How Does This Happen in Harness?

[Figman]

Here is Richard Wojcio, harness driver found guilty of conspiring to fix races and banned throughout New Jersey. http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ge/exclusion/wojcio_r.htm Here is Richard Wojcio currently driving harness horses at Cal Expo - How does he get a license from the Cal. Board? http://racing.ustrotting.com/card_entries.cfm?track_code=CALX&race_date=2004-03-19&race_type=6

[JimG]

Instead of outrage and pickets, the average fan is unaware and just keeps betting. That's how such a rotten thing is allowed to happen Figman. Thanks for posting.

Jim

[Zman179]

Outrage? Pickets? With horseplayers? Right, when pigs work at WalMart. In uniform.

Mr. Wojcio is definitely not the first person to have been found guilty of race fixing only to return at another track.

Being involved in harness racing is not what someone would consider to be one of your more honorable professions. It's not a sport, it is simply a vehicule for gambling.

[sq764]

Christ, David Ingraham robbed a bank I believe and he is driving at Pompano.

Herve??

Case?

[norm f]

Herve was accused of race fixing NEVER!! convicted of it,as well as he never tried to get a licence from any other province or state until his reputationwas cleared he was convicted of income tax evasion and, your opinion on Case is well documented.The funny thing is you have 2 men here, with almost 27000 wins between them, and these are you favorite "stiffers"
Typical

[Exactaman]

Originally posted by norm f
Herve was accused of race fixing NEVER!! convicted of it,as well as he never tried to get a licence from any other province or state until his reputationwas cleared he was convicted of income tax evasion and, your opinion on Case is well documented.The funny thing is you have 2 men here, with almost 27000 wins between them, and these are you favorite "stiffers"
Typical

just talking about Herve here, not case. I don't buy the all those wins means he never stiffed a horse logic. race fixing is a difficult thing to prove. herve was in pretty bad company there, the content of the tapes was never made public, nys still declines to license him, i would hardly say his reputation was cleared. i won't say he's a race fixer for sure either but i have no problem with nys not licensing him.

[Figman]

But what about Wojcio? He WAS convicted and California is ignoring that conviction! Where is the California harness racing
regulation. Wojcio would not be eligible to compete in any jurisdiction on the East coast.

[sq764]

How do you figure?? David Ward was convicted of bank robbery and he was racing at Northfield..

David Ingraham was convited of a felony (I forget what) and he is at Pompano.

[cj]

Originally posted by Exactaman
...i won't say he's a race fixer for sure either but i have no problem with nys not licensing him.

As someone who spent many, many afternoons at Freehold raceway, I wiss say, FOR SURE, he was a race fixer. Stevie Wonder could see this!

[Exactaman]

more power to you. i seen him a bit at yonkers and roosevelt, he was actually my favorite driver back then. wasn't cynical enough yet to try and figure who was fixing the races

i liked the old freehold a lot. only went a few times though

[sq764]

I guess Herve was slicker than Brennan, Parker and Morrill at Freehold..

[cj]

I can only assume those guys were later caught, but I stopped following the sport when I left NJ in 1995, so I wouldn't know. Back in my day, it was all Jackie Mo for the day to day racing. Some other good ones, but he was dominant. Herve always was bet though, and I could never figure it out. The guy rarely won, and when he did, it was on bombs. If he was 3-5 on the rail, he was a cinch to be boxed in first time around and never leave the rail. If he were drawn in the middle, you could set your watch to him going first over. I didn't argue, I just routinely crossed any horse of his that was 7-2 or lower out, and capped from there.

[cryptic1]

An old friend of mine is one of Herve's brother-in-laws. He
loved to recount the stories of limos to the track filled with
strange characters resembling extras in the godfather movies.
Herve would invariably make notations on my friend's program
setting out the horses to wager on. Of course my friend cashed
far more than he lost.
In the early 90's when he was facing some of his tax problems
he drove a horse I had a small interest in at Yonkers. It was one
of the New York State Sire Programs. He sat the whole race not
making a move. We weren''t particularly impressed and of course
we never used him again.He appeared to be going through the
motions and seemingly distracted by his personal problems. But,
when he was in his prime,he had uncanny hands.

cryptic1

[Jennilynn]

I do understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but I would sincerely hope that everyone has all of their facts straight before they go on a website and start bashing people. Me, I have my facts straight, I lived thru it. I also stand by my father 110%.

The bottom line...California decided to override NJs corrupt government and let Richard wojcio drive because he is an outstanding person, a great father, a wonderful friend, and a hell of a harness driver. The fact that Richard wojcio was used as an example for the harness industry is pathetic and the fact that you people have nothing better to do with your lives than write BS on my father is even more pathetic.

I would like to conclude by saying that unless you were in that courtroom, unless you know the truth, kindly keep your worthless opinions to yourself. I also hope that not one of you gets set up....I really do, bc you would not be able to handle it half as well as my father did.

Jennifer Wojcio

[warrant]

this is from 2004

why bring it up now?

[njcurveball]

I would like to conclude by saying that unless you were in that courtroom, unless you know the truth, kindly keep your worthless opinions to yourself. I also hope that not one of you gets set up....I really do, bc you would not be able to handle it half as well as my father did.

Jennifer Wojcio


I love your voracity on this. We would love to hear some facts that were never brought out if you care to share.

Jim

[toetoe]

And some vivacity too, please. :jump:

[Jennilynn]

Because I just happened to come accross this website yesterday. Im sure if strangers were bashing your father, you would also feel the need to say something....

[Jennilynn]

For starters, if my father was a "rat" like the feds wanted him to be, he would still be racing right now.

[BillW]

Because I just happened to come accross this website yesterday. Im sure if strangers were bashing your father, you would also feel the need to say something....

You really should have read the thread first before you flew off the handle. Your father wasn't being bashed. As a matter of fact he was hardly mentioned. The only bashing in this thread occurred in your first post (unless, of course you deny that the links posted actually exist :rolleyes: )

...keep your worthless opinions to yourself.

[Jennilynn]

Maybe I didnt repost on the correct thread, Im never on this website, but a couple of people were making a big deal about my father racing in california, and yes, i will fly off the handle simply because nobody on this website has a clue as to what they are talking about (when it comes to my fathers case)....its very frustrating...

[Bubba X]

This kind of thing can happen in harness racing because it is pro wrestling on wheels.

[headhawg]

This kind of thing can happen in harness racing because it is pro wrestling on wheels.Out of the mouth of moronic babes...

[njcurveball]

i will fly off the handle simply because nobody on this website has a clue as to what they are talking about (when it comes to my fathers case)....its very frustrating...

My whole point is that this is a racing board and we would love to hear any facts you have.

We are very good at making the right choice when we have all the facts, so anything you can give us would be a big help.

Please don't internalize this, but Harness Racing is a sport littered by liars and cheats. Heck most of life is as well.

My friend knew a girl dating "Little Nicky" Scarfo. She swore to him up and down he was "in construction", nothing illegal.

I love your passion and would love to hear about his innocence in a sport with a long history of cheating.

[Tom]

The bottom line...California decided to override NJs corrupt government and let Richard wojcio drive because he is an outstanding person, a great father, a wonderful friend, and a hell of a harness driver. The fact that Richard wojcio was used as an example for the harness industry is pathetic and the fact that you people have nothing better to do with your lives than write BS on my father is even more pathetic.

Jennifer Wojcio

Curious, the one word missing in the reasons listed for allowing him to drive was innocent!? Was there a reason for not saying that?

And, could you please point out the post, by number, that BS was posted about him?

Thanks you for your time.

[DanG]

My friend knew a girl dating "Little Nicky" Scarfo. She swore to him up and down he was "in construction", nothing illegal.

Jim, you mean he wasn’t? ;) :D

[njcurveball]

Jim, you mean he wasn’t? ;) :D


LOL! Nope he certainly was, very good with concrete from what I hear. ;-)

Point being that sometimes we will believe anything we want to believe even if the facts are as big as an elephant in the living room everyone one else but us can see.

[wilderness]

It's long been an accepted practice for one juridcition to accept participants that are "not allowed" in other jurisdictions.

The key phrase is the application of the term "suspended"
If a horseman is deemed "suspended", than most other jurisdictions honor that suspension.

If however, a horseman is deemed "off-the-grounds without suspension" in one or more jurisdictions, another jurisdiction may readily accept that horsemen and his stock.

There are many abuses in the interpretation of suspensions by the wagering public and even the press, both in an attempt to garnish headlines in a flagrant manner.
Please!
I'm not suggesting that there have never been instances of race-fixing, only that horses and people are not machines and cannot function as such at each appearance. Even machines have their bad days.

There was never a more dedicated person in the harness racing industry than Del Miller, in every regard.
Del was dedicated to horsemen, to owners, to the general public and to preserving the history of the sport. Del was dedicated to horses as well.

With all the above in mind and focusing on the following two instances, one might percieve otherwise!

This horse never raced again:
http://www.mi-harness.com/publct/quietcon2.html#1940miller

The following from the July 16, 1958 Harness Horse.

DELVIN MILLER APPEAL
N. Y. State Harness Racing Commissioner George Monaghan elected to reserve judgment on Delvin Miller's appeal last week against the 15﷓day suspension imposed on him at Roosevelt Raceway on June 28. The penalty period ends today (July 15). Miller had requested an immediate decision after a two and a half hour hearing Friday. This followed an initial session on Tuesday.
Leading drivers testified that Miller had little chance to win with Meadow Lands from the outside position in the race in question. He took the four﷓year﷓old back from a parked﷓out position after going to the half in 1:01 but had to go back to last to get to the rail. Meadow, Lands did not respond to Miller's urging and finished last, though clocked within a fifth of a second of his best time this season.
Miller's suspension was phrased for driving "in a manner inconsistent with an attempt to win."
Though already penalized for the full 15 days, Miller wants to secure a reversal as a vindication against the headlined charge that he was not trying to win His attorneys claimed the judges both abused and exceeded their powers in violations of Miller's rights.
The rule quoted in placing the penalty is predicated on the assumption that the driver did not intend to win. This makes this intention a prerequisite to a violation. At the hearings both the judges involved and the commissioner stated that they found no intent on Miller's part not to win the race.
The Miller attorneys also pointed out that there is no rule in the book that penalizes a "good faith" error﷓in other words a driver can not be penalized for using tactics, which may, in retrospect, have been detrimental to his chances of winning. Racing luck and the possibilities of being "parked out" always exist and a driver must use split﷓second judgment to avoid situations. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't, but such actions do not constitute any violations of commission rules, orders or regulations governing the conduct of the sport.
The unfortunate part of the incident, aside from the very real penalty it imposed on Delvin Miller in the form of missing numerous important stake engagements on behalf of his owners, is that it received nationwide publicity involving one of the leading figures of our sport in an accusation of deliberately pulling" a horse.
It is to be hoped that final action will be taken in fairness to all parties to make the situation clear beyond all doubt.
end of quote

As an aside, it should be noted that Commissioner George Monaghan was a Thomas Dewey appointed and had many long battles with the United States Trotting Association as far basck as the 1930's over simple rules.
Many folks were not informed at the time that Commissioner George Monaghan was prompted in his "escapades" by the management of Roosevelt and Yonkers Raceway's.

[Jennilynn]

Curious, the one word missing in the reasons listed for allowing him to drive was innocent!? Was there a reason for not saying that?

And, could you please point out the post, by number, that BS was posted about him?

Thanks you for your time.

My father was found INNOCENT on ALL three counts of fixing races. He was also found innocent on six other counts, including fraud.... What the harness industry should focus on is the men that testified against my father, who were fixing races, but saved their careers and names by lying on the stand. Harness racing is very crooked.... If you dont do what the feds want, you will be ruined. My father is an example of that.

go to the beginning of this thread, you will find the post.

[wilderness]

EX-HARNESS DRIVER Race fixer fined, but avoids jail
August 5, 2000 •• 838 words •• ID: asb2000080540064201153
FREEHOLD - Richard Wojcio, who once earned millions as a highly successful harness race driver, now can't get work driving a delivery truck. With his life in shreds since he was convicted two years ago of conspiring to fix races at Freehold Raceway, Wojcio now works as a house painter. Banned for life from the sport, Wojcio learned yesterday that he won't have to trade his racing silks for a prison jumpsuit. Wojcio was spared the six-month jail sentence a judge had

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?s_site=app&f_site=app&f_sitename=Asbury+Park+Press+%28Neptune%2C+NJ%29&p_theme=gannett&p_product=ASBB&p_action=search&p_field_base-0=&p_text_base-0=Race+fixer+fined%2C+but+avoids+jail+&Search=Search&p_perpage=10&p_maxdocs=200&p_queryname=700&s_search_type=keyword&p_sort=_rank_%3AD&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date%3AB%2CE&p_text_date-0=2000

It's interesting to note that there are some behind the scenes rumors of "names" wearing wires and testifying as witness' to save their own backsides, which is quite common today in most criminal cases.

[toetoe]

Wojcio tockna bowd, Willis ? :mad: ;)

[wilderness]

Wojcio tockna bowd, Willis ? :mad: ;)

Is this some foreign langauge or am I just dense!

[toetoe]

Ex-jockey Gary Coleman-speak.

Be nice or I'll go all Conrad Bain on ye. :mad:

[Jennilynn]

EX-HARNESS DRIVER Race fixer fined, but avoids jail
August 5, 2000 •• 838 words •• ID: asb2000080540064201153
FREEHOLD - Richard Wojcio, who once earned millions as a highly successful harness race driver, now can't get work driving a delivery truck. With his life in shreds since he was convicted two years ago of conspiring to fix races at Freehold Raceway, Wojcio now works as a house painter. Banned for life from the sport, Wojcio learned yesterday that he won't have to trade his racing silks for a prison jumpsuit. Wojcio was spared the six-month jail sentence a judge had

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?s_site=app&f_site=app&f_sitename=Asbury+Park+Press+%28Neptune%2C+NJ%29&p_theme=gannett&p_product=ASBB&p_action=search&p_field_base-0=&p_text_base-0=Race+fixer+fined%2C+but+avoids+jail+&Search=Search&p_perpage=10&p_maxdocs=200&p_queryname=700&s_search_type=keyword&p_sort=_rank_%3AD&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date%3AB%2CE&p_text_date-0=2000

It's interesting to note that there are some behind the scenes rumors of "names" wearing wires and testifying as witness' to save their own backsides, which is quite common today in most criminal cases.



like i said..."CONSPIRED"...if he fixed races, he would have been found guilty of that as well...but like the jury said, 3X.. NOT GUILTY...

[Jennilynn]

Harness driver convicted of conspiracy, cleared of fixing races

From: AP Online (http://www.highbeam.com/Search.aspx?q=richard+wojcio+and+harness publication:[%22AP Online%22]) Date: March 31, 1998 (http://www.highbeam.com/Search.aspx?q=richard+wojcio+and+harness pubdate:[19980328;19980403]) http://www.highbeam.com/Aspx/GetPubLogo.aspx?pub=AP+Online (http://www.highbeam.com/Search.aspx?q=richard+wojcio+and+harness publication:[%22AP+Online%22])


AP Online
03-31-1998
FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) _ Harness driver Richard Wojcio was convicted of conspiring to fix 1995 races at Freehold Raceway, while the jury cleared him of charges that he tried to rig races.

[wilderness]

like i said..."CONSPIRED"...if he fixed races, he would have been found guilty of that as well...but like the jury said, 3X.. NOT GUILTY...

I have no doubt your father is a nice man and loving man, perhaps even a dedicated horseman.

To believe that he was dragged onto the court room "lilly-white" innocent of any involvemnt is a bit far-fetched.

Harness racing has a histroy of letting people get away with things and then dragging them into either the racing commisions office (or even court) under the pretense of maximum charges.
Only to the have than original charges that were bantered in the press (for all the public to see) reduced in either a plea bargain or minor charge.
It's happened time and again.
The procedure is part of the court system in the US.

As others have tried to explain to you?
This thread began more than three years ago and your presence here (you proclaim because you just found this page and haven't admitted that you failed to comprehend the 2004 date, where the hell you been for three years?) only stirs up more crap!

Best thing you could do is move on (before google and the other search engines spider this material) before others from the harness racing industry appear which may be able to provide reflections much closer to the scene than somebody searching vague references in old materials (i. e., let sleeping dog lay).

BTW, Herve is not guilty also, however he's not licensed to race in NY or NJ.

[Jennilynn]

I agree...

[PaceAdvantage]

I'm not sure what all the stink is about. The ORIGINAL POSTER wrote this:

found guilty of conspiring to fix races

He used the same verbiage as Jennilynn, so I'm not sure why she is so bent out of shape. Being found guilty of conspiring to fix races isn't something you want to put on your resume, even if you hadn't been found guilty of actually fixing races....(how much of a difference is there really, in the court of public perception?)

[Jennilynn]

A big difference.

[wilderness]

A big difference.

What happened to "I agree"?

You just don't get it!
Let the thread die!

[njcurveball]

I would love to hear from people on this board who don't mind betting races with drivers in them who "conspired" to fix races.

Personally between the scandals at the Big M and the ridiculous petty money scandal at Northfield I have not looked at a Harness Race in quite some time.

The only difference between conspiring to commit murder and pulling the trigger is the result not the intent.

I think you have doomed your Father of any chance of getting respect now by admitting his guilt.

[Bubba X]

Out of the mouth of moronic babes...Says you. I remember being at Sportsmans in the 80's with 15,000 people there on any Saturday. Not any longer. Harness racing has turned into a ruinous cesspool, with the lucky folks getting slot machine money which is nothing more than welfare for horsemen.

[PaceAdvantage]

I think you have doomed your Father of any chance of getting respect now by admitting his guilt.What do you mean admitting? He was convicted of the crime of conspiring to fix races at Freehold.

[harnesslover]

I would love to hear from people on this board who don't mind betting races with drivers in them who "conspired" to fix races.

Personally between the scandals at the Big M and the ridiculous petty money scandal at Northfield I have not looked at a Harness Race in quite some time.

The only difference between conspiring to commit murder and pulling the trigger is the result not the intent.

I think you have doomed your Father of any chance of getting respect now by admitting his guilt.

Do you simply ignore all of the t-bred racing scandals, convictions and jockeys expelled from tracks?

[Tom]

Dont' forget the drugging.

[harnesslover]

Dont' forget the drugging.

Or the Breeder's Cup Pick 6 scandal.

[njcurveball]

Do you simply ignore all of the t-bred racing scandals, convictions and jockeys expelled from tracks?

I hear ya! :mad:

[Tom]

If it involves more than one buck and two people, it is probably crooked.:lol:

[PaceAdvantage]

Do you simply ignore all of the t-bred racing scandals, convictions and jockeys expelled from tracks?Nope. In fact, it's discussed a lot, in the THOROUGHBRED section of the board. This is the HARNESS section, where, naturally, folks discuss HARNESS RACING.

[harnesslover]

Nope. In fact, it's discussed a lot, in the THOROUGHBRED section of the board. This is the HARNESS section, where, naturally, folks discuss HARNESS RACING.

Again, guy, the point is there are the same problems in both t-bred and harness racing. Stop stalking me.

[headhawg]

This is the longest thread we've had in the harness section in a long time. Unfortunately, it's turning into something that we would see in the Off Topic section.

It's simple -- if you don't like harness races don't play them.

[warrant]

lets just say both are equally fixed

[harnesslover]

This is the longest thread we've had in the harness section in a long time. Unfortunately, it's turning into something that we would see in the Off Topic section.

It's simple -- if you don't like harness races don't play them.

I don't think anyone is arguing harness racing has its problems (fixes, drugs, etc..), but it's all relative.

It's like focusing on ONE corrupt politician.

[njcurveball]

It's like focusing on ONE corrupt politician.


Can we vote ALL of the drivers out and start over then? :faint:

[wilderness]

Can we vote ALL of the drivers out and start over then? :faint:

There'd only be a different topic to moan about afterwards ;)

[harnesslover]

Can we vote ALL of the drivers out and start over then? :faint:

Like Tom said, if a dollar is involved, there's always going to be cheating or the notion of cheating.. Face it, we wager on sports knowing there is corruption in every one. In that sense, we are idiots.

[njcurveball]

There'd only be a different topic to moan about afterwards ;)


Spot on call! :ThmbUp:

[PaceAdvantage]

Stop stalking me.You call it stalking, I call it administrating....

[wilderness]

I've had approximately 90 issues of the Trotter and Pacer magazine sent to
me for archival. The issues are from 1927-30 and are going to offer some
unique articles, as well as race results that are prior to the 1939 USTA
Yearbook and not digitized.
It's going to take months.
The coverage (although brief in many areas) is quite good in diversity.
In just browsing a few issues, noticed some extensive materials on
Michigan, including Kalamazoo, which was big at that time.

Needed to do some test articles to set my mind at ease and the following
(quite unique) from the Jan 12, 1928 issue.
I have no idea what year is being referred to in the article.

http://www.mi-harness.com/eur/LapseMemory.pdf

[njcurveball]

Agent 86, can you help? It missed loading by this much!

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /eur/LapseMemory.pdf on this server.


Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

[wilderness]

Just copy and paste the link into your browser.

Do NOT click on the link from within a PA web page.

[VicD]

like i said..."CONSPIRED"...if he fixed races, he would have been found guilty of that as well...but like the jury said, 3X.. NOT GUILTY...

Someone pointed this thread out to me from another forum...
This topic, and Richie's daughter posting is really hilarious.
The fact that he "conspired" to fix races is in what way better than actually fixing them? Who was the "fixer"? Could the "fixer" have fixed without the co-conspirators?
Let me tell you something, Ms. Wojcio, or whatever your name is....
I was one of the owners who got stiffed by dear old dad, your salt of the earth father. I and others like me paid the bills each month so that upstanding fellas like dad could go out and cash tickets at my expense.
I know one of the races that was in question, because I was questioned by the NJ State Police.
I knew that regarding the race in question my horse was in top race shape, ready to go out and win a race.
My mare looked the part during the warmups. She trained and ate well during the week, I saw it on the farm... She drew the rail and had speed out of the gate...
Somehow, dad managed to get her away from the gate 4th, while leaving from the rail..
Oh, did I mention she was 4/5?
She ran third, behind two double digit priced horses. Shockingly, the tri came back short, and dad did not put forth his best effort..
You wanna tell us how the family spent some of that money?
Or did he donate his lack of effort as a favor?
If you want to come on a public forum and defend a family member, that's great. Especially if the charges are baseless...
In this case, the guy in question was tried, convicted and banished..
The very system that usually allows these types to go away with slaps on the wrists and fines finally got one right, and you have the audacity to come on here and say it was a setup?
Please, keep your bullshit to yourself..
Daddy is racing in a wasteland now, with other cheaters..
And, he is doing poorly. Too bad, because I always thought him to have some talent....
Ever heard the phrase, "You get what you deserve"?

[VicD]

In the event that you forgot:


http//www.state.nj.us/lps/ge/exclusion/wojcio_r.htm

Nice alias...
Why would an honest, upstanding guy like your father need an alias?
Hope you all like Sacramento, CA for you family get togethers....

[Boxhoward]

Interesting discussion.

Related to the topic, did anyone else notice that NJ has granted Eric Ledford a license again. It boggles the mind that he was the hottest driver at the Meadowlands -- the preeminent harness track in the US -- and he and his father were literally stealing money from owners and the public by doping horses. What was more amazing to me is that the Big M did not seem to care -- at least publically -- and acted as if it never happened once he was arrested and the scandal was revealed. It will be interesting to see if he races again in New Jersey.

I guess it reflects a true buyer beware attitude when it comes to racing.

[wilderness]

Interesting discussion.

Related to the topic, did anyone else notice that NJ has granted Eric Ledford a license again. It boggles the mind that he was the hottest driver at the Meadowlands -- the preeminent harness track in the US -- and he and his father were literally stealing money from owners and the public by doping horses. What was more amazing to me is that the Big M did not seem to care -- at least publically -- and acted as if it never happened once he was arrested and the scandal was revealed. It will be interesting to see if he races again in New Jersey.

I guess it reflects a true buyer beware attitude when it comes to racing.

Rucker signed an agreement to return to M1 as well.

[VicD]

And this is the reason harness racing continues to die a slow death...

[wilderness]

Hardy!
Although it contirbutes in the minds of some.

The wagering demographics have siimply changed.

Compare your own state or regions handle and tax share to the 1970's and you'll see that today's dollars are one-third or less.

The market is simply shrinking, rather than growing.

[DeanT]

I got a post on my blog from someone today regarding this Ledford stuff.

It was in response to the NY Daily News story here that I had put up:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2008/01/11/2008-01-11_eric_ledford_returns_to_big_m-2.html?page=0



Always like Cohen's take on things. Like this part:
"The challenge now is three-fold. For Rucker and Ledford, if they have it in them, they should bend over backward to assure everyone that they have learned from their past crimes. For the Meadowlands and the NJRC, if the officials there have it in them, they should bend over backward to demonstrate to the public that this pair is being carefully monitored. And for the rest of us? If we have it in us I believe we should bend over backward to wait and see what happens before rendering another judgment."

Unfortunately the NJRC is asking us to bend over forwards and I don't think we'll have to wait long to figure out what's gonna happen to us in that position.

Sadly, Taylor is quite right, many in the industry will welcome this creature back with open arms. In fact, I would suspect that there will be an outpouring of unabashed love and associated press releases to follow.

Good thing the sport is so low on the popularity level these days so at least we can take solace in the fact that these clowns won't be considered role models.

I wonder how many life long race fans exited the door on this one? I know there was a great big whoosh of air heard in my household that day!

[wilderness]

There's not a LEGAL alternative for the Meadowlands.
It's a state owned facility and is unable to deny a licensed individual.

Freehold on the other (should it chose) could simply deem both of the premises, as their propery is privately owned.

[VicD]

The law is bad and needs to be changed..
The Meadowlands should be able to exclude anyone who is against the best interests of harness racing, and Ledford and Rucker have already proven that they are..

[VicD]

And do you believe that each new story about guys like Rucker helps to bring people to the track?
Look at places from yesteryear like Freestate, Liberty Bell, and Brandywine....
LB closed partially because people got tired of Ross Hayter and Eddie Davis and others stealing their money..
The demographics changed because the kids coming up heard or realized that they might not be getting the same fair shake that a deck of cards in a poker room might offer.
There is probably a good deal more gambling money out there now then there ever was, yet harness racing cannot figure out how to get any of it...

[Boxhoward]

VicD


Totally agree with you....the interesting thing for me will be to see which trainers and owners will use Ledford...after all, he wasn't just stealing from the public, he was taking money out of the pockets of other trainers and owners who played by the rules. Even if the Big M can't bar him, owners and trainers who believe in the integrity of the sport (at least the few who are left) should not use Ledford for their horses. After all, not like there aren't plenty of talented drivers in the Big M driver colony. However, I am sure that some trainers and owners will use him as they seek short-term gain without thinking of the long term impact.

After all, the betting public be damned.

[DeanT]

The law is bad and needs to be changed..
The Meadowlands should be able to exclude anyone who is against the best interests of harness racing, and Ledford and Rucker have already proven that they are..

Andrew Cohen in his wire to wire yesterday, pointed out that he disagrees with the way punishment in meted out in racing; and if we are upset that people like this are being reinstated after being criminally charged in racing, we should blame the powers who govern the sport.

be angry at the people in positions of power who allow these lackluster punishments to be meted out; who place them in the rulebooks to begin with, and who fail to provide enough funding to make the system work properly.

I once worked at a big bank and I had to have a background check. If that background check revealed I had been criminally convicted of something in banking before, I would not be eligible to work in the banking industry. The same goes for the securities industry. Similarly, I think if I worked at a casino in Vegas and was criminally convicted of something there, the chances are between zero and zero I would be able to reapply at a casino to make my living. These industries seem to believe integrity of their businesses are of utmost importance.

Why do we not have the same rules in racing? I think it all goes back to two things: We were a monopoly so these things didn't have to be looked at; and we have no leadership.

I think someone out there should work on getting this changed. If you are convicted of a crime having something to do with the sport, e.g. horse abuse, illegal possession of equine drugs, fixing a race contest - anything along those lines, we should do what the stock market or casinos do: Boot you out forever.

[Pell Mell]

Way back when, I tended to rely on the wisdom of bookmakers and there wasn't a bookie in NJ that would take a bet on a Freehold race. Also, Pinnacle is a book and they wouldn't take a superfecta bet at PP. I wonder where bookies get their info?

[thespaah]

I do understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but I would sincerely hope that everyone has all of their facts straight before they go on a website and start bashing people. Me, I have my facts straight, I lived thru it. I also stand by my father 110%.

The bottom line...California decided to override NJs corrupt government and let Richard wojcio drive because he is an outstanding person, a great father, a wonderful friend, and a hell of a harness driver. The fact that Richard wojcio was used as an example for the harness industry is pathetic and the fact that you people have nothing better to do with your lives than write BS on my father is even more pathetic.

I would like to conclude by saying that unless you were in that courtroom, unless you know the truth, kindly keep your worthless opinions to yourself. I also hope that not one of you gets set up....I really do, bc you would not be able to handle it half as well as my father did.

Jennifer Wojcio
Well you'll have to excuse us for opining on the data at hand.
If Richard has a case of false or mailicious prosecution, would he not excercise that option in a court of law?
If there were evidence of a "set up" would that not be grounds ot appeal the court's ruling?
btw, you wrote that everyone is entitled to their opinion yet in another paragraph, you call other's opinions "worthless"..
Care to exaplin that?

[thespaah]

My father was found INNOCENT on ALL three counts of fixing races. He was also found innocent on six other counts, including fraud.... What the harness industry should focus on is the men that testified against my father, who were fixing races, but saved their careers and names by lying on the stand. Harness racing is very crooked.... If you dont do what the feds want, you will be ruined. My father is an example of that.

go to the beginning of this thread, you will find the post.
Ok..so what did the feds have on your father that made him a viable "witness"?
you see, the way the masses understand this is the authorities will use a witness on the inside and trade hios testimony for a pass from prosecution. Bu that does not mean that witness is not "guilty "of unlawfal acts. It only means that the witness testifed in lieu of being prosecuted himelf. This is how Rudy Guiliani brought down the NY Mob.
You say you father was "found' innocent of criminal charges. However that apparently had no bearing on the racing authorities rulings..Do you believe those rulings to be unfair or unjust?
Look, I am not here in this discussion to opine either way. I am not privy to the facts of the case. I do know that racing authorities ordinarily will not suspend or expel honest people. So there has to be more to this than meets the eye.

[thespaah]

like i said..."CONSPIRED"...if he fixed races, he would have been found guilty of that as well...but like the jury said, 3X.. NOT GUILTY...
Wait a minute..the article clearly states there was a conviction for "conspiracy"...I think that is the thrust of this thread.
Conspiracy to commit a crime is a crime.

[thespaah]

You call it stalking, I call it administrating....
LOL!!!!

[VicD]

Well you'll have to excuse us for opining on the data at hand.
If Richard has a case of false or mailicious prosecution, would he not excercise that option in a court of law?
If there were evidence of a "set up" would that not be grounds ot appeal the court's ruling?
btw, you wrote that everyone is entitled to their opinion yet in another paragraph, you call other's opinions "worthless"..
Care to exaplin that?

I too lived through it..
Let me know when you want to air all of the public information about your father.
I can add my own deposition for all to see..
If Richie was in fact set up, he would have likely been climbing the walls and shouting from everywhere that he was set up.. It's been over 10 years and we have not heard that.
He and his cohorts took money out of my pocket...
You want to go down that road with me here??

[Jennilynn]

Ok, first off if you want to discuss harness racing thats one thing, but dont you DARE insult my family! Im on here defending my father, no matter what anyone thinks..and that, my friend, is loyalty... I dont really care what you think, especially because of the way you came at me... a girl defending her dad!!! Bottom line, harness racing is CORRUPT its a dirty business everyone knows it...so if my dad did what you "allegedly" say he did, then get out of the business! Thats the risk you take..!!!!!

[headhawg]

I hope the moderators lock this as you just bumped a five month old thread that most people probably forgot about.

[Jennilynn]

Bottom line, the whole industry is corrupt, why point the finger at one man?

[wilderness]

I hope the moderators lock this as you just bumped a five month old thread that most people probably forgot about.

More than that!
It was she who restarted this thread in Sept of 2007 after the thread had been dead since April 1st of 2004.

Yet she continues to persistent upon keeping the thread and topic breathing.

If were voting?
I'd hope the morderators lock the thread as well.

Many thanks for your consideration.

[Jennilynn]

sorry..obviously im never on, but hope you understand that when you feel insulted you cant help but respond.

[wilderness]

sorry..obviously im never on, but hope you understand that when you feel insulted you cant help but respond.

Your keep apologizing for your sillines and lack of recignition of dates of thread submissions, and yet your continued posts simply add more more fuel to the fire.

Move on or stop whinning!

[Jennilynn]

I know but I swear I googled my dad and this comes up, and I read it and it really upsets me. I just wish everyone would leave my dad alone. No matter what, he is my father, he raised me and he is a person. I love him dearly and he has paid enough...

[wilderness]

I know but I swear I googled my dad and this comes up, and I read it and it really upsets me. I just wish everyone would leave my dad alone. No matter what, he is my father, he raised me and he is a person. I love him dearly and he has paid enough...

Your the only one digging up your fathers dirty laundry.

Perhaps you need some lessons on how to use google and a calendar, alas, it's beyond my own patience and most anybody on the internet to suit your requirements.

[LottaKash]

This is all too FUNNY...........

My bottom line, I make some money at this Harness Racing game........and I know there is, were, and always will be cheaters, but I still make money anyway.......

The rest is yada-yada to me.......and I laugh at all the people like us, still churning our money thru the mill........:lol:

I love it.........and you love it too......:jump:

humbly..

[njcurveball]

In an interview a few years ago, Roger Clemens son, Koby, said "Dad's stuff is nasty"! Now we all thought he meant the pitching part, but we have since found out there is a lot more to it. :mad:

Every child is entitled to believe the very best about their parents. And Roger Clemens is very germane in this thread since if the children would stop stirring this back up, it would have been buried long ago on here.

There is no defense accepted when the defense is simply "My Dad is innocent." Koby Clemens may believe it 100%. The Mitchell Report may prove him wrong, but he is still entitled to believe it.

If there is some great evidence that you would like to share, bring it to the table. Last I checked unconditional love for your parent doesn't equate to a "get out of jail free" card. If that was the case, they would have never locked up John Gotti, right? :bang:

[wilderness]

The most forthright explanation that I've ever seen offered by a child reagrding their parent is the following page by LaVonda Williams, daughter of Lew Williams:

http://members.tripod.com/~lavw/BIO.html

Visit her photo gallery as well and click on the small images for larger images:
http://members.tripod.com/~lavw/GALLERY.html

[thespaah]

More than that!
It was she who restarted this thread in Sept of 2007 after the thread had been dead since April 1st of 2004.

Yet she continues to persistent upon keeping the thread and topic breathing.

If were voting?
I'd hope the morderators lock the thread as well.

Many thanks for your consideration.
This one needsto go away..This person who is defending her father on here obviuosly has an agenda. That to me is political BS. And not apporpriate for this board.
We do discuss matters important to the racing industry in general. And if that results in posters giving their opinions, then those who are hypersensitive should just ignore those opinions and go away.
In conclusion, this thread has run it's course. Time to bid it a long goodnight.
my $0.02