Brooks Case Updates

The following news briefs appeared on the Standardbred Canada website over the past few days and The Horseman and Fair World’s most recent publication lists 2009 Leading Breeders by Earnings. Three allegedly Brooks controlled entities are among the top 25 breeders and these show earnings totaling over $9.7 million.

According to a government document in the David Brooks case, a New Jersey State Police “horse doping” informant is expected to testify as a prosecution witness. Glenn Hartung’s “informant work related to doping race horses,” according to the government. The trial, now in its third week of testimony, is expected to mainly deal with accounting issues this week.  Next week, however, trainer Brett Pelling is expected to be in the country and available to testify as early as Monday.  While there is no set date for Hartung to testify, it could be as early as next week. According to the government document, although Hartung “was never charged or convicted of any crime, he (Hartung) agreed to an administrative forfeiture of approximately $10,000 related to his compounding of hyaluronic acid.” Harness-related people who have already testified at the Brooks trial include trainer Carl Conte and horse agent Charlie Karp.–By Steve Kallas

According to a source involved with the David Brooks trial, horse agent Charlie Karp took the stand this past Wednesday, Feb. 3, as a prosecution witness in the continuing trial of United States v. Brooks.  Karp was shown and questioned about a check in the amount of $10,000 that he received as a broker’s commission for work done on behalf of David Brooks. According to the indictment, the check was an NDL check for $10,000 paid to “Brooks’ Horse Broker” in July 2003.  That broker turned out to be Karp. NDL is a subsidiary of DHB Industries Inc. (DHB is the company that David Brooks is accused of looting). NDL is NDL Products Inc., a company located in Florida that, according to the indictment, “manufactured protective athletic products, such as pads, bandages and braces.”

According to the source, Karp’s testimony was similar to that of Carl Conte’s from the first week of trial.  That is, Karp received the check for services rendered to Brooks and was not involved in the producing of body armor part of Brooks’s business. Karp’s testimony was brief, but is part of a much larger government attempt to show that Brooks spent millions of dollars of company money on personal items such as a $100,000 belt buckle, expensive cars, including a Bentley, and millions of dollars to support his horse racing operation. The trial is scheduled to resume on Monday, Feb. 8.–By Steve Kallas

The New Jersey Racing Commission issued rulings on February 2, 2010, barring four individuals and five stables connected to the current trial of David H. Brooks. The Commission ruled:
“Consistent with recent actions taken by the Ontario Racing Commission and the United States Trotting Association against the licenses of the following individuals and entities, and pursuant to the requirements of NJAC 13:71 -1.10, which mandates that full force and effect shall be given to the denial, revocation or suspension of any license by any other racing commission or turf governing body, it is herby ordered that the license privileges of these individuals and entities are hereby suspended:” Those denied access to all grounds under the jurisdiction of the NJRC are:
Andrew S. Brooks
Jeffrey R. Brooks
Terry S. Brooks
Victoria S. Brooks
Bulletproof Enterprises
Goldfinger Enterprises
Perfect World Enterprises
Seize the Day Enterprises
VAE Enterprises LLC