Horse Racing Holiday Wish List
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I love horse racing almost more than anything in the world! It’s a fantastic sport that challenges the mind, gets the blood pumping when watching these majestic athletes give their all and warms the soul when all the blood, sweat and tears that jockeys, trainers, owners and horses put into the sport are rewarded in the winner’s circle. I want horse racing to be the best it can be, so we can show others what they are missing, but I need your help, Santa. I made a little wish list, and was hoping you could look at it while your reindeer are taking a “pitstop” during this weekend’s deliveries?
First, can we please get rid of all the synthetic racing surfaces in this country and go back to dirt racing? Horses (and reindeer last time I checked) are bred to run on dirt or grass, not waxy carpet fibers. These racing surfaces have rendered Keeneland’s Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup dirt prep races virtually irrelevant, and Turfway Park is littered with more horses from Beulah Park than Churchill Downs. California’s synthetic surfaces have done more harm than good by causing drainage problems for racetracks. Santa Anita just removed their “polycrap” due to 2 years worth of drainage problems. Hollywood Park had to cancel one of their programs a few weeks ago, because too much rain caused drainage problems. I thought these surfaces were “all weather” and just soaked up water? Proponents claim that synthetic surfaces are safer than their organic counterparts, but numerous studies have shown that is not the case. The only things these surfaces provide is a second turf course when the first one cannot be used due to inclement weather.
Next, if we want our sport to be taken seriously in America we need to get rid of the endless “alphabet soup” organizations (NTRA, TOBA, ARCI, etc.) that “govern” horse racing and have 1 central ruling body. Major sports like football, basketball, baseball, hockey, auto racing and even tennis all have 1 organization looking out for the best interests of the owners, athletes, etc. Boxing is the only other sport I can think of that uses the “alphabet soup” method, and it’s fallen so far down the sports’ food chain that underwater basket weaving gets better ratings. Horse racing’s new commissioner would handle issues such as: equal medication products and doses for horses, a universal set of punishments for trainers, jockeys, etc. that break the rules of the game (drugging horses, themselves, etc.), and consistent rules for multi-race exotics when scratches occur during the sequence of the wager, FOR ALL STATES! Can you imagine if NFL football games had different rules in different states? For example, in Florida the Miami Dolphins receivers have to get 2 feet in bounds for each completed pass, but if they travel to Kansas City, MO to play the Chiefs they would only have to get 1 foot in bounds for a legal catch. How about if athletes in New York could use Human Growth Hormone, but not in Michigan? WHAT!?! We need a consistent, level playing field in all states to make owners/trainers comfortable shipping horses to compete and to help gamblers feel confident when putting their hard earned dollars through the windows.
Last but not least, I’m sick and tired of jockeys being able to plead their cases to stewards when objections and inquires arise! Stewards are supposed to be impartial judges making rulings where hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars are on the line. Rather than looking only at the video evidence, which doesn’t lie, they interview the only biased people involved! What do you expect jockeys to say, their livelihood is at stake. Do you see NFL referees interviewing players after witnessing a potential foul? NO! Players try to plead their case, but referees huddle together, shoo lingering players away and come to a conclusion. Furthermore, what happens during the questioning portion of an inquiry when 1 jockey’s native language is English and another speaks broken English or none at all…who do you think the stewards may favor after talking to both? I’m not saying it’s right, wrong or indifferent…it’s human nature, so take that part out of the equation.
On a more serious note, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and nothing but the best of success in 2012. Over the past year, some things have occurred in my life that helped me realize each day we have here with one another is the best gift of all. Its cliché, but we need to cherish each day like it’s our last, because we can’t go out and buy more time, or go to a store and refund a day if we had a bad one. I know we all have to work to support ourselves and families, but please spend this precious time doing what you enjoy to make you and those around you happy.
Please be sure to follow me on Twitter-@Cappercorner and/or friend me on facebook.com to continue the horse racing conversation!
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