Anybody surprised by the list of drug trainers...

[sharkey11]

gee i wonder ever what happened to straw i worked with horses as a kid back then its all there was . and you are corect sea its a waste of time to debate a know it all you just cant win it must be rough to have such a closed mind thanks for the article .

[Jess Hawsen Arown]

Yet only some trainers were identified. How come all of the other trainers did not come up positive? How come the names of the trainers identified are also identified as outlaw trainers by the people who SHOULD matter most -- the gambler, aka, the customer.

It still amazes me that even though illegal drugs are destroying harness racing, there are still "fans" of the game who think it does not exist. The pollyannas are as much a part of the disappearing fan base as the chemists.

As I'm writing this, I am listening to the USTA Presidential debate and the candidates are addressing this issue.

http://www.posttimewithmikeandmike.c...oderators.html

They address this issue starting at about 1:18 into the debate.

[LottaKash]

Originally Posted by Jess Hawsen Arown

It still amazes me that even though illegal drugs are destroying harness racing, there are still "fans" of the game who think it does not exist. The pollyannas are as much a part of the disappearing fan base as the chemists.

JHA, most of us old saltys here and there in Horse Racing are certainly not "Polyannas" as you have stated..

But in this sport, and especially in this Nation & the World, "DRUGS" ! are everywhere, and it is out of control...

I hate to have my pocket picked, and this is not to say that we should we just sit by and continue to have out pockets picked, but, it is tough to keep up with the crooks in horse racing who continue to steal from us...

But, the government lies, the horsemen lie, and everyone lies to each other these days, and that is just the way it is, I guess..

So we PLay or We Don't Play.... I still play...

[Jess Hawsen Arown]

Originally Posted by LottaKash

JHA, most of us old saltys here and there in Horse Racing are certainly not "Polyannas" as you have stated..

But in this sport, and especially in this Nation & the World, "DRUGS" ! are everywhere, and it is out of control...

I hate to have my pocket picked, and this is not to say that we should we just sit by and continue to have out pockets picked, but, it is tough to keep up with the crooks in horse racing who continue to steal from us...

But, the government lies, the horsemen lie, and everyone lies to each other these days, and that is just the way it is, I guess..

So we PLay or We Don't Play.... I still play...

Yeah, I'm still playing, too. I found it easier to play when we had to outsmart the few crooked drivers. Now, because racinos make purses more valuable than fixing races, virtually every race on the track is legit.But form changes due to what goes in to horses is a lot harder to handicap. Then you have the bad guys driving the honest horsemen out of business because they cannot compete.

The future is dim.

I look to NASCAR for hope. They were a regional southeast USA oddity until a marketing innovator, Bill France, took the reins and went from zero to hero and now people all over the country know their stars.

It is the unmanageable 60 person USTA board of directors that is the biggest roadblock to innovation. Hopefully, the new USTA President can be our Bill France.