Letters to the Editor: Sport of Kings vs. King of Sports

[Wandering Eyes]

There were many empty seats at the table when the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Alliance (HISA) was invented, those being Middle America Racing, which is comprised of almost every jurisdiction between, the moon (California) and New York City (NYRA).

Now, being blue collar horse folks, we in Middle America all know it takes three legs for a stool and in this fixed race, the stool was Kentucky. Throw kerosene on the flames, when certain trainers were indicted by the Feds, and as Fred Capossela and Costy Caras echoed, “It's now post time!”

For years, horse racing was sometimes called the Sport of Kings. More appropriately horse racing resembled the King of Sports. Few had or have billions of dollars to purchase a professional sports franchise, but in many regards, every Thoroughbred owner has their own professional sports team–an athlete (horse), coach (trainer), quarterback (jockey), athletic trainer (veterinarian), a team name (Seabiscuit) and uniform (colors). Plus, owners can legally wager on their own team. Now that's American.

In reading the Small Business Administration Act of 1953, one could conclude that every owner/trainer in this country is a small business. The SBA was created as an independent agency from the federal government, “to aid, counsel, assist, and protect the interests of small business concerns; preserves free competitive enterprise; and maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. Small businesses fuel economic growth by ensuring job opportunities and raising employment rates.”

The U.S. government often favors small businesses with incentives, tax cuts, grants, and good access to help to keep them competitive. But does HISA interfere with the SBA Act causing potential ending, hardships, unemployment, etc., to the racing industry? Is this government overreach personified only to be overturned as unconstitutional?

Where does the Constitution allow an ill-conceived, forced mandate with little input from the industry, especially from the hard-working, caring and loving horse people who number in the tens of thousands? These folks, who are up at dawn every day, their calloused hands and stiff backs doing the boots on the ground work never had a say. That's not American!

The elimination of Middle America Racing is already in danger of happening with the elimination of Lasix. If you ever witnessed a horse bleed, you would condone its use. Humans take Lasix in tablet form and racing needs to reduce the public perception of treating horses with a syringe and declare that there is no medical evidence that Lasix is harmful or a masking agent for horses.

All across the U.S., this wonderful Constitutional Republic founded on a capitalist economic system, the end of racing by eliminating Lasix with an unfounded mandate threatens all but the high echelon of the industry and we deserve better.

Remember this quote from the movie Seabiscuit: “They say my horse is too small, my jockey's too big, my trainer's too old, and I'm too dumb to know it!” Well, the racing heart of America does know it and HISA should be on an indefinite hold until all the voices have a chance to be heard, the true facts known, and we all get along together, with the care and safety of horses and humans finishing first in every race. Now that's the Americana we all hope for! —Ken Lowe

Ken Lowe has been a successful owner and breeder, served as President of the Charles Town HBPA and is now serving as Chairman of the West Virginia racing commission and RCI's Board of Directors.

The post Letters to the Editor: Sport of Kings vs. King of Sports appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article