Coming to a close.....

[Split Rock]

I'm no longer interested....

I realized today that I did not look at a race, PP or anything to do with horse racing in the past week to ten days. While some would say that is no big deal, I must admit that I was pretty much a daily player since 1986. It appears the game has sucked the interest right out of me.

I know most of you will see this posting as sour grapes, sore loser, etc, etc. But, let me start off by saying I cashed 12 IRS tickets in 6 days including a $21,000 pick 4 at Los Al in April. You'd think that would be enough to keep me coming back for years on end. Nope. The state of horse racing makes me embarrassed for all of those involved.

For years, the list of things that irritated me grew. Soon, the irritation grew as well. Now, the irritation is gone and all that is left is complete apathy.

I really never thought it would happen. I was exposed to the game in mid 1986. I had a racing form for 85% of racing days for a 15 year stretch up until soft copy forms took over. In looking at the numbers, my handle had gone from around $100 per day - pre simulcasting- to about $2k per day. It has now slipped into oblivion. Not because I earn less (in fact I earn more now than I ever did) but because the game of horse racing only vaguely resembles that of which I grew to love.

The obvious "straw" that broke this camel’s back was the influx of drugs and rampant cheating now prevalent. I wondered aloud once, in jest, if a trainer would win 100% of his starts for a single meet. Day after day, month after month, the win percentage by these super trainers rise to absurd levels. In addition, their horses are bet down to miniscule numbers and win with authority.

When this first started to happen, most, including myself, were startled but we tredged on. We would say things like "just factor it into your betting" or "if you can't beat 'em, bet 'em" and garbage like that. Obviously, this was meant to rationalize staying involved in something so obviously crooked. Now, with the likes of Rudy Rodriguez on the scene, it has become so farcical that you have to wonder if he hides his face from the security camera when he picks up his winner’s purse.

I'm certain cheating has always been involved in horse racing. But never has the larceny been so blatant and obvious. However, the cheating in and of itself didn't drive me away. In fact, it was more due to the lack of action by those policing the sport.

A few years ago, there was an up in arms following the tragic death of Eight Belles. We saw Jack Van Berg's pitch to politicians that horse racing was "chemical warfare". Not a single thing of note came out of those hearings and it has been back to business as usual. It appears that no matter how loud we scream about the problems of racing, nobody that can make a difference will react. Apparently the only way we can be taken seriously is through the retraction of our betting dollar.

So, that is where I am today....retracting. Not to make a point or "show them" or anything of the sort. I'm just tired of the charade. It's really not that interesting any longer....at least to me.


I'd be curious how the rest of you feel. I'm sure this posting will take its usual punishment but would love to hear how the rest of you feel about the state of the game.