G

- I can’t say that I’m the least bit surprised that the October 3rd deadline has come and gone, and House Representative Ed Whitfield says:

"I am doubtful the Jockeys' Guild and Matrix have produced all records subpoenaed by the committee......Ontrack injury insurance for jockeys and other track workers is a very serious and important issue. Dr. Gertmenian's continued lack of cooperation is troubling." [Daily Racing Form]

According to Matt Hegarty, Guild lawyer Lloyd Ownbey cited attorney-client privilege as a reason to withhold some documents and decline to answer some questions. I suppose that if the President can cite that privilege to deny access to documents that might tell us something about Harriet Miers, a woman who could change the balance of the Supreme Court in a profound way for many years to come, anyone could be comfortable doing the same to a Republican Subcommittee chairman.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if come October 18, when he and other Guild officials are scheduled to testify before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Gertmenian is long gone, having left the country, triggering a massive manhunt. In fact, it could become the first intergalactic reality series, Chasing Dr. G, as the authorities follow in hot pursuit as he tries to return to whatever planet it is that he came here from.

Given the fact that the Weightgate indictment that names several prominent jockeys is filled with apparent inconsistencies, you would think that the Guild would have at least issued a statement in their defense. It’s also an opportunity to promote their agenda of increasing the minimum riding weight. Unfortunately, the organization is bogged down in having to explain their sometimes inexplicable behavior, and they seem to have more to hide than Karl Rove in thong swimwear.