The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has initiated a formal investigation after a deeply offensive antisemitic comment was posted on the Facebook account of a licensed horse trainer.
NYRA Condemns 'Hateful Speech'
The racing body acted swiftly after being alerted to a seven-word antisemitic statement posted on Tuesday, 17th December 2025. The comment appeared in response to a news story about the murder of renowned Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, over the weekend.
In a strongly worded statement, NYRA President and CEO David O’Rourke said: “NYRA condemns in the strongest possible terms the vile, antisemitic comments posted today on New York-based trainer Kevin Bond’s Facebook account. NYRA has zero tolerance for this kind of hateful speech and will begin an investigation into the matter immediately.”
Trainer Denies Involvement, Claims Hack
The trainer linked to the account, Kevin Bond, has categorically denied posting the comment. In a statement provided to the Thoroughbred Daily News (TDN), Bond asserted his account was compromised.
“The contents of the post on Facebook that were attributed to me were shocking and unacceptable, and they most certainly did not come from me,” Bond stated. “The comments were in response to an account I do not follow; it would appear that my account was hacked, or someone created a false account that looks like mine.”
Bond, the son of established trainer H. James Bond, said he immediately posted a warning on his social media story about the hack, deactivated the account, and vowed to repair the damage caused.
Background and Fallout
Kevin Bond is a relative newcomer to training in his own right. He previously worked as an assistant in his family's successful operation before taking out his trainer’s licence in 2024. His record shows seven winners in his debut year and one so far in 2025.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the racing community, highlighting the serious repercussions of online abuse. The NYRA's investigation will seek to determine the origin of the post, with the trainer's future participation potentially hanging in the balance based on its findings.
The case underscores the ongoing challenges of cybersecurity and hate speech on social media platforms, even within professional sports industries.
