Plaintiffs want share in winnings of horse

BURLINGTON, Ky., Nov. 1 (UPI) -- People who claim they were sickened by a diet drug sold by the owners of a Kentucky stable are seeking part of the winnings of the champion horse Curlin.

The Midnight Cry Stable owns a 20 percent share of Curlin after selling 80 percent of the horse to others, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Lawyers Shirley Cunningham Jr. and William Gallion, who control the stable, are charged with fraud in Kentucky.

In addition to criminal charges, Cunningham, Gallion and Melbourne Mills Jr. face lawsuits from more than 400 people who say they were harmed by fenphen, a diet drug combination linked to heart damage. An attorney representing many of the plaintiffs has asked a judge to transfer Curlin's winnings to them.

Curlin has won $5 million this year, and came in first in the Breeder's Cup Saturday. The horse placed third in the Kentucky Derby, second in the Belmont Stakes and first in the Preakness.

"It is probably a good thing Curlin is a horse and doesn't realize what all this turmoil around him is all about right now, because he would be very disappointed with the whole human race," said W.L. Carter, one of the plaintiffs.