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Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind
Because the attendance is slight is not a reason to treat the few that do come poorly. In fact, if anything, they deserve special treatment.
No doubt the wind conditions out there are bad, I have probably spent close to 800 afternoons at the Big A, and winter racing is tough. However, the jockeys have signed on to race here during the winter, so it seems that if they feel it is really necessary to cancel they should do it prudently. Otherwise it can become a " boy who cried wolf " scenerio.
My problem is not caring about riders safety, as I do, but really that more and more the riders are showing that, as a group, they have little interest in any concerns other than their own. Racing is in trouble and the jockeys are refusing to try and be part of the solution. In fact, considering the recent actions of the guild, it seems they are more determined to be part of the problem.
I have close friends who ride, and I have the utmost respect for them, and certainly not everybody is acting completely in their own selfish best interests. However, I wish the riders would find a voice that paints them in a better light and finds a way to unite as opposed to their current position.
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Ok, racing's in trouble and the riders as a group are not part of the solution, you say. I'm curious what, say, three or four key things can the riders do as a group?
And if, as I take your comments, the riders as a group so not speak with one voice, what do you make of the NY traners? Many of their board membersl seem to have no trouble voicing opinions and issuing support regarding the franchise, but they are nowhere near unity. In fact, several of the trainers' board members have ties through client/owners to NYRA board mambers.
I'd be pleasantly surprised if there is anything non-monetary the jocks are in position to do that meaningfully improves the sport from any perspective. Strikes me there's more to be done from the NY trainers end as a group.