sports

Dr. Lynn Hovda, chief veterinarian for the Minnesota Racing Commission, issued a statement Tuesday through attorney Roberta Brackman describing the reason she is being investigated by the Minnesota Management and Budget Office. The story is posted online. Here are more details from Hovda's statement, which reveal that she is being investigated because of a veterinary decision she made--and not because of any corruption or illegal activity.

Hovda was asked not to discuss the investigation, but she decided to make details public Tuesday because news of the investigation had leaked. She was concerned that her reputation was at stake if it were known simply that she was being investigated, without any explanation as to why. Here is her story:

On July 4, 2012 at Canterbury Race Track, a day on which racing had been cancelled due to heat index numbers over 100, a trailer carrying 4 horses arrived at Canterbury from Texas, in a manner not ever experienced by the Canterbury staff: The horse trailer was attached to a pickup truck and both the truck and trailer were sitting atop a flatbed trailer being hauled by a semi –not due to any breakdown or malfunction of the truck or horse trailer –it was deliberately hauled in that manner. The semi had no appropriate place to unload the horse trailer and truck and thus the horses were “stranded” in the trailer, in the 100+ degree heat, while Canterbury staff tried to figure out how to unload the trailer to get the horses off to safety. After staff called Dr. Hovda to the track, Dr. Hovda and two other MRC Veterinarians determined that the horses were showing signs of distress, having been on the trailer in that heat for about 23‐25 hours. And not knowing how long they would have to remain in the hot trailer, and after getting permission from the groom who had arrived with the horses, they treated the horses with a medication called Banamine, a non-steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug to help prevent or mitigate the negative impact on the horses of the heat and duration of their trip. An hour or so later, the Canterbury staff was able to
get the horses unloaded safely and they were treated by the trainer’s veterinarian. Since that day Dr. Hovda has spoken with several well­‐known and knowledgeable equine veterinarians, all of whom agreed that Dr. Hovda’s treatment of the horses on July 4 was not only appropriate under the circumstances but also necessary to protect the horses. Among those
Dr. Hovda consulted were Dr. Kim Voller, Anoka Equine Veterinary Services, Dr. John King, Executive Director of the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Brad Gordon, Minnesota Racing Commission Track Veterinarian prior to
Dr. Hovda’s tenure at the Commission which began in 1995. The investigator retained by MM&B, Mr. William Everett of the
firm of Everett & Vanderwiel, interviewed Dr. Hovda on September 10. Dr. Hovda explained at great length that her treatment of the horses confined to the trailer in the heat on that afternoon with Banamine was not only necessary and
appropriate to their condition, but was also done only after she and Commission Veterinarian Jacquie Rich got permission
from the horses’ groom.

Hovda said in her statement that after the Sept. 10 interview, she was told that the fact-finding was complete, and that the investigator would prepare a report for the racing commission to review. That was the last she heard of it. She is asking the commission to release and confirm the facts of the investigation in order to prevent speculation that could damage her reputation.

The statement also points out that it is not uncommon for horse owners or trainers to disagree with decisions made by Hovda, whose job is to oversee the health and well-being of the horses racing at Canterbury. They want their horses to race, so they sometimes protest veterinarians' rulings that would prevent that from happening. As Hovda notes, those disagreements usually are resolved internally and not through a formal investigation. 

Hovda also stated that she consulted with racing commission executive director Richard Krueger and Canterbury Park President Randy Sampson about the incident. Sampson said Tuesday that Hovda called him afterward to inform him about what happened, and he thanked her for her assistance in resolving the situation with no harm to the horses.

Mushy peas. Could that sound any more unappetizing? That's what the Brits serve as the standard side with fish and chips, and that's what they call it. Mushy peas are a pound extra if you're buying at the venue concessions, which have been the major source of sustenance for Team Star Trib at these Olympics.

I know, the country that gave the world McDonald's and Taco Bell shouldn't be criticizing others' cuisine. But there are some curious foodstuffs here. A couple of nights ago at the gymnastics venue, the sandwich choices were falafel or red onion chutney and brie. I opted for a Cadbury bar. Those are great--the Brits know how to do mass-market chocolate--and I've learned to keep one in my backpack at all times.

There also are some peculiar flavors of crisps (what we call potato chips; chips here are French fries). Most interesting: Prawn cocktail-flavored Pringles. Again, not eager to try that.

The Olympic mascots are curious, too. A cyclops? Really? And a metallic one at that? Sports mascots should be cuddly, like TC Bear or Goldy Gopher. They should at least be faux-fearsome, like Crunch or the Lynx's Prowl. The Olympic mascot is called Wenlock, and I imagine he is inspiring children's nightmares all over Britain. Oh, and he has a buddy, Mandeville, the Paralympic mascot. So if your kids aren't terrified by one metallic cyclops, here's another one!

The Brits may be lacking in tasty food, but they more than make up for it with their sense of humor. I saw an interview on the BBC the other day with the stuntman who played the Queen in the opening ceremonies spoof where she parachuted out of a helicopter. The interviewer asked the guy about getting fitted for the costume, and he said, "I asked to bring my own dresses, but they said no.''  He added that he asked to keep the dress he wore in the video, and that he would have worn it for a night out on the town. His request was turned down.

One of the in-arena videos that plays before competitions has a bit with comedian Ricky Gervais, one of my favorites. In talking about one British point of pride--the fact that many sports were invented or codified here--he notes that the Brits have invented lots of sports that other people are much better at. They can laugh at themselves, too, always a good quality.

A trip to Greenwich Park on Tuesday yielded lots of fun surprises. It's a lovely town, full of history and beautiful old buildings. It's been full of royalty lately, too, as Zara Phillips--daughter of Princess Anne and granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth--competed in eventing for the British team.

It was speculated that this would be a prime spot for royal-watchers. On Monday, Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Princess Anne were among those who came out to see Phillips compete in the cross-country portion of the three-day event. They returned Tuesday with Prince Charles's wife, Camilla, to watch the Brits take silver with a fine performance in the final part of the event, stadium jumping.

I was outside the arena when the final riders went, because I wanted to see how all the people in the park would react. When the final British rider competed, the place went dead silent. Then it erupted into applause, as the Brits put themselves in position for team silver. They went wild again after the final rider, a German, finished.

Suddenly, a horde of photographers ran to where I was standing. I didn't immediately realize what was happening, but they were clearly seasoned royal-followers. Sure enough, William, Kate and Harry came striding out of the stadium surrounded by their security detail. When they walked 15 feet in front of me, I was too stunned to think to pull out the cell phone and snap a photo.

Not that I need one to remember it by. It was one of those serendipitous Olympic moments, the kind that just materializes before you know it and stays with you forever. This will be a good cocktail-party story for a while.

Things were hopping outside the venue, too. Greenwich is having a town festival in conjunction with the Olympics, and it hung a huge TV screen on one of the classic buildings of the Old Royal Naval College next to the jumping stadium. Lots of people were hanging out there Tuesday, sitting in canvas deck chairs and watching the equestrian competition. Here are some photos.

By way of catching up ... We've seen a number of our local athletes this week as their teams conducted pre-Olympics press conferences in the Main Press Center. Fencer Susie Scanlan and wrestler Chas Betts were blown away by the sheer amount of stuff the U.S. Olympic Committee provides.

When the athletes go through processing, they are given loads of gear. Shoes, sweats, T-shirts, bags, etc. Scanlan and Betts already have sent some of it home; it would be too unwieldy to try and haul all of it through the airport when they leave. Scanlan and coach Ro Sobalvarro also noted that a Ralph Lauren stylist was on-site to ensure the blazers and pants for the opening ceremony were tailored for a precise fit. Sobalvarro said the men are wearing white bucks, so good thing it looks like it won't rain.

Lots of people have weighed in on the look of the uniforms. They're touted as "classic American style.'' And they are, to some degree. But they do look like something seen at a cocktail party at a Connecticut yacht club circa 1970. Not very modern. Looking forward to the Italians, Swedes and Canadians, who never fail to disappoint as Olympic style icons.

It's a gorgeous night here in London, overcast but refreshingly cool. Looking forward to hearing Paul McCartney and seeing what the director Danny Boyle has in store.

The middle of the stadium has been transformed into a meadow, complete with trees, split-rail fences and stone cottages. Best, though, not to look up. Then you're subjected to the modern monstrosity called the ArcelorMittal Orbit. It's an observation tower that looks like Paul Bunyan ripped up a roller-coaster track, wadded it up like a used tissue and threw it on top of a pole. Now, I like modern art; I might even go see some of those Damien Hirst formaldehyde-preserved animal things at the Tate Modern when the Olympics finish. But this is just ugly. Worse, it's permanent, and worse yet, it's named for a corporation. Lots of the structures in Olympic Park are temporary, as part of the London Games' desire to be sustainable. Too bad this isn't one.

Speaking of corporations, the sponsor pavilions just keep getting bigger and more elaborate at every Olympics. Several of them are stationed around the park, or around town. Yesterday, several large golf-car loads of people in expensive suits wearing expensive sunglasses and drinking expensive coffees were tooling around the Park for private sightseeing. I understand the Olympics are ridiculously costly to mount and need sponsorship funding, but the level of bowing and scraping to the sponsors feels out of synch with the Olympic spirit of inclusion and democracy. This has not been lost on the Brits, who have bristled at how militant the International Olympic Committee has been in regard to "protecting'' sponsors. It certainly must be good business for the barristers.

Speaking of VIPs ... as I entered the stadium, wandering around trying to find the media seating, I walked up an aisle and was stopped by a polite volunteer. He told me I couldn't be there and pointed me in the right direction. I asked who was going to be sitting there. "Royalty,'' he said, in a rather matter-of-fact way.

I'm not very far away, so I will be looking over my shoulder to see if I recognize any faces I've seen in the tabloids or on the currency.

Our seats are great. Maybe 10 rows up, closer to the floor than the dignitaries' seats. They're on my left.  

So I probably shouldn't have been surprised by this, considering how often I find Minnesota connections in the most unexpected places. But one of the first people we met in London looked at our credentials and immediately had a story about his Minnesota experience.

Alan Farmer is a volunteer with the London Olympics. On Tuesday, when Jim Souhan, Brian Peterson and I arrived at our hotel--the Premier Inn Euston--he was working the media transport desk. Years ago, Alan worked for Sperry-Rand and made a business trip to the Twin Cities. During his summer visit, he was introduced to our boating culture.

"I remember they had a bucket of chicken and a load of beer,'' he said. "We were out on the Mississippi River, and they tried to get me to water-ski, even though there were barges.''

I'm typing this from the patio of the Premier Inn, tucked on tiny Dukes Road in the Bloomsbury district. A balmy day has cooled to a lovely night--so nice to be out of the Minnesota sauna. It's a cool neighborhood; lots of pubs and restaurants. A few characters, too. Last night at one of the local hangouts--The Euston Flyer--we were approached by the same drunken young panhandler not once, but twice. Neither try worked. We also were warned at the first place we ate at, the London Pub (yeah, didn't put too much effort into the name, eh?) not to put our backpacks, cameras or other equipment on the tables or chairs next to us. A favorite scam, the bartender said, is for a thief to carry a coat and drape it over the chair as he/she walks by--to conceal the pickup of your valuables. He suggested we always wrap a strap around our legs. I had heard the London pickpockets are legendary. Guess they're not kidding.

We quickly discovered all the buses being used for media transport are double-deckers. It's pretty cool--great views. We also quickly discovered the Javelin high-speed train. It's a 10-minute walk to catch it at the St. Pancras station, and it's amazing. The trip that took us 45 minutes by bus on our first day Tuesday takes 7 minutes on the Javelin. Its top speed is said to be 140 miles per hour. When one went past us at the Stratford station, the whoosh was incredible. It's sleek and new, and the smoothest train ride I've ever experienced. London is just full of cool stuff!