Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

EJMitchellKy — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:50:47 GMT

HildyPie, a national standard prohibiting anabolic steroid use got implemented in about a year, so it is possible to create a unified medication standard across the racing states.

I understand the skepticism about taking medication policy and penalities to the next level because this issue lacks the same unified support as the steroid issue. It is vital, however, for the racing industry recognize that allowing more medication has not improved racing in the U.S. and that a vibrant sport is possible without it.

A "national body" governing horse racing is simply not a practical goal in this country with the structure we have in place. What could happen on a national level, however, is the adoption of a national medication standard for horse racing to which states would have to conform. My concern about federal involvement is two-fold. First, it may involve reopening the Interstate Horseracing Act and that could cause some serious problems for racing if the law is opened for revision. For example, racing could lose its exclusivity as the only gambling enterprise allowed across state lines. Now, with online poker coming hard and fast, I'm sure the exclusivity will disappear at some point, but there is no point in accelerating it. Even with the best of intentions, what an amended law is supposed to fix and what is ultimately approved are often very different. You can wind up with a "bridge to nowhere" buried in the language.

Second, the law's enforcment would fall under the Department of Commerce. With the "close" scrutiny the federal government paid to the banks and the bundling of subprime mortgage-backed derivatives, it doesn't give me a lot of confidence.

Having said all that, racing has to get its act together or it could find itself choking down a dose of bitter medicine from the feds.

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

UncleStosh — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 23:12:39 GMT

Just read the comments from fb2052 and Pat Lee and you will know everything you need to know in regard to what is wrong with racing and the 2" high ethical bar that the owners, trainers and other racing insiders have set. Racing insiders who continually tout drug use as a necessity? Come on. In fact, just read many of the comments in this publication and its not hard to see that the game needs to be taken out of the hands of the insider "know-it-alls".

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

HildyPie — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 21:00:11 GMT

Question for Mr. Mitchell:

If a national governing body is not the answer, how will uniform medication standards (particularly the enforcement aspect) be adopted?

I would honestly like to hear how that could possibly happen.

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

Convene — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:00:16 GMT

PETA's objectives bear little resemblance to their public image. Find and read the mandate. They will take away from animals much more than the "bad" things they fixate on. Got a dog or cat? If PETA gets its way, they'll be gone. No more health care, good food, safe care, love etc. Yes, we horse people need to do more but there's no need to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Handing out the richly deserved penalty for blatant long-term rule violations for a certain trainer would be a good beginning ...

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

EJMitchellKy — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:14:04 GMT

By the way, Pat Lee, I don't want the feds to step in. Another layer of bureaucracy is not the answer.

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

EJMitchellKy — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:12:22 GMT

I appreciate all the comments. No one should assume because The Blood-Horse has asked the question about whether the industry needs a national racing office that the conclusion is we do. I encourage everyone to read the package of stories we compiled. You can get a copy at www.bloodhorse.com/.../national-thoroughbred-racing-office-feature

Has this topic been discussed before? Sure, but it keeps coming up over and over as a potential solution. The issues raised in our package will lead one to conclude that creating a national office is not feasible in the United States and is something the industry needs to shelve and forget about. What we do need to do is find a way to standardize our medication policies and penalties. This is a difficult but achievable goal.

While the New York Times report is disturbing, it should be noted that what was compiled from the charts were "incidents" not fatalities. A horse that is pulled up because the jockey felt something was wrong and was vanned off as a precaution is included in the Times' statistics. The Jockey Club Equine Injury Database looks at fatalities and the three-year average for Thoroughbred racing is 1.91 fatalities per 1,000 starts.

What is inexcusable is the number of horses apparently allowed to race in New Mexico on medication levels far exceeding the legal thresholds and a serious lack of effective penalties and enforcement.

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

Stellar Jayne — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 02:07:10 GMT

I just read the NYT Report: Death and Disarray at America's Racetracks.

I have been going to the race's for eight years. Yes, over those years I learned the ugly truths, but I so love the thoroughbreds I couldn't stop. I've already submitted my seat requests to Belmont for the Stakes in June - it will be the last time I attend a horse race, or follow racing any more. The article was crushing - many, many, many more times worse than what is known in 'polite society' - truly more than a rational and feeling human being can digest.

These owners, trainers, vets, jockeys, racing, track officials and legislators who are knowledgeable of the facts are as depraved as Wall Street and the bankers. No wonder PETA exists, but given some of their tactics they aren't really effective in creating real time meaningful change, or shutting down and kicking out the most egregious factions.

All of the racinos should be shut down. If a track can't make it on its own and perverted owners worship only money then they should go out of business - market forces right!!!

The elite tracks need their come uppance too -- regulate, regulate, expose the offenders, huge fines should be levied - $50,000 for first offense. Second offense, lose license, go to jail for five years minimum! That their death/accident rate is lower is not acceptable. Arrogance and greed are the rule of the day.

This is not acceptable! It is complete betrayal of the horse and the trust he was imprinted with to have in humans.

Sad, Sad, Sad. Cruel, Cruel, Cruel!

My prayers are only for the horses and those jockeys who truly love them and look out for them on the track. They are the only deserving receivers of prayerful thought.

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

Stellar Jayne — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:24:01 GMT

Ahh, another closed circle in the sand has been drawn - just like the minds of the powers that be in racing.

Oldie and pdeblin and NY Times - spot on - I couldn't have written anything better than all of you!

I applaud and congratulate the Hancock family for their far sighted vision in preserving the land, memories and home of so many of our equine heroes by donating Claiborne Farm to The Bluegrass Conservancy. Bravo!

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

pdeblin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 02:46:16 GMT

When I read this column I had to check the date to make sure it was not an archive article from the 1980s. It's a joke to say that racing needs to create a "national office."

No one trusts racing to do anything close to self-governance. The massive egos and monied interests long ago abrogated their ability to do so.

The sport needs strict national regulation to address things like drugs, racing surfaces, day-to-day regulations, etc.

Just look at bicycle racing to see what happens when in mates run the asylum.

The problem with racing is that it is a small, close-knit community. Racing journalists rarely have the guts to write anything negative about the sport. Horse owners, breeders, trainers, track owners have employed the wink-wink system for years.

I can just see some track owner opening up the New York Times on Sunday and saying, "I'm shocked, shocked this happens in our sport."

It's time for each and every individual in the sport to own up to the problems. Even The Blood-Horse should shake off the cobwebs.

It's embarrassing to read that racing needs a national office. It needs something akin to electro-shock therapy.

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

mobileone — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:52:43 GMT

It's pretty simple. Together we stand divided we...?Well how divided are we? Whats our vision..? What we need is a leader! Backed up by action and power...

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

tjconway — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 22:30:56 GMT

We need to start solving problems like this one:

Living in Michigan, I have to drive far and wide to make a "bet".....no TVG betting allowed!

Anyway, I drove 45 miles to Sports Creek Raceway to bet the Ky. Derby future pool #2........guess what?...they did not have that "bet"!!!!!!

I wasted two hours of my time and drove back another 45 miles and wasted $18 bucks in gas.

If you guys want some marketing advice,.......call me!

Of course this is Michigan. Things have gotten so bad here, they don't even have a state fair here anymore.......pathetic!

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

Pat Lee — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:55:24 GMT

Sir, please explain why we need a "national" organization apart from the NTRA. The NTRA's response to the NYT article is scandalous! They don't point out the errors, the extreme precautions thoroughbred tracks take against unlawful drugs, the mounds of work put into this issue by racing commissions, veterinarians, etc., just this year--which resulted in increased enforcement and, e.g., banning of bute (with which I disagree). NTRA did not refute the NYT's sensationalism and misleading shocking pictures ! So what good would another national organization do? You guys just want the feds to step in . . . for no good reason whatsoever. Give credit where credit is due and call out the NYT for its yellow journalism.

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

Oldie — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:14:56 GMT

Eric, when my dearly beloved starting reading snippets of the NYT article aloud to me and asking how I could love a sport in such a sorry state, I felt betrayed by every person who has decided to take a chemical shortcut at grave cost to the athletes entrusted to them, both equine and human. The industry has had more than its fair chance at policing itself, and has proven unwilling and/or incapable of doing so. The time has come to properly prioritize the health and safety of horses and humans. At the same time, the industry seems bent on obsolescing itself and fails to understand and embrace today's racing fan. Gaining improvements in broadcasting through partnership with NBC is a good step and I believe it will draw new fans to the sport, but if they are brought in only to be disgusted at the way trainers continually evade regulations and harm horses, jockeys and exercise riders in the process, not only will the number of critics swell at an alarming pace, Congress will be goaded into taking action no one will like. I will always love horse racing, but I fear I may be loving it only as a part of history if improvements are not made swiftly.

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

TheStrapper — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:55:14 GMT

Happy to hear there are efforts to preserve the precious, fertile land in Kentucky that has served the industry so well for decades. Also, good to know yet another generation of Hancocks will oversee the storied Claiborne property, birthplace and residence for so many of the game's greats.

re: Game-Changers - By Eric Mitchell

fb0252 — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:38:28 GMT

I hope this is other than another OP trying to impose the NASCAR model on horse racing. That's the deep pockets trying to control the sport for their own benefit.

we have/had a national racing office called the NTRA. Why create another when it's easy merely to give that one some teeth.

Personally I am in favor a national internet marketing effort. Likely over Twin Spires dead body, however.

Where are the internet adds promoting pick six pots, etc. oooops. there's a TVG add on National Journal, it's happening. I am utterly against a national office "regulating" the sport. We see time and again the stupid ideas--eliminate lasix--and misperceptions by desk jockeys who have zero hands on horse knowledge. Who knows what a national org., misguided might do. We have a very strong system. Regional democracy where most can participate with very little money instead of deep pockets controlling the sport for their own benefit.