tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post3281222143878564384..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Mangled JournalismAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-26289839386120586862012-03-29T07:34:44.861-04:002012-03-29T07:34:44.861-04:00The larger tracks such as NYRA (especially the NYR...The larger tracks such as NYRA (especially the NYRA chart caller) tend to have more descriptive chart calls, which can also lead to overstatement of those terms.<br /><br />Steve, agree with your points but have a problem with the concept (not just yours) that these bottom claiming horses will suddenly get the rest they deserve if purses were lower, as opposed to being pushed for one more race. <br /><br />Most of these horses are not headed to the farm for a vacation once the purse decrease kicks in, they are headed out of town to minor cicuits, or worse. <br /><br />Most WILL in fact be pushed for one more race, just not here.<br /><br />They will no longer contribute to NYRA's breakdown percentage, which I guess from a public relations standpoint should be NYRA's goal, but they are not suddenly out of harm's way.<br /><br />In fact the entire outcry about breakdowns rings hypocritical when the horse finishing the race in which there is a breakdown in many cases are facing a much worse fate in the very near future.<br /><br />Sorry to be such a bummer, but until the unwanted horse issue is truly addressed by the industry I just can't take all this public outcry by industry players seriously.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-3570455265246903742012-03-29T01:38:46.623-04:002012-03-29T01:38:46.623-04:00Yes, it is obvious that the Times reporting team k...Yes, it is obvious that the Times reporting team knows very little about horse racing as a sport or as an industry. And their flawed data shows that lack of knowledge.<br /><br />But you owe them more credit for, as you put it, addressing issues we all wish the industry was addressing (and about which the racing press has done precious little to hold the industry accountable).<br /><br />The fact that the thorougbred industry may not be quite as bad as the quarters is less important than the fact that it still has big safety problems (and that the drug use affects form and handicapping, which sucks).<br /><br />The Times spotlight could prod legislators to start hearings, and force the industry to finally address its problems. Something the racing press hasn't done.<br /><br />I do give Andy Beyer credit for ending his column with the recognition that the industry has NO REFUTATION for the charge that drugs are leading to breakdowns.<br /><br />The testimonies in the Times article that painkillers keep horses from protecting themselvs, and make it hard for track vets to spot problems, are worth much more than the data.<br /><br />There is also no denying that offering a $15,000 winner's purse share for a $7.500 claimer creates a financial disincentive to care about the long-term health of the horse.<br /><br />Safety aside, we're both old enough to remember what racing was like in the U.S. pre-Lasix, and it was a far better game. There are plenty of non drug reasons for that, but the time has come for cleaning up the American game once again and demanding that trainers give horses time to heal, and barring bleeders from racing.<br /><br />Your point about track condition and surface is well taken. I hope there will be more definitive studies of that issue to go with banning raceday meds.steve in nchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04061356872686618093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-85834601373865348992012-03-28T21:35:54.210-04:002012-03-28T21:35:54.210-04:00The hike obviously did you good. That's the cl...The hike obviously did you good. That's the clearest-eyed, most insightful deconstruction of the piece I've seen.kylenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-9507691126098471122012-03-28T15:23:07.576-04:002012-03-28T15:23:07.576-04:00Good job Alan, as usual. What I don't understa...Good job Alan, as usual. What I don't understand is why "the industry" is not putting more emphasis on this issue.Mutamanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06744482812081269248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-36087750434278477702012-03-28T11:07:33.697-04:002012-03-28T11:07:33.697-04:00All good points. Moreover, the use of vanned off ...All good points. Moreover, the use of vanned off horses also ropes in at least some horses in no distress at all -- horses where a jock feels like he may have felt something, etc., that later turns out to be nothing.Frankhttp://www.thatsamorestable.net/blognoreply@blogger.com