tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post1600423428907113550..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: A Few More ThingsAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-20526765134331148852013-12-14T22:17:54.180-05:002013-12-14T22:17:54.180-05:00I would actually bet on that long shot, if racings...I would actually bet on that long shot, if racings powers that be don't get their act together soon the parties may discover a convenient bipartisan whipping boy.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-62363528068914584922013-12-12T22:30:18.537-05:002013-12-12T22:30:18.537-05:00Figless, you do just fine and I would vote for you...Figless, you do just fine and I would vote for your plan as a start. The only problem is that the sport is so in the thrall of its drug culture that it couldn't even maintain the Lasix ban for 2yos at the BC.<br /><br />So it looks for the foreseeable that most likely nothing will happen from the racing authorities. <br /><br />I guess there's an outside chance (50-1?) that Congress will experience a fit of bipartisan puritanism and unite in drastic action that will make the horsemen wish they themselves had structured some reforms along the lines you propose.Steve in NChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13112102814276786653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-10111956195275287302013-12-12T06:55:13.234-05:002013-12-12T06:55:13.234-05:00Steve, if I were a more talented and concise write...Steve, if I were a more talented and concise writer I would have written your comment(s).<br /><br />One other pet peeve is that many of the barbs seem aimed at NYRA more than the other racing jurisdictions, as if NYRA can unilaterally disarm in the medication war. To do so would be suicide. <br /><br />My utopian version of horse racing would include ZERO meds and ZERO tolerance for cheaters at every track in every jurisdiction.<br /><br />IF that could be enacted universally tomorrow I would sign on the dotted line. <br /><br />One place to start would be banning race day meds with super testing on all Graded Stakes races, if a jurisdiction refuses the race loses Graded status. This seems the simplest first step to enact and would begin to strengthen the gene pool.<br /><br />And if a horse tests positive in one of those races there should be significant penalties for the connections, including the owners.<br /><br />Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-34923281801003546922013-12-11T23:32:38.792-05:002013-12-11T23:32:38.792-05:00I wish America would legalize drugs for people but...I wish America would legalize drugs for people but ban them in horse racing.<br /><br />But I still agree pretty strongly with your essay, Alan. Bringing the issue of drugs in racing into the open has already been accomplished and I don't see any license for anyone distorting facts now to make a point. <br /><br />Now is the time to analyze the issues involved carefully based on evidence and logic, not emotionally powerful but totally irrelevant analogies like dog fighting.<br /><br />To me, it seems logical that drugs contribute the breakdown problem but of course, eliminating drugs won't stop all breakdowns.<br /><br />There are a myriad of good reasons to eliminate raceday meds and meds while in training. We don't need bogus reasons or bogus polls that don't use random samples of respondents.<br /><br />And yes, as a horseplayer and even as someone who loves horses as animals, I can accept a certain number (don't ask me for that number) of breakdowns, and frankly, the concerns I do have about breakdowns are more about protecting jockeys than the horses. <br /><br />I'd like to do what we can to make racing safer. But we all drive in cars and fly in planes. The goal should be reasonable steps to reduce risk. You can't eliminate it altogether without eliminating the sport.Steve in NChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13112102814276786653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-43428856786948623802013-12-10T15:34:38.192-05:002013-12-10T15:34:38.192-05:00PS - Obviously the State government's show a h...PS - Obviously the State government's show a huge profit as well, but I guess its ok to use and abuse the horses so long as that money is paying for "education".Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-84861890431531821302013-12-10T15:32:11.270-05:002013-12-10T15:32:11.270-05:00Agree the true reach in Hancock's opinion piec...Agree the true reach in Hancock's opinion piece was connecting drugs with the breakdown rate, a statement that he HAS to know is untrue. Consequently his entire argument can be dismissed.<br /><br />Your pointing back at Hancock's breeding industry for systematically and knowingly breeding these unsound animals for their own short term profit is a brilliant retort as well.<br /><br />There are many at whom to point every time a horse dies, whether in training, racing or in the slaughterhouse and of all of them the only faction that regularly shows a profit are the commercial breeders.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-38225258162608901802013-12-10T15:02:00.508-05:002013-12-10T15:02:00.508-05:00I have found it impossible to take Drape and the T...I have found it impossible to take Drape and the Times' "investigative" work seriously since his 2008 articles where he took everything IEAH told him at face value, such as that Benny the Bull and Kip Deville were worth $10 million and $20 million as sires. (BTB is currently standing for $2,000.) Everyone with a pulse knew those guys were crooks and charlatans, which the Deadspin piece in June beautifully illustrated. If the Times had done research and a piece like the Deadspin piece (even years later), I would take their commentary on horse racing a lot more seriously.<br /><br />I guess that's my way of saying well-stated, Alan.El Angelohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145024095815950963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-64665651691916179402013-12-10T10:15:48.015-05:002013-12-10T10:15:48.015-05:00You bring up a good point about the willingness an...You bring up a good point about the willingness and hastiness with which other segments of the sport will point fingers at trainers for breaking horses down without looking at what they may be doing in-house that contributes to unsoundness. This past weekend while handicapping the Claiming Crown, I couldn't help but wonder why the animals in those race who not only run once or twice a month, but win, aren't celebrated and retired with any stud value.<br />If hoses like Ribo Bobo, Major Marvel, and Deanallen'skitten are amongst the winningest horses of 2013, and therefore are not only durable but fast, yet get completely ignored by the mainstream (no mention of the entire Claiming Crown event on America's Best Racing) because they've run in claiming races. That's a problem. This is America, though, and it's easier to just point fingers at people less powerful and whine rather than take any accountability.mlnolan00https://www.blogger.com/profile/08484908182290559425noreply@blogger.com