Second O'Neill horse tests positive

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

But isn't the sport condoning them first as trainers, by not barring and banning them from tracks for serious offenses? If the sport did the right thing as far as cheaters go, then owners would be forced to move their horses to other barns. But as long as these guys are in buisness, they will attract horses with their gaudy stats and big races under their belts.

Define "the sport".

Then think of how ineffective the current rules/system is.

Then think about why that is so hard to change, not only from a logistical standpoint of herding 40+ states to do the same thing but the legal challenges that any rules/law need to withstand.

Penalizing the horse/owner accomplishes a lot of what you are looking to do and is possible to do.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Define "the sport".

Then think of how ineffective the current rules/system is.

Then think about why that is so hard to change, not only from a logistical standpoint of herding 40+ states to do the same thing but the legal challenges that any rules/law need to withstand.

Penalizing the horse/owner accomplishes a lot of what you are looking to do and is possible to do.

I agree that's a huge hurdle for the sport to get across. Obviously if racing could have some sort of uniformed rules governed by an independent body, things might actually get done.

But I think punishing owners in a sport where most of them are losing money already is the wrong way to go about it and would eventully lead to the sport being in more dire staits then it's in already.

Chuck, what would you like to see the owners do? and what sort of penalties would you like to impose on them?