Mark Allen, Kentucky Derby Winner, Has Ties To Alaska Bribery Scandal

McClatchy:

If it weren't for the plea deal that his dad, former Veco chief executive Bill Allen, made with federal prosecutors, Mark Allen might not have been in the winner's circle Saturday at the Kentucky Derby, celebrating the victory of his thoroughbred Mine That Bird and a $2 million purse.

Read the whole story: McClatchy

Comments

[Palemoon]

I watched the race yesterday. I was happy that no horses were needlessly injured in this spectacle along with their human riders. Everything is secondary to that. However, with that said, I thought the finish was amazing, and I was really hoping this was a case of the little guy sticking it to the millionaire/billionaire capitalists.

All of that is now a fraud. Turns out this Canadian mule has a much bigger pedigree than what was talked about during the broadcast, in regards to both his bloodline and ownerships.

Now that it's revealed about the criminal connections of the owner, well, now everything is called into question. Was his seemingly poor/lackluster performances in the 2 previous races this year done deliberately, i.e. "sandbagging"?? This horse was a winner before they purchased him for what seems like a steal. Perhaps the terms of the sale need to be investigated?? $9500 won't even get you a decent barrel horse, let alone a potential triple crown winner. There had to have been some sweetheart dealing going on with this horse.

[JustAHumanOnEarth]

This is REALLY reaching. It's like saying that my step uncle in law twice removed had a DUI 10 years ago so therefore I must be a pothead.

[roger37]

Well?

[Beernuts]

You don't have a clue. There is a lot more to come out about the suddenly "super horse" performance of Mine That Bird. I would suspect something in the "system", a new magic potion, known only to this trainer and a very few others. It is how this business works. To get "good" horses a trainer from "nowhere" has to win races in bunches and get the attention of the moneyed, quietly corrupt crowd of "sportsmen" in TB racing. Or maybe...that's it...win the most important race in the sport....with a horse that wouldn't have been less than 15/1 in any of the 3 year-old allowance or stakes or high level claiming races at ANY track in the country last Saturday. Something stinks.....and the stench will get stronger in the next few days.

[yathink]

Guess you really didn't read the article. The only reason Bill Allen's son Mark is running the derby winner is that daddy's deal protected him from criminal prosecution. It's all a huge protection scheme. I guess we will never see any real prosecution of political bribery in Alaska again. Let alone any congressional investigations of torture. CYA is now the law of the land.

[tel8034]

Alaska which always had a "colorful" political history, has consistently been under the radar because of its location away from the lower 48..................... No-one outside of Alaska even thought about the state, and certainly didn't have a care about the soap opera nature of its local politics

But thanks to the Wasilla hillbilly with grandiose delusional political ambitions, and the republican party vendetta against Ted Stevens which landed him before the courts, Alaska and all of its nefarious deeds are being exposed, because people outside Alaska have now taken an interest in the political activities of the state.

So Alaska is being forced to "step up to the plate", and their local polticians are all under constant local and national scrutiny.

If Sarah and Ted had not surfaced onto the national stage, the headline would have just been "MINE THAT BIRD WINS KENTUCKY DERBY" and not "MARK ALLEN, KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER, HAS TIES TO ALASKA BRIBERY SCANDAL"

[BowlingForRevenge]

No surprises here as the rich just get richer.

We only go after the mob because they won't cut us in!

Po ta toe... Pa ta toe

Madoff's sons probably have a stable of horses they're grooming for future Derby's!

[tel8034]

WOW ............... I had not though about Dan Quayle in years.......... Nor his mis-spelling of POTATO when he visited the elementary school.

It's Po ta to ................ Po tat o ....................... NO "E" in POTATO.

But thanks for the memories and the smile it brought.

[BowlingForRevenge]

I was attempting to PHONETICALLY spell the old saying..sorry if I wasn't clear SO
"Let's call the whole thing OFF!".

[lovethesinner]

Wow. This looks like a great hook for Michael Moore's film about the Wall Street crash. "Money laundering bags to riches" VECO heir connects dots in Steven's corruption trial.

In this American version of National Velvet, the race is an allegory for how to cheat on your taxes and be a crummy citizen.

Republicans. (shrug)

I'm still happy for the horse, and especially Calvin.

[henrywolff]

Ah, the fine upstanding sport of horse racing.

[butchie65]

I thought I heard the Jockey say he only went to 9th grade. The guy kind of talks like it, not the brightest bulb, but, good jockey.

[2008CaliforniaFan]

Mudflats has a story that goes into the ' charming details ' of some of the characters and how they are connected as well.

http://www.themudflats.net/

[WTF1956]

I love how the media totally ignored them before the race. What a race though. Awesome strategy.

[phylliscooper1]

Yep, for awhile I had a little fairy tale playing out in my head. $9,500 horse wins the Kentucky Derby. What a great story, poor little horse kicks butt, and broke, $2.00 betters make an easy $105.00, cause in a 19 horse field, who ya gonna put your &2.00 on.

But no, this horse was really purchased by a corrupt, spoiled brat, trying to burn through 30 million of ill gotten gain. The horses owners are really connected to oil corruption and Senator Ted Stevens.

The only bright spot to this story is that this little horse just did what he was born to do and that is run fast. Although I will admit, not as fast as he does with diuretics and other drugs in his system, and a small person riding on his back, yelling and striking him with a whip. This story would have a happier ending if this beautiful animal could live out his days doing what natural horses do, make more horses, but, alas, that is not to be.

[BowlingForRevenge]

Two races to go and he'll be having a "Filly" day everyday!
There is nothing more beautiful than watching horses frolic (that's what they appear to be doing to me) in a pasture....amazing! So big yet so agile.

[georgietwodogs]

No fillies for Mine That Bird, he's a gelding.

[Bitsko]

Still, it was the most exciting Kentucky Derby in years.

[Beernuts]

Huhh?? An obviously over drugged and steroided-up second tier 3 year-old wins the Derby at 50/1 (should have been 1000/1 but the corrupt owners and their connections bet a whole lot of money) by 6 1/2 lengths...and that is exciting?? Why??? How?? Maybe the battle for second place got you all excited?? Nascar is on-I'd tune in if I were you.

[petphotos]

Great horse and jocky. Owner not so great. In fact, ought to be in jail. But then, yesterday never would have happened.

[MideastDove]

oh dear, better drug test the horse...and jockey.

[FairTalk]

Don't worry, all the horses who actually ran the Derby are, will be, tested.

The horses that will not be tested are the ones who did not run. Please note the late scratch of one horse with an imaginary ankle injury, just hours before post time.

[Freesia2]

Oh not Alaska again. Enough already.

What in heck is that state anyway? A mob front?

[FairTalk]

And the point is that only saints should own race horses?

Please, could we clean up baseball, first?

[Diogenis]

Indeed ! Dilute a little bleach in warm water and use a soft cloth to clean and remove all stains.

[davispty5]

The point is Veco (big oil) bribed state legislators to push their agenda and then were allowed to make a deal to avoid prosecution. If that weren't enough, they were allowed to sell their company for hundreds of millions of dollars. So while several state legislators are serving jail time, rightfully so, these clowns are out buying race horses and generally living the lifestyle of the rich and famous.