Tonight we pause to remember Marty Simensen and to honor Richard E McDevitt, another well-loved figure at Devon, for his pioneering work in the drug rule enforcement programs. Dick McDevitt became chairman of the Drug and medications committee in the mid 1960's after spearheading the attention of the AHSA at its annual meeting, detailing the extremes to which drug rule enforcement were lacking in our country's equestrian sports. Dick McDevitt became founder of the team that rocked the establishment with an enduring fight against the mob of horseman unwilling to accept drug enforcement rules as we know them today.

In the 1960's and early 70's, horses were frequently readied for sport under the influence of drugs, saving time and reaping top dollar for their dealers and trainers. Though drug rules existed, they were hardly enforced. In Dick McDevitt's recollection, one of the more painful examples of the seriously lacking drug rule enforcement was the young Virginia child who was killed when her hunter pony fell during competition due to the effect of sedation. Along with Ned Bonnie, who worked to rewrite the rules, and Marty Simensen, who worked to secure a good protocol for drug testing, Dick McDevitt stood fast against those in the horse industry who didn't want to see the "easy way" taken away from them.

The incredible headway Mr. McDevitt and his team were able to make in the testing for the drugs was so impressive that in 1974, Dick McDevitt was elected as President of the AHSA. With newly defined rules, an effective laboratory, and definitive testing protocols within his new artillery, Mr. McDevitt ordered random testings at shows across the country. In 1978, a group of top trainers were found to be guilty of using drugs on their horses from samples retained from a Florida horse show, specifically the drug Resrpine. Mr., McDevitt relinquished his role as Chairman of the Drug and Medications committee in order to focus his attention on serving as chairman of the hearing Committee. The war against drugs was on and the tables were not easily turned.

Dick McDevitt was a prominent lawyer in Philadelphia, the Executive Director of the State of Judicial Review Board for 17 years, and an active horseman. Dick served as President of the Devon Horse Show for over 26 years and as Chairman of Devon for the past 5 years. During this tumultuous time, the Devon showgrounds often became the stand-off arena where Mr. McDevitt endured bomb threats, physical threats at knife point, and other types of protest against which the average man would back down. Dick McDevitt did not back down. In fact, Dick did not even back down when his century old historical barn was burned to the ground. At the time, Dick stood the Thoroughbred stallions Captain Flash and Half Crown. These stallions, the McDevitt family ponies, and over 20 broodmares all miraculously escaped the fire. And still, Dick McDevitt did not back down. Finally, after a memorable sit-down strike at Devon that included a drunken brawl, the tide began to turn and opponents of the drug enforcement rules began to see that the new rules and their enforcement were indeed here to stay.

Dick McDevitt hired Dr. John Lengel, the veterinarian who now serves the Drug and medications Committee of the AHSA. Their work established the protocols and standards by which countries around the world enacted drug enforcement programs for their equine industries. Americans can be proud that, once again, The United States led the way in a very important cause.

While we witness the current Olympic games tainted by drug use among Olympic athletes, we are reminded of the importance of our governing bodies such as the AHSA. Even more so, we are reminded of the importance of extraordinary individuals who put themselves "on the line," time and time again, to bring necessary change. Tonight, we pause to honor and thank you Dick, for all that you endured, for all the lives you've protected, for all your pioneering work in the drug rule enforcement that created a system we can rely upon today to keep horse sport around the world safe, ethical, and humane.