Improper Care At Breeders’ Cup?

Canadian racing officials say they found evidence that Ricks Natural Star, a New Mexico thoroughbred that ran last in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Turf race, did not receive proper care before and after the race. The owner denies the allegation.

Jean Major, chairman of the Ontario Racing Commission, reported the commission’s findings in a letter last week to Dr. William Livingston, the Artesia, N.M., veterinarian who paid $40,000 to run his 7-year-old gelding against some of the best horses in the world.

Ricks Natural Star finished 30 seconds behind the winning horse in the Oct. 26, 1-mile race. Before leaving Canada, Livingston filed a complaint with the commission alleging his horse wasn’t given a fair chance to win.

Major’s letter to Livingston said the commission reviewed a tape of the race, had interviewed various officials and individuals connected with the race and found no evidence that Ricks Natural Star was impeded in any way from winning the race that day.

But in the course of investigating Livingston’s allegations, Major said the commission obtained information “which suggests that you were ill-equipped to attend to the needs of Ricks Natural Star.”