Never said i did, only that i agree.

~ DT forum Imbecile

No, DrugS, Danzig is right.

And she pointed out exactly what was wrong with your sports analogy.

A room full of naked men getting out of showers might be a start as to why fans aren't allowed in locker rooms.

Unless you are looking for trouble or are a complete drunken fool - I don't think the backside is much of a dangerous place to say the least.

You might want to put the whole quote in
next time and not just the sarcasm. Rather
a low blow.

What is it that I posted that you disagree with?

Sorry pgardn, that was just the part that jumped out at me... (darts)

Wasn't intended as a swipe.

If someone wants to plant an explosive on a track here,
if they really want to, it is easily done. The guys who
pulled that in HK were complete idiots. Cmon. And that
was on the track.

No problem. I just see Drugs point about the 30 bucks.

I always wondered about barn security at tracks across America, it is considered a problem?

I don't really have much of an idea how it works, but it can't be easy having several trainers all in the same 'space'. We know that horseracing around the world isn't exactly a straight sport.

As you know, over here there are very few trainers who actually train 'on site'. There are a couple, but that's it. In Newmarket they all have separte yards, but everyone but Godolphin use the public training grounds that surround the town. Godolphin have huge amounts of land now and steadily they are buying all the farm land in and around the town to build private gallops on.

There are three main thraining centres in the UK; Newmarket, Lambourn and Middleham/Leyburn. There are many trainers scattered around that have their own gallops and training facilities that are for private use only.

I have to say I prefer it like that, but maybe that's just because what I'm used to. There are too many risks having so many horses trained at a track, where so many people go to on a daily basis and viruses can be spread easily.

What's to stop Al Qaeda from blowing up the infidel trainer barns?

C'mon, Drugs - you know if the "general racing fan" or "public" were allowed to wander freely in the backstretch, some nice gambler from Ohio would get run over, kicked, or their thumb bit off by a horse on day one. You'd look up and some moron would be sitting in your office, walking down your shedrow, poking in your feed room. Kids don't belong there. Somebody would toss a lit cigarette down and burn someone's barn down.

The "general public" has no business being on the backstretch, for safety reasons alone.

When you go to the backstretch, what are you looking for? You trying to find the trainers and talk to them yourself? (versus the press).

I have on a few occasions - more often I'd go back to say hello to someone or just do a little casual observing to kill some time.

The only time I'd go there almost daily to see a horse was for Fabulous Strike.

I'm obviously much more in the minority on this than I thought. I also seem to think fans - even curious new ones - aren't as idiotic and dangerous as the guys who disagree with me all think.

It's a lost oppertunity for the sport in my opinion.

Not sure I understand the purpose for linking to a 12 year old sponging incident - other than maybe trying to prove my point that if someone wants to do something like that - the security and rules that have been in place all along won't stop them.

Yes, the point is... more people to watch for something as simple as sticking a sponge up a horse's nose.

Doubt Biancone is trying to keep away from the public so much. It's officials snooping around and finding where he stashes the cobra venom

The public should not be given unrestricted access to the backside for a number of reasons, many already stated. 1st off the tracks and trainers do not want the responsibility of safeguarding the public from potential harm because of the potential of liability. Anyone who thinks that there are no dangers on the backside in the morning obviously has never had a loose horse coming at them at full speed. Or hasnt been kicked or bit by a seemingly docile horse. The liability issue alone is enough to keep people out. But there are other reasons too. Just because you frequent a restaurant you are not allowed unfettered access to the kitchen. Sports teams allow you to see certain parts of training but it is always supervised, you cant just wander into the clubhouse. It is a real stretch to say that horseracing is missing a big opportunity fanwise by not allowing them unrestricted access. Most tracks have some sort of tour program and every track that I know of allows you to view workouts from the grandstand. Derby week is always a zoo with so many people around that dont belong, parking on the horse paths, taking pictures of horses from under the rails spooking horses, etc. Churchill will regret not limiting access someday when someone gets trampled and brings about a billion dollar lawsuit.

Sometimes what goes on in the paddock right before a race amazes me, as far as some of the owner behaviour - especially for a big race, when everyone invites every relative and friend they have and it's very crowded. I hate to see very young kids in there at all. There is never any guarantee that any horse is "under control".

I am not sure of the rules, regulations, etc. as they exists state-to-state, however, in the harness business, in NJ -- I believe this doesn't fly. Unless the rules have changed, if you want to train on a "private" farm/training center, the facility has to become licensed as a "state approved" or "state licensed" farm/training center. I don't remember the actual language here, but as a licensed facility you fall under all the rules and regulations of the state racing commission and you agree to give access -- unannounced if the case may be -- to the state police, the regulatory agencies, etc. Same as if you were on track from what I gather.

Unless your horse is coming from one of these licensed facilities -- your horse isn't racing. Again, I don't know if the rules have changed. Regardless, here, how would they handle works? You'd ship to the track to get a recorded workout? How would this play out?

Training on private facility should not, and I don't think it will, give the ability to exist outside the rules, regulations, and the laws.

Eric

Nice avatar...I'm still shocked Prop Joe is gone.

Tours are available for the backside. The backside is a working environment where the business of horse racing is conducted. It is not a zoo.

There is no reason to have unfettered access. Cannon Shell's points about danger say enough. It could be very easy to "hit" a horse or for someone with a grudge to plant some sort of illegal substance in a trainers barn or office. Barns like those at Saratoga are completely open and trainers should not have to hire guards to be sure that no one decides to go pat the pretty one, not knowing that he eats human fingers like carrots.
There is at least the assumption that if you are licensed that you at least know some of the basic rules of the backstretch, like don't march into the shedrow univited, don't ever touch a horse unless you've gotten permission etc. Don't approach if the vet is in the shedrow etc...
If you are a horseplayer who has over time amassed some connections who are willing to leave your name at the gate, you are assumed to know the rules and abide by them. OTOH, Joe Schmoe and his wife and 3 kids don't know how to act and could easily get hurt or be a general PITA.
In the morning, trainers are training horses. They are saddling them and checking wraps and watching the move out and are generally busy. They don't need a family of 5 asking them if they can pet the horses.
I have full access at NYRA but rarely use it. Unless I've called a trainer ahead of time or asked for permission to visit. I would expect the same courtesy if a trainer was planning on visiting MY office.

I ride show horses at a barn with a lesson program. They have novices and parents around all the time. All boarders/experienced riders are expected to help keep liability to a minimum by using caution with strangers in the barn. Horses can be volitile, even old pro school horses or show horses.

I do think that it is nice to get to see workouts and get a backstage peek. I don't know why at Saratoga, instead of getting so strict, they didn't just create a section near the clockers stand at Oklahoma for fans. No barn access, just ability to see training. A small roped off area up the stretch from the stand would be fine.

As for biancone, I'm not sure how they can keep him from training on property which he owns.