I do believe there are "honest" trainers in the business. However, unfortunately, in today's day and age, what does "honest" actually mean? Hay, oats, and water? It is a pathetic state of affairs where if you are putting a horse on the track, with only hay, oats, and water, you are simply at a competitive disadvantage. I guess for me it comes down to the same question-----who is it OK to give a horse to? If you pick a "top" trainer, aren't all of them doing something? A big owner told me his gut-check is legal, therapeutic medications vs. designer, exotic, illegal, PED, etc. I don't have a problem with a trainer getting an overage on bute or clenbuterol. Unless it's given 6 hours out when the rule is 5 or 7 days out. That's egregious and malintent. But I absolutely have a problem with a trainer getting a positive for a drug that is really bad (which, BTW, can harm the horse), illegal, and has no place on the track or farm.
I guess it all comes down to reputation and interpretation. One owner will have a problem with so and so, and another won't. Eye of the beholder.
