
Stan Bergstein's Daily Racing Form columns
With permission of Daily Racing Form,
Stan Bergstein’s bi-weekly
columns for that publication will appear here every other week.
The curious case of Martha Maxine
As Rachel Alexandra rocketed through Belmont's long stretch last
Saturday, en route to another runaway victory and destroying records
set by the immortal Ruffian 34 years ago, it became apparent that
those watching might be seeing the greatest filly of all time. She
may prove that later this summer, perhaps beating colts in the
Haskell at Monmouth or Travers at Saratoga. Zenyatta will make an
exceptional race and interesting test if that meeting materializes,
but there are two full years between them and almost two full
seconds between their performances at 1 1/8 miles last weekend.
Eleven wins in California do not equate to winning the Preakness
against the best colts of her generation.
While this drama unfolds, there is a truly bizarre case in
harness racing involving one of the nation's top pacing fillies who
turned out to be a colt. The case is so strange that it intrigued
even the skilled hands at the University of Pennsylvania's New
Bolton Center.
The pacer's name is Martha Maxine, and she/he had won 5 of 11
races and $249,975 this year and 13 of 20 and $193,891 last year,
before a post-race anabolic steroid test revealed abnormally high
readings for the male hormone testosterone. A model of consistency,
the pacer finished first, second, or third 10 times in the 11 starts
this year and 19 times first, second, or third in 20 starts last
year, earning $451,815 racing against - and beating - the best
fillies in the sport.
On the strength of the anabolic steroid test findings, Martha
Maxine wound up at the clinic of New Jersey veterinarian Dr.
Patricia Hogan. Hogan works with both harness horses and
Thoroughbreds and is well known in both sports. She is married to a
top harness trainer, Ed Lohmeyer.
Hogan quickly determined that Martha Maxine had ambiguous
external genitalia, indicating an intersex condition, and
recommended further testing at New Bolton. There, the pacer
underwent rigorous tests of blood, hair, genitalia, endocrine,
ultrasound of abdominal contents, exposure and responses to mares in
laboratory and pasture, overall behavior, and chromosome evaluation.
It was determined that Martha Maxine was a male pseudohermaphrodite.
Following that evidence, New Bolton informed the trainer - Erv
Miller of Illinois, the leading harness racing trainer in the United
States last year - that Martha Maxine was not a filly or mare, but a
male horse.
On the basis of these findings, the United States Trotting
Association, breed registry of the sport, notified Miller and Martha
Maxine's owners and other agencies that the horse was reclassified
as a male.
Martha Maxine immediately became ineligible for filly and mare
races and now may race only against male horses and geldings, or in
open events. Her registration papers and past performances must
include the line "Martha Maxine has been determined to be a genetic
male and is not suitable for breeding purposes." The nearly
half-million she has won remains with her owners, the Ervin Miller
stable in Springfield, Ill., Tony Alagna of Sorrento, Fla., and
Brittany Farms of Versailles, Ky., one of the major harness racing
breeding operations in the world.
An interesting sidebar to the story: Before the official
discovery of Martha Maxine's gender, a close relative, the former
Arizona Helen, also raced and won $169,546 as a pacing filly. After
winning two races at Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack just
south of Philadelphia last winter, she too tested positive for high
testosterone levels. Her trainer, Rich Belach, insisted she had not
been given steroids.
Like Martha Maxine later, she wound up first at Hogan's clinic
for examination and then was sent on to New Bolton, where her high
testosterone levels were explained. While she had the outward
appearance of a female, ultrasound examination revealed no uterus or
ovaries but two internal gonads having the appearance of testicles.
New Bolton said Arizona Helen is a genetic male with incomplete
masculinization of the external genitalia. He too has been
reclassified by the USTA and must race against males and geldings,
or in open company, with a notation that he is unsuitable for
breeding.
Arizona Helen's dam, Bret's Excellence, was a daughter of the
world champion Bret Hanover. Bret's Excellence is the second dam of
Martha Maxine. Arizona Helen's grandsire, Abercrombie, one of the
sport's greatest sires, also is the great grandsire of Martha
Maxine. Although the condition of these two is rare, and scientists
do not know the cause of intersex horses, it appears it is an
inheritable defect. The New Bolton vets called the cases "unusual
and interesting." No word that the owners and trainers agree.
Archived columns
2009 DRF Columns
The curious case of Martha
Maxine, 6-30-09
Racing a victim of political
infighting, 6-16-09
Churchill needs more than night
racing, 6-5-09
Getting to know a man of many
hats, 5-20-09
Derby win plays differently in
Alaska, 5-6-09
Amid the clutter, Derby stands
tall, 4-22-09
A mess in Maryland not easily
sorted out, 4-7-09
Good and not-so in the
headlines, 3-11-09
Pa. poker offers opportunity,
2-24-09
Anti-whip movement gets
cracking, 2-11-09
Pottsville roots, Rooney ties
say 'Go Steelers,' 1-27-09
Ontario harness fight left
leadership toppled, 1-14-09
2008 DRF Columns
Rooneys keep father's legacy
intact, 12-30-08
Racing continues to suffer
self-inflicted wounds, 12-10-08
Genetic tinkering hardly
laughable, 11-25-08
Objections sting for whipping
foes, 11-12-08
Are the Brits simply better,
10-28-08
Racing can accomplish more
working together, 10-15-08
Art for youth's sake at benefit
sale, 10-1-08
Whipping rules gaining
momentum, 9-17-08
Fighting words from Stronach,
9-3-08
Slots go from luxury to
necessity, 8-20-08
New drugs make steroids look
wimpy, 8-6-08
Desperate step in Maryland,
7-22-08
An honor better late than
never, 7-8-08
Not a good seat in the House,
6-24-08
One Belmont '08 tale stands
apart, 6-11-08
Government sees new war on
drugs, 5-27-08
Time for racing and its critics
to move on, 5-13-08
Horse racing's idea man,
4-30-08
Plenty of wheeling and dealing,
4-15-08
Losing bet expands reach, 4-1-08
Powers that be need
give-and-take, 3-18-08
Racing no healthier up north,
3-4-08
Finding ways to catch whales,
2-22-08
Steroid reform under assault,
2-6-08
Big jackpot bets deserve a long
look, 1-22-08
One-man crusade earns
recognition, 1-9-08
2007 DRF Columns
These 11 unjustly tattooed with
a scarlet letter, 12-26-07
Italian job has happier ending,
12-12-07
Breed crossover: Double the
fun, 11-28-07
Pacer leaves legacy on, off
track, 11-13-07
Dark clouds coast to coast,
10-31-07
Fancy footwork in Bluegrass,
10-16-07
Horse art for a good cause,
10-2-07
Friendship with Carter a
thrill and honor, 9-19-07
Getting real reform: Like
pulling teeth, 9-4-07
One racing official with a
backbone, 8-21-07
Shagan was a man ahead of his
time, 7-25-07
Little guy's unbelievable
score, 7-10-07
Keeping stars on track can
only help, 6-26-07
Hail to 'The Chief,' 6-12-07
Not all believe in balanced
coverage, 5-29-07
Jockey insurance not a federal
case, 5-16-07
Two levels of entry into the
racing world, 5-1-07
This idea no laughing matter,
4-18-07
Racing advised to get with the
times, 4-3-07
Dark chapter comes to a close,
3-20-07
Breaking down the breed wall,
3-6-07
Testing whenever and wherever
they choose, 2-22-07
Don't cry for Barbaro - get
involved, 2-6-07
Professor gives racing a
failing grade, 1-23-07
An idea from past to push
sport forward, 1-10-07
2006 DRF Columns
Drastic proposal for a big
problem, 12-27-06
Racing confab had its high
points, 12-13-06
Delaware puts strength
behind words, 11-29-06
Ohio rejection of slots
leaves tracks out in cold, 11-15-06
Slots the key weapon in
border wars, 11-1-06
Different idea across the
sea, 10-17-06
Exhibiting art for charity's
sake, 10-3-06
Exec's choice: coffee, tea, or jail, 7-26-06
Politics usually raw deal for racing, 7-11-06
Too much
filler, not enough action, 6-28-06
Try ditching
the starting gate, 6-14-06
Science may be
catching up to the cheaters, 5-31-06
Whitfield's
good intentions off-target this time, 5-17-06
You can just
call him 'Derby favorite,' 5-2-06
One conflict
ends while another still rages, 4-18-06
ARCI makes
excessive demands, 4-5-06
Another side
to a style icon, 3-22-06
Medication
reform dies dumb death, 2-22-06
And the no. 1
rider or driver is...?, 2-15-06
Indiana a
step ahead of the pack, 1-25-06
Two fellow
Canadians are racing's visionaries, 1-11-06
2005 DRF Columns
Youbet's rebate cat out of bag, 12-27-05
Slots
a bandage where surgery is needed, 12-13-05
Top
ranks are on front line, 11-30-05
Dr. G.
finds his real-life Lilliput, 11-16-05
Time to
bring in a new duo, 11-1-05
Racing
needs this expert, 10-19-05
Help
place a bet on kids' futures, 9-27-05
Obsessed? It's a compliment, 9-21-05
Boycott - one step backward, 9-7-05
Doctor
has cure, but it costs, 8-24-05
There
shouldn't be a wall between breeds, 8-10-05
Murky
figures clouding the game, 7-27-05
Legislators blind to the obvious, 7-13-05
Impeding
progress in Kentucky, 6-28-05
Drug
cheats topic of expose, 6-14-05
Ruling
could turn wagering sideways, 6-3-05
Fermin
merits more support, 5-17-05
Consortium
remains racing's hope, 5-4-05
Racing
has a big-time credibility problem, 4-19-05
Racing at
perilous crossroads, 4-6-05
Let's
dial up some new fans, 3-23-05
Little
track turns into big deal, 3-8-05
Friends
of all or just some?, 2-22-05
Milkshaking
just tip of drug dealing iceburg, 2-8-05
Let
federal enforcers go after racing's bad guys, 1-26-05
One
board member who has it right, 1-12-05
2004 DRF Columns
Thoroughbred Racing at the Dawn of 2005, 12-30-04
Passionate
debate, but little progress, 12-14-04
Expect sparks to fly in Tucson, 12-1-04
A
shot across racing's bow, 11-17-04
Wanted by racing: One eloquent voice, 11-3-04
Native American tribes buy into racing, 10-18-04
Two cases of no pain, no gain, 10-6-04
Charity art auction has come a long way, 9-22-04
Getting the best of both worlds, 9-8-04
Peaceful co-existence at Spa, 8-25-04
Wanted: Stars, not comets, 8-11-04
'Little guy' can survive merger mania, 7-27-04
Happy horse keeps on winning, 7-14-04
Game's stars come out too seldom, 6-30-04
Sale
could tip balance on slots, 6-16-04
Pataki's plan would be a good start, 6-2-04
Smarty can transform racing, 5-19-04
Not
the headlines you want to see, 5-5-04
With the Derby, promotion is king, 4-21-04
Convenience vs. common sense, 4-7-04
Goose may lay plain old egg, 3-24-04
Signs of a sport in distress, 3-10-04
Bonnie paper lassos medication issue, 2-25-04
A legendary story is taken to task, 2-11-04
The 'other' Saratoga becomes a hot spot, 1-28-04
Shrewd promoter bags cash, 1-14-04
2003 DRF Columns
States control racing's fate ,
12-31-03
Fates blind to shakers and movers, 12-17-03
Slots in Maine a melodrama, 12-3-03
Let's make a deal, racino style,
11-19-03
Once grand Garden State is gone,
11-5-03
Hear that? It's the sound of cash,
10-22-03
For grooms, a long-overdue reward, 10-8-03
Delayed justice hurts all of racing,
9-24-03
Visions of yesteryear on display,
9-9-03
NTRA security proposal wasteful,
8-28-03
By request, a poetry encore,
8-14-03
A jockey, a legend - a father,
7-31-03
EPO test may level playing field, 7-17-03
Taking the preventive approach,
7-3-03
Best bet: Lawyers always win,
6-19-03
Forget science: Send in the slots,
6-5-03
Offer N.Y. tracks can't refuse,
5-22-03
Right
of exclusion still paramount, 5-8-03
Slots lure
has Pittsburgh land value on rise, 4-24-03
Texans see EPO as potential killer,
4-10-03
Racing's
problems better exposed than ignored, 2-27-03
Pope the pitchman won't give up, 2-13-03
Coming clean is the most
positive influence, 1-30-03
War vs. drugs moves slowly, 1-16-03
Racing-on-racing violence everywhere, 1-2-03
2002 DRF Columns
Sports betting waiting in the
wings, 12-19-02
Let's gather and talk - all at the same time, 12-5-02
Let's all get on same page, 11-19-02
Fix Six one disaster;
another looms, 11-7-02
Brief era ends with sale of Rosecroft, 10-24-02
New drug rules not nearly enough, 10-10-02
Mouthwash much ado about
little, 9-26-02
Woodbine a model for gaming and racing, 9-12-02
Loud, clear voice at Spa round table, 8-29-02
Last of the racing raconteurs,
8-15-02
Trotting's misguided tradition, 8-1-02
New
episode of Perils of Maline, 7-17-02
A
long, cold summer of U.S.A. race blues, 7-3-02
Trouble on the Internet betting front,
6-19-02
Incoming
simos beyond your control, Jersey, 6-4-02
First the
facts, then the drugs, 5-21-02
Ontario adopts rules to reduce squabbles,
5-7-02
We
must all learn to get along, 4-9-02
Take
a tip from Ontario, 3-26-02
We have the technology...,
3-12-02
Blood-boosters present real threat,
2-28-02
Class in America (a case of VLT's), 2-12-02
Sleaze is in the eye of the beholder, 1-29-02
Minnesota answers alarmist, 1-15-02
Latest problem a real stinker, 1-1-02 |