Police investigate Romans-'Indian Charlie' scuffle

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Stewards at Churchill Downs said they were awaiting police and security reports before deciding whether to schedule a hearing in regard to a fistfight that occurred Thursday morning in the stable area between Eclipse Award-winning trainer Dale Romans and Ed Musselman, publisher of the controversial Indian Charlie newsletter.

Romans and eyewitnesses said Musselman provoked the fight, which brought Louisville Metro Police to the stable area. Musselman was reported by various sources to have suffered a black eye and abrasions, while Romans said he was not seriously injured.

Musselman’s newsletter was banished from numerous tracks earlier this year after racist comments, leading to most of his advertisers abandoning him.

Romans often has been the subject of Musselman’s diatribes and has said repeatedly he could not understand why the attacks became so personal.