New Column from Beyer
 

Latest article from Andrew Beyer. Apologies if this was already posted.

"Yet despite the evidence that the U.S. medication policy has been a failure, horsemen have regularly resisted most efforts to curb the use of medications. American racing is addicted to drugs, and American horses will never again be fueled by hay, oats and water alone. But until the industry faces the medication issue seriously, all of its efforts to address equine safety will be misguided."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...051102197.html

We have come face to face with the enemy. And it is us.

The racing establishment. Horse racing people as a whole for allowing this to happen. I wish I could do more too.

One of his best recently. I'd vote him racing commissioner in a second if there was such and thing.

I agree with Beyer's article...meds and breeding are the main problems and changing breeding practices directly is impossible (although the argument that going to poly everywhere would impact breeding is interesting). The whip is more cosmetic but I think it could also be examined. While I seriously doubt that anything could have prevented the tragic breakdown of Eight Belles, perhaps the fallout...especially from INSIDE the racing industry might finally produce some meaningful changes...??

Co-chair with Crist... we might actually make some progress in this game if that actually happened

Yes, the stallions would object.

I agree. A good column, but a racing commissioner, I think not.

LOL Zippy, although they might enjoy longer, more meaningful relationships rather than "wham, bam, thank you Mam"...LOL!

He is 100% correct. It would only be fitting if Dutrow were to win the Triple Crown in a tarnished error of horse racing. Just like Bonds being the HR leader.

Lesson: The trainers with the best veterinarian are the winners.

Articles like these are more frustrating than informative for just about everyone who bets and follows the sport...we all know what the problem is and it has nothing to do with running on rubber or dirt.

"The drawback to this vision, of course, is that horse racing might not be much of a sport if speed became a liability. The thoroughbreds who make the game exciting are the brilliant ones such as Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown -- not the plodders who often win on Polytrack."


So, if he had the money to buy horses, then he probably would be buying the same speed-bred horses that are most vulnerable to breaking down. These "plodders" (he and other speed addicts hate) will keep kickin' the ass of the speed-bred Derby winners trying to get home in the Belmont. They can try to speed up the track all they want come Belmont day, but you can't make those turns tight. The beauty of the Triple Crown is it requires a horse to do very different things. Winning the Derby on concrete is much different than winning the Belmont. As long as people ( like Beyer) keep thinking the "brilliant ones" in the sport are just the ones with speed,then horses will continue to be bred for speed. As long as his pro-speed attitude exists, horses will be bred in a way that results in them being more and more fragile. His own addiction to speed is part of the reason these horses break down so easily. You can't say speed is brilliant, and then turn right around and complain that they breed for it. That would be hypocritical.

No, he referred to Big Brown (precisely.) We are gunna find out if his example of brilliance can get 12f. If he can get 12f, then he belongs with those you mentioned. Problem with his attitude is that he has given a horse the description of " brilliant " without it being fully tested for endurance. He has won all 3 of his races this year on speed-favoring dirt tracks. The breed would be much better off if people valued the ability to get 12f. I think it does require brilliance to get all 3 legs of the triple crown. The reason we haven't had one in 30 years has a lot to do with these speed addicts that call a 3 year old "brilliant" before being tested for true endurance. Having speed is fine if it can be taken 12f.