Policy Play - by Dan Liebman

re: Policy Play - by Dan Liebman

Bill — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:41:55 GMT

When I was training in Australia which has a race day ban on ALL drugs, and they raced without toe grabs, we had few horses breaking down I felt comfortable on an even "playing field. Sometimes the grass courses would dry up in summer and be hard as a rock then, in winter would be over a horses ankles. Yet they raced soundly. What is wrong with that?

re: Policy Play - by Dan Liebman

GrandeFan — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:03:11 GMT

What happened to honesty and integrity in our sport? What happened to fairness in competition? Sports have become cold and hard in the profit driven business world. Hey, I'm not saying it's wrong to have a business pay for itself, or make a profit. To survive, HR needs to come clean - start to finish - breeding shed to finish line. More sport and less sales calls.

re: Policy Play - by Dan Liebman

FormerFan — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:58:57 GMT

Its about time. In all fairness to the betting public, they now need to ban everything else (lasix) and require all to be drug free and clean when they race, before, during and after.

re: Policy Play - by Dan Liebman

Wanda — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:36:08 GMT

I also like the policys being developed over the toe grab issue. Ban them it's about time.

re: Policy Play - by Dan Liebman

greg — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:16:53 GMT

An honest sport would honestly attract bettors. With the legal accessibility of the internet, horse racing should be exploding in popularity...if only you could trust it.

re: Policy Play - by Dan Liebman

captain cabernet — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:16:07 GMT

and about time. i was at pimlico and saw Big Brown come down the stretch looking like a great horse. then he was taken off steroids and since has had the belmont debacle followed by a clearly labored win against a less than stellar field. is Big Brown just another example of a good athlete who is capable of turning in great performances as long as he is on the juice? he sure didn't look like $50 million in the haskell. either the steroid issue will be laid to rest or the sport will be.

re: Policy Play - by Dan Liebman

Huh — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:36:06 GMT

I'm very happy to see the drug rules change and the move by the NYRA is also awesome. It's just awesome to see people trying to advance the breed and possibly save the sport of Horse Racing.

re: Policy Play - by Dan Liebman

STEVE STONE — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:02:26 GMT

Dan...Why stop w/the Breeders'Cup races insofar as banning anabolic steroids is concerned as these trainers should be held accountable irrespective of whether its the Breeders'Cup or an $3000.00 claiming race somewhere? True..big horses and major races due indeed make the headlines and bring to the attention of the public..racing and non-racing alike their success or failure on the track..however..what about the betting public whom are wagering daily on the lowly claiming races and whom are not cognizant as to whether they are wagering on an animal that has been injected w/anabolic steroids or not? Is that fair? The playing field is not level here...Will someone please tell me?? The time has come and its so long over due to roll out an drug uniformity program that is endemic nationally...What is taking so long and why the resistance...Mea culpa..mea culpa.. I just cannot help but keep thinking federal intervention someday......Thanx always for the window Dan...Steve Stone..East Hanover.. New Jersey..

re: Policy Play - by Dan Liebman

Maggie — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:23:32 GMT

I absolutely applauded the Breeders Cup working with NTRA to ban anabolic steroids, while implementing a harsh punishments for those who would get caught in the future. This is a great step to get the ball rolling in the sport. If the big-time, major horse racing states are too stubborn to adopt or concede to what the racing fans are demanding (Kentucky, New York, Florida, etc.), then they'll lose any real support from the dwindling fan base and towards the fall championships.

I also applaud NYRA for putting more emphasis on purses for longer distances. Hopefully, that'll change the too-obssessive mindset of the speed breeders into thinking that durability and stamina is just as thrilling and awesome as sprints. Personally, I think the longer the distance the better the race.