Industry reforms: More talk than action?

[andicap]

Remains to be seen how much of this actually gets implemented and enforced.
And nothing about ADW issues. But if it gets done properly (a very very very big if) it's excellent news for the future of the business and would represent a real PR coup for the industry.

http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/exclusive-ntra-confidential/

here's the nut graf from a confidential meeting of "industry leaders" recently, from the Paulick Report.

Among the possible reforms discussed in the document are minimum national standards for medication, drug testing and penalties; benchmark safety standards of racing surfaces and/or a mandatory switch to synthetic tracks; a ban or limitation on racing fillies against colts; eliminating timed workouts at 2-year-old sales and distance restrictions for 2-year-old races; a funding mechanism for permanently disabled jockeys; wagering protocols and mandatory public disclosure of wagering abnormalities; uniform scratch rules and "other player-friendly advances"; integrity clauses and potential revocation of Eclipse Awards for individuals involved in infractions; and a national placement program for retired racehorses.

[cj]

You think that is good?

Who gives a shit if fillies race against colts?

What do I care if they time 2yo workouts? You think people won't have stopwatches?

Switching to synthetics?

What do I care about Eclipse awards?

All smoke, no fire.

[JustRalph]

I hear Tap dancing off in the distance................as usual

[Indulto]

http://www.horseraceinsider.com/blog.php/Saratoga-Diary/comments/7302008-having-a-productive-dark-day/#comments (http://www.horseraceinsider.com/blog.php/Saratoga-Diary/comments/7302008-having-a-productive-dark-day/#comments)
Having a Productive Dark Day
By John Pricci July 30, 2008…My cynicism might have been assuaged if installing synthetic surfaces didn’t also make good politics. The sporting public doesn’t understand all the issue and nuances involved. And with 30 percent of the general population wanting to see horse racing abolished, and with a recent House subcommittee chomping at the bit to take aggressive action, some good public relations needs to happen now.

The New York session was open to the public, as opposed to a secret meeting of a few industry leaders some weeks ago in Lexington, Ky., according to the website http://www.paulickreport.com (http://www.paulickreport.com/). The leaders apparently have a plan to stave off federal regulation, a rider, with benchmarks, to the Interstate Horseracing Act that permits simulcasting.

Without simulcasting, now accounting for more than four of every five dollars wagered on U.S. horse racing, it’s game over.

Unlike the House subcommittee hearing, which seemed less about fact-finding than political posturing, there was real dialoguing going on … between the Task Force and the five panels, representing track management; veterinarians; trainers; jockeys and researchers. The panels alternated between informing and answering Task Force questions.

… No one should be surprised that Todd Pletcher came up with a well reasoned compromise that addresses all of it. “We can have all three; turf, dirt and synthetic.”

… “Build a synthetic track inside the two turf courses at Belmont Park,” where the main track takes a beating from the relentless sealing of sloppy tracks during training hours so that the surface would be fast for racing. “Sealing tracks over and over is taking a toll on training in the mornings. Constant sealing damages [the surface], weakens it.” …

[PaceAdvantage]

30% of the public wants to see racing abolished? Where was this poll published?

[Indulto]

30% of the public wants to see racing abolished? Where was this poll published?Dunno.

You can ask him here:

http://www.horseraceinsider.com/blog.php/Saratoga-Diary/comments/07302008-dialogue-another-saratoga-upset/#comments (http://www.horseraceinsider.com/blog.php/Saratoga-Diary/comments/07302008-dialogue-another-saratoga-upset/#comments)
Dialogue: Another Saratoga Upset

Apparently the title was changed, so the link in my previous post is no good.