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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: The Answer on April 21, 2025, 09:55:25 PM

Title: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: The Answer on April 21, 2025, 09:55:25 PM
https://paulickreport.com/features/keeping-pace/keeping-pace-howard-taylor-goes-after-hanover-and-the-usta
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: seen2much on April 21, 2025, 10:23:18 PM
Howard Taylor list of suspect trainers goes on & on. Anything Howard says is hard to believe. Taylor has money & that makes him a piece of shit...in my opinion.
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: Grandstand Handicapper on April 21, 2025, 10:35:42 PM
Very interesting article. While I am no fan of Howard Taylor, he ain't stupid. Like him or not, he does bring up some very good, and what I think are very valid points. No, they are not proof or facts, at least not now, but they absolutely raise very significant questions about the process, the alleged conflict of interest, and whether this entire thing was above board or not. How can it be fair to investigate and punish a select group of members, and not others who may have done the same thing. On one hand, the USTA is saying a farm can't do business with a non-member, a convicted felon, or whatever-----but another farm can, because it's a different kind of business. Nah, I am not buying that. Sounds like BS, a conflict of interest, and selective and punitive condemnation.

Like they say, it's not the impropriety, but the appearance of the impropriety. Well, the same is true as far as I am concerned about a conflict of interest. How can Russell Williams serve in his capacity at the USTA and investigate and judge one of his major competitors. I say he can't. JMO.
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: MIKE CAMPBELL on April 22, 2025, 01:02:23 AM
In the "you can't make this shit up" file, the Keeping Pace article is mostly about conflicts of interest. One of the main players claiming a conflict is Diamond Creek. Scroll down to the bottom of the article and you will read this....."Diamond Creek is a sponsor of the Keeping Pace column". Hows that for a conflict of interest!!
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: Yonkers1A on April 22, 2025, 07:07:00 AM
Buggy racing is doomed, doing business with a prisoner
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: JT on April 22, 2025, 07:19:23 AM
In the "you can't make this shit up" file, the Keeping Pace article is mostly about conflicts of interest. One of the main players claiming a conflict is Diamond Creek. Scroll down to the bottom of the article and you will read this....."Diamond Creek is a sponsor of the Keeping Pace column". Hows that for a conflict of interest!!
Good catch I had not noticed that. tmbz1. It is still a very bad look for Diamond Creek, the USTA and Hanover. Russell Williams should have removed himself from any part of these "investigations." Why was Diamond Creek punished and Hanover not? I don't think the author of the article was overly biased in Diamond Creek's favor although as Mike pointed out they are a sponsor for said article. When this story came out last week  I thought Diamond Creek was unwise to mention this news because the fines were minimal for them..I think 35 grand total and the news of them dealing with Surick would have gone unnoticed by most. Now I'm glad they did. It raises many questions about Russell Williams and his involvement with Surick and the USTA
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: The Unstable on April 22, 2025, 09:49:39 AM
Howard Taylor list of suspect trainers goes on & on. Anything Howard says is hard to believe. Taylor has money & that makes him a piece of shit...in my opinion.

this is correct. 
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: simplify on April 22, 2025, 10:31:03 AM
Howard Taylor by far the worst of the worst scum in the industry. A real fucking dbag.
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: Harness racer on April 22, 2025, 10:34:52 AM
In the "you can't make this shit up" file, the Keeping Pace article is mostly about conflicts of interest. One of the main players claiming a conflict is Diamond Creek. Scroll down to the bottom of the article and you will read this....."Diamond Creek is a sponsor of the Keeping Pace column". Hows that for a conflict of interest!!

That is so funny!   ngc3  ngc3  ngc3
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: Harness racer on April 22, 2025, 10:35:10 AM
Howard Taylor by far the worst of the worst scum in the industry. A real fucking dbag.

 tmbz1
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: The Answer on April 22, 2025, 10:46:36 AM
HT was hired by DC most likely because Williams and HT hate each other guts. DC was looking for a fight by hiring HT and got one. That still doesn’t excuse Williams for not to recuse himself.
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: Harness racer on April 22, 2025, 11:34:27 AM
Williams is a fucking arrogant asshole too.  How can he hold multiple positions that conflict one another?  It's like being the plate umpire with your kid pitching...WTF?
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: Yonkers1A on April 22, 2025, 01:17:11 PM
Williams is a fucking arrogant asshole too.  How can he hold multiple positions that conflict one another?  It's like being the plate umpire with your kid pitching...WTF?

 tmbz1
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: halfinhalfout on April 22, 2025, 01:35:10 PM
When HT was a younger guy he was a positive advocate for all that was good about harness racing.  Now it appears he has gone to the 'dark side'.
A cursory examination of who trains for him is a veritable rogues gallery of what is not right with harness racing. 
I do agree that for the USTA president to also head up Hanover Shoe farm does suggest possible conflict of interest situations.
Been going to horse sales for 45 years, I always smile when I see a know 'juicer' chatting it up with the major consignors.
It stands to reason that the consignor wants to get top dollar and the juice boys attract the people with money.  Unfortunately, it is like a dog chasing his own tail.  The same conflicts of interest occur in the running horse world also.  Which is why conceptually HISA makes sense.
If we can level the playing field it will be better for us all in the long run.


Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: Parked on April 22, 2025, 01:42:14 PM
Williams is a fucking arrogant asshole too.  How can he hold multiple positions that conflict one another?  It's like being the plate umpire with your kid pitching...WTF?
I think your assessment would rightfully fit everyone involved in this fiasco.   
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: Scooteroo on April 22, 2025, 02:11:41 PM
When HT was a younger guy he was a positive advocate for all that was good about harness racing.  Now it appears he has gone to the 'dark side'.
A cursory examination of who trains for him is a veritable rogues gallery of what is not right with harness racing. 
I do agree that for the USTA president to also head up Hanover Shoe farm does suggest possible conflict of interest situations.
Been going to horse sales for 45 years, I always smile when I see a know 'juicer' chatting it up with the major consignors.
It stands to reason that the consignor wants to get top dollar and the juice boys attract the people with money.  Unfortunately, it is like a dog chasing his own tail.  The same conflicts of interest occur in the running horse world also.  Which is why conceptually HISA makes sense.
If we can level the playing field it will be better for us all in the long run.

Howard used to drive some of his horses years ago and won a few races, however when he was driving, he was very reckless which caused a few accidents. He has one of the biggest egos I know of and is very arrogant.
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: Chips N Salsa on April 22, 2025, 02:48:59 PM
what's howards email?  he used to participate on this board but now is gone.
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: Scooteroo on April 22, 2025, 02:54:47 PM
His law office email is:   ktaylor@htaylorllc.com
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: Grandstand Handicapper on April 22, 2025, 04:18:18 PM
Howard, by design and by occupation, is supposed to have an ego. He's a litigator, a professional arguer, LOL. That doesn't mean he has to be an a$$hole, or an arrogant pri¢k, if that's what you think he is, LOL. It also doesn't have anything to do with what you think about his integrity, as an owner, the trainers he uses, and how he operates his business. Gural didn't toss him no reason, LOL. In this capacity, he's a hired gun. I think he brought up some valid points, questions, etc. His argument here has nothing to do with who he is. It's not personal. It's simply business.
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: Scooteroo on April 22, 2025, 04:25:47 PM
I've known Howard since back at Brandywine Raceway back in the 70's. His father owned horses back then and he was in college. Obviously as a lawyer your job is to be an advocate so sometimes, you're going to come across as an asshole, plus most lawyers have egos. His dispute with Gural is personal but it's a battle he's not going to win. I never questioned his integrity but wonder why he uses so many different trainers.
Title: Re: Russell Williams clear conflict of interest
Post by: Grandstand Handicapper on April 22, 2025, 04:38:55 PM
I've known Howard since back at Brandywine Raceway back in the 70's. His father owned horses back then and he was in college. Obviously as a lawyer your job is to be an advocate so sometimes, you're going to come across as an asshole, plus most lawyers have egos. His dispute with Gural is personal but it's a battle he's not going to win. I never questioned his integrity but wonder why he uses so many different trainers.

Cool. I didn't know Howard back then. I only got to know him more in the 90's when he was getting more active in owning horses. Now, his dad I knew, and he was a character-----and I mean that in only good ways! Jerry was a very intelligent man, and a sharp lawyer. Kind of witty/funny too. We sat together once at the old Blue Bonnets. We were both had horses (in separate divisions of a stakes race) and I was there with a friend. Jerry invited us to sit with him and his wife (Judy) and I remember vividly we had a blast. It was almost like he was entertaining us, without trying, for the day. LOL. He used to come to the Meadowlands very often to watch his horses race. Good guy.
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