tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post3311298648063524968..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: King of the PortfolioAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-42631697871062666442008-10-17T11:02:00.000-04:002008-10-17T11:02:00.000-04:00Do you think horseplayers would gravitate to the t...Do you think horseplayers would gravitate to the tracks that implement the NTRA plan based on the notion that some of the changes will level the playing field, protecting the "integrity" of the sport? <BR/><BR/>I personally think a central element of any plan to improve safety or integrity should involve more disclosure, which it seems like horseplayers would be in favor of as well. <BR/><BR/>I am optimistic, but I hope the fact that the plan is voluntary, and has no real teeth as is, won't create a 'race to the bottom.'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-44129617641952588702008-10-17T11:01:00.000-04:002008-10-17T11:01:00.000-04:00There is a segmant of the population turned off by...There is a segmant of the population turned off by the percieved abuse of animals, and some of those folks do enjoy gambling and might be more inclined to wager if the NTRA imposed new horse protections rules in addition to purely focusing on testing and medication prohibition.<BR/><BR/>A few such rules;<BR/><BR/>A) Limiting the use of the whip using the Euro model,<BR/>B) Mandating a ten day rest period between races,<BR/>C) mandating a scratch if a horse rears in the gate and hits itself anywhere, or tosses its rider and runs off for any lenghth of time in the post parade. Do not leave it to the track employees to decide.<BR/>D) eliminating all bends and caulked shoes,<BR/>E) Banning known buyers for slaughterhouses from the NTRA sactioned tracks<BR/>F) Suspending any trainer/owner caught selling a horse to D)<BR/>G) Mandating serious suspensions and fines for trainers AND owners, with one appeal to be heard within one week, for those caught cheating*.<BR/>H) third strike and your out penalty for trainers caught cheating*.<BR/><BR/>Cheating is defined as a horse testing positive for any non-therapeutic medication or any steroid overage, or possession of any such medication.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-64720747750095831312008-10-17T10:00:00.000-04:002008-10-17T10:00:00.000-04:00Horsemen that won't capitualte to out of competiti...Horsemen that won't capitualte to out of competition testing are destroying the public confidence, or what's left, in this sport. Shrink the business by elimiating the "have to cheat" players and perhaps horse racing, as an enterprise, will survive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-72623914883947688722008-10-16T23:48:00.000-04:002008-10-16T23:48:00.000-04:00Jess - OK, sounds reasonable to me too. But I'd t...Jess - OK, sounds reasonable to me too. But I'd think that purse size would be at least as big of a factor. And I think that we can also presume that certain horsemen would <I>not</I> want to race in a state with out of competition testing!Alan Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-38885834221973892252008-10-16T23:30:00.000-04:002008-10-16T23:30:00.000-04:00I asked Waldrop about that at the press conference...I asked Waldrop about that at the press conference and he conceded that few bettors would be swayed by accreditation. The thinking, though, is that horsemen will gravitate toward the safer, accredited tracks -- and away from unaccredited tracks -- boosting field size, which in turn will lead to higher handle for those tracks as horseplayers reward them for running more competitive races. Maybe. It sure sounded reasonable to me ... but it's a theory that'll take a couple years to test.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com