On June 9, 2001, Prince Ahmed bin Salman, a member of Saudi Arabia's royal family, accepted a trophy at New York's Belmont Park after his Point Given won the Belmont Stakes, the third jewel in thoroughbred racing's "Triple Crown."

Exactly three months later, Arab terrorists destroyed the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center, forever changing the course of our nation's history. Of the 19 terrorists who have been identified, 15 were from Saudi Arabia.

A new book by investigative journalist Gerald Posner, published by Random House and titled Why America Slept, suggests that Prince Ahmed bin Salman, even as he accepted the Belmont Stakes trophy, knew what was going to happen on 9/11.

Posner claims the prince and other members of his family had financial ties with al Qaeda, the international terrorist organization headed by Osama bin Laden. Yet because of layers of bureaucracy, this is difficult to prove.

All that's known for certain is that Ahmed bin Salman presided over a media empire, Saudi Research and Marketing, that was virulently anti-American. Yet, after he won the 2002 Kentucky Derby with War Emblem, he professed his love for America and stated that he was only a businessman, not a politician.

Working with trainer Bob Baffert through his California-based Thoroughbred Corp., the prince won the 2001 Preakness and Belmont with Point Given. Then, a month or so before the 2002 Derby, he purchased War Emblem for almost $1 million from Chicago businessman Russell Reineman, who didn't think the colt belonged in the Derby.

He not only belonged, he won. And he won the Preakness. This meant that Prince Ahmed had four consecutive victories in our Triple Crown races. He attended the 2002 Derby and Preakness, accompanied by heavy security, but didn't show for War Emblem's Triple Crown effort in the 2002 Belmont Stakes. Because of a poor start, War Emblem wasn't a factor in the race won by longshot Sarava.

At this point, the prince was the most important owner in thoroughbred racing. He had beaten his Middle Eastern rivals from Dubai who operate the Godolphin Stable. Then, in July of last year, at the age of 43, he died of what was described as a heart attack. Two other Saudi princes who, according to Posner, also were intermediaries funneling money to al Qaeda, died within a week. One purportedly was killed in a high-speed car accident, and another supposedly "died of thirst." Posner suspects all three were assassinated after the United States advised the Saudis of information it had about them.

For somebody who quickly became so prominent in racing, the Prince Ahmed escaped media scrutiny. The reason might have been best described by the editor of a prominent racing publication one morning at Churchill Downs.

Asked if there was a possibility that the prince might have known about the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, this editor said, "Well, that would certainly be a great story, but I hope it's not reported because it would hurt our business."

Well, Gerald Posner has now reported it. Or, at least, challenged others to prove him wrong.

In a well-done article in the Lexington Herald-Leader, writer Maryjean Wall discussed the situation with various individuals, most of whom defended the prince. But one, Alice Chandler, who boarded 27 of the prince's mares at her Mill Ridge Farm, said, "I'm reserving judgment."

So am I.

In his book, Posner quotes unidentified sources in the U.S. government who say Abu Zubaydah, a terrorist who was captured in Pakistan in March 2002, spilled the beans to American operatives posing as Saudi interrogators. According to Posner, Zubaydah was doped and - thinking he was in a Saudi prison - gave his questioners phone numbers for a senior member of the Saudi royal family who would "tell you what to do." That contact would be Prince Ahmed bin Salman.

Using unidentified sources always leaves a journalist open to skepticism and ridicule. And the prince is not around to defend himself from these accusations.
Still, Posner has raised issues that need to be addressed by the mainstream media.

If he's wrong, let's prove it. But what if he's right? What if the thoroughbred racing industry embraced, because of his investment money, someone who knew in advance about the terrorist attacks?

After War Emblem's Derby victory, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, The Blood-Horse and others attempted to get interviews with the prince. He refused all requests. Why was that? He was sitting on top of the racing world. He had an opportunity to promote the sport on an international basis. But he didn't. This doesn't make him a conspirator, or co-conspirator, but Posner's story is disturbing, and it makes me wonder about Ahmed bin Salman.

According to Wall's article, a couple of professors at the University of Kentucky have suggested that Posner's book - and those unidentified sources - may have a hidden agenda.

That's a possibility, too, but let's dig deeper before we conclude this is a dry well.

Return to Reviews