Ethics Probes Keep Asmussen off HOF Ballot

by T.D. Thornton 
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame notified members of its voting panel on Tuesday that trainer Steve Asmussen will not be allowed to appear on 2015 Hall of Fame ballots because of ongoing investigations into rules and ethics violations in New York and Kentucky. 

“Our executive committee felt it didn't send the right message for somebody who's being investigated for animal cruelty and drug abuse violations to be eligible for the sport's highest honor,” HOF communications coordinator Brien Bouyea told TDN. 

Asmussen, the second-winningest all-time North American trainer (6,930 victories) and fifth-highest all-time purse earner ($224 million), could not be reached for comment. 

Bouyea said Asmussen first became eligible for HOF voting in 2011, and that in 2014 he was selected by the nominating committee to appear as one of 10 candidates on that year's final ballot. But shortly after ballots were mailed last spring, an undercover video surfaced that depicted alleged ethical abuses within Asmussen's racing operation. 

In the face of public pressure and subsequent commission-level investigations in two states, the HOF tabled Asmussen's candidacy and removed him from voting consideration. 

Bouyea said that because the New York and Kentucky investigations are ongoing, that tabling will remain in effect for 2015. 

“If it comes out that these investigations clear him of any wrongdoing, we will not have any problem bringing him back for consideration next year if he continues to be in good standing,” Bouyea said. “We're not looking to blackball anybody.” 

Bouyea said he could not recall such a pre-emptive action ever occurring with regard to HOF voting. But he acknowledged that increasingly intense scrutiny is something that Hall-of-Fame candidates are facing in many sports. 

“It's certainly something we're going to have to be dealing with [in future elections],” Bouyea said. “There have been a lot of trainers who have been fined or suspended, and I think any of them who have lengthy records are going to get a serious look about whether they'll be considered or not.” 

Bouyea said calls and emails to the HOF on Tuesday were evenly split between supporters saying the HOF “did the right thing” by excluding Asmussen and opponents whose sentiment was “let the voters decide.”