UPDATE: Keeneland takes tougher action against VanMeter

UPDATE, 10 a.m. WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Keeneland has banned noted trainer and thoroughbred broker Tom VanMeter from the premises while it further investigates racist comments he made in two recent social media posts.

The track announced the sanctions Wednesday morning, saying:

“Effective immediately, Tom VanMeter will be excluded from the Keeneland premises, including participation by VanMeter and VanMeter-Gentry Sales in sales and racing activities, while Keeneland further reviews the circumstances related to the recent reprehensible comments VanMeter made on social media.

“Keeneland takes its role in advancing inclusion and diversity seriously. But we know that we as a company, an industry and a society have much work to do. Only through listening and concrete action can we hope to live up to our values of respect, community and equality.”

VanMeter apologized Tuesday and said his comments did not reflect his true character. In a related statement, his son suggested his father has had racial issues for years and he hoped the current situation could help he and the family address them. (See the attached video newscast clip)

ORIGINAL STORY

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Tom VanMeter, a noted Lexington thoroughbred dealer and trainer of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, is in hot water in his industry and beyond after two racist comments he made last week on social media have been exposed.

According to the Daily Racing Forum, Keeneland, which operates the largest thoroughbred sales in the United States, issued a statement saying the company “condemns” Van Meter’s posts.

“There is no place for racism in our sport or society, and his words are antithetical to Keeneland’s values of respect, community, and equality. Our industry must deal directly with our lack of diversity and look hard at its underlying causes. It is not only the right thing to do, it is critical for the future of the sport we love,” the statement said, according to the Daily Racing Forum, which noted the track didn’t say if VanMeter would be banned from taking part in Keeneland sales or races.

According to the DRF and TDN, Keeneland did say it is in “the process of reviewing our internal culture, structures, and practices” and that “we do not believe there are easy answers to these complex and systemic challenges, and everything is on the table as we move forward.”

Also, according to the Daily Racing Form and the Thoroughbred Daily News, The Jockey Club said VanMeter’s account on OwnerView, a website jointly owned by the organization and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to promote racehorse ownership, would be suspended “pending further review, based upon offensive content posted on social media under the same name.”

“There is no place in racing or our society for racially hateful language,” the statement read, according tom the DRF and the TDN.

Boyd Browning, chief executive officer of Fasig-Tipton, which runs several auctions each year in which VanMeter has consigned horses, issued a statement to Daily Racing Form on Monday in response to an inquiry about the postings.

“Fasig-Tipton does not generally comment on social media postings made by third parties, other than to make clear that this comment was not made by an employee or representative of Fasig-Tipton and does not reflect Fasig-Tipton’s values,” the statement read. “We do not condone or support any statements or actions that do not promote a more diverse and inclusive environment for industry participants.”

According to thoroughbred sales records and Gambling911, VanMeter sold as many as six dozen horses last year for more than $5 million.

One person on Facebook wrote: “This needed to happen within our industry. Hate filled racist language is never acceptable. Heads up to those who do. Be prepared to be ostracized. Thank goodness I was not friends with this dreadful person,” said one person who commented on Facebook, according to the news site Past the Wire, which also condemned VanMeter’s comments.