Letter to the Editor: Contrary Thinking Should Not Run in ’25 BC Classic to Protect Horse Racing’s Image

[Wandering Eyes]

The horse Contrary Thinking has been pre-entered in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic and, as is generally acknowledged, to serve as a “rabbit” to ensure a lively pace in the race. I do not wish to comment on how Contrary Thinking may or may not affect the race from a handicapping point of view.

Rather, as a horse racing fan, my concern is about the negative image his participation casts on one of horse racing's premier races in front of a major audience. The horse racing industry has come a long way, in recent years, on issues pertaining to the safety and integrity of the sport. Considerable effort has gone into both reducing injuries on the race track and demonstrating to the public at large and to everyday racing fans alike that the sport takes safety and integrity seriously. Horse athletes are given the utmost consideration. Nothing less is expected from society at large.

Contrary Thinking is likely, if put into the race to do what is anticipated, to finish well up the track. Daily Racing Form terminology used to read “distanced” as a way to describe a horse that has fallen far back from the field in summary comments. If this occurs, (and this almost seems assured), it will not be in the true spirit of competition of the sport of horse racing and run antithetical to the effort in recent years to show how magnificent and thrilling horse racing competition on the racetrack really is. If Contrary Thinking is indeed “distanced”, at the very moment a thrilling finish is experienced by observers, their exuberance will be tempered when glancing at a horse lumbering home just crossing the finish line. Why do this? Yes, putting “rabbits” in major races was often done at one time. But this is not 1970, and the general public is far keener on issues involving animals.

Contrary Thinking is a worthy horse in his own right, but he should not participate in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic. Whether he is eligible or not, or may affect the pace of the race or not, is not what is relevant here. Rather, what is the crux of the issue is that whole of the industry is far more important than the result of any one race.

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