unanswered letter

[brownmoose13]

Someone I know and trust sent this letter to 20 people ranging from the USTA, district representatives, and racing commissions. That was about 6 weeks ago and he tells me that he got 1 reply which shows to me how much they care.

Good Morning!  I write this to each and every one of you to see if anyone, which I doubt, is truly interested in cleaning up racing and improving the integrity of the sport whether it be standardbred or thoroughbred. I have been a harness racing owner for about 50 years and the time has come to make some changes that have some teeth in them to punish the offenders rather than appease them.  Here is what I firmly believe needs and should be done:

1. Fractional Ownerships...Even though I am against them they are here to stay, even though the sole purpose is to line the pockets of the trainer, they should be called the OPM stables which stands for Other Peoples Money. Regardless of my feelings each and every owner regardless of percentage ownership, should be made to have a license and be subject to fingerprinting and a background check. What benefit do I get as an owner more than these 1% owners who strictly purchase so they can tell their friend they own part of a horse and maybe get their picture taken in the winners circle. If I drive my car only once a week for 2 hours don't I still legally need a license?  Horse racing should be no different....if you want to be an owner then play by the rules that other owners must comply with.

2. Positive tests and here is where the rubber meets the road:
      A. First offense...30 days and $5000 fine...no appeals. The appeals process is a joke as I have seen some last as long as 2 years. The trainer in question must provide a list of all owners of horses in his stable as they will be sent a letter so to make sure they are aware of what may happen if offense #2 happens.
      B. Second Offense...60 days and $10,000 fine...no appeals. In addition the horse with the positive  cannot race for the 60 days and all other horses in the stable cannot race for 30 days. This accomplishes 2 things....1 a beard cannot be a trainer or can the horses be transferred to another trainer for the 30 days and 2.....most important, if you hit the owners in the pocketbook,   they will eat their own and do all the dirty work necessary. Keep in mind that they were warned after offense #1 so if they want to stay in the guilty stable then be prepared to suffer the consequences.
     C. Third offense....traine r is banned for 5 years...no appeals and all the horses in that stable are on the shelf for 60 days. If as an owner you are that stupid to remain after 2 offenses I can't help you

Do I think any of this will be implemented at the bare minimum...NO. Why, because everyone that has the power to do anything much rather continue their gravy train over rocking the boat. In addition, the lawyers need to keep the hourly rate going. If you want to do something then do it rather than make idle chit chat over a paid for lunch or dinner. Do I even expect a response other than a kind thank you for your thoughts and we will consider your ideas....don't waste my time. I am not saying my ideas are perfect but they are a starting point and far better than anything I have heard or read in the last 2-3 years but with most things in life today and after my 64 years the vast majority of people DO NOT CARE!

[Parked]

Sorry but your friend lost $13.20 in postage , the cost to mail the letters. 

[Ohracing]

I can see why no one would reply to such a ridiculous letter.  When you say no appeals you must not be a citizen of the USA.  It's called due process and everyone is entitled to it.  Maybe you never heard of the constitution.  I totally agree horses should be suspended and this business of just putting down another trainer is bs.  As far as sending the letter to the USTA that is another waste they have no jurisdiction over any laws.  Each state has their own commission appointed usually by the Governor of the state.  I do applaud your effort but you can't suggest unconstitutional ideas and expect people to take you serious.  I don't think any trainer should be suspended.  I believe that if you are guilty of a class 1 positive you are fined $100,000 first offense the multiply for each additional $75,000 class 2 and on down.  Hit them where they feel it.   You lose 100,000 you can't cheat your way out of that.

[Mailbox Money]

It is very difficult to toughen the hot testing situations because the guys that are in control of the situation ARE CLIENTS THAT ARE NOT LISTED AS SUCH!! These people will not tamper with their own silent partnerships! 1000% agree with any stake holder in a fractional ownership must be recognized and recorded as such!

[Larry Bird Boy]

How would you suspend the horse if he got claimed or sold on the night he came back positive?

[brownmoose13]

1. I did not write the letter but maybe you Ohracing have trouble reading.
2. Ohracing you must be an attorney or one that defends them since attorneys are clogging up the system
3. Ohracing...you don't think any trainer should be suspended...eithe r you are a trainer who has been caught or you are completely out of touch. Lets asuume that the trainer cannot afford your fine (which most can't), now what do you do...give them a time out in the corner?

Larry, race office keeps the claim money in an account until the test comes back. If the test is negative money is released and all is well. Test comes back positive claim is cancelled, claimant gets his money back and is probably very happy...claimed horses trainer gets fined and suspended

[Larry Bird Boy]

Larry, race office keeps the claim money in an account until the test comes back. If the test is negative money is released and all is well. Test comes back positive claim is cancelled, claimant gets his money back and is probably very happy...claimed horses trainer gets fined and suspended

You can’t expect me to give you my horse without me getting my money. Not happening and unconstitutional. What if you claim my horse and I give you the horse and you go and train the horse an$ break him down. Then the horse came back positive. Your idea won’t work. Claiming races ruin the game in my opinion but we have to have them. It’s a tough call either way but you can’t expect anyone to sell their property without getting money in hand. Maybe testing immediately the night of the race with results getting back following day. But then what happens when they appeal the test? 

[brownmoose13]

What I love is that everyone takes shots at suggestions but completely fail to offer any suggestions. As long as there are attorneys and appeals nothing will change. I am so sick about hearing about constitutional and peoples rights. Its the grey area that causes all the problems so here is a black and white solution....no testing, no appeals, no attorneys, lets make it open warfare and let the best chemist win. Now we have not stomped on anyones rights. How do you like that idea....but I am sure you will be critical but as always offer no solutions so the beat goes on so everyone should quit bitching and live with it. Until some teeth are put in place nothing will change

[Parked]

One problem was brought to light this week when a 1 year suspension for a class 1 drug was reduced to 60 days. 
Sounds like the Gov. of NYS is making the rulings. 

[Stan durbread]

One problem was brought to light this week when a 1 year suspension for a class 1 drug was reduced to 60 days. 
Sounds like the Gov. of NYS is making the rulings.

Unfortunately most commissions use that tactic to avoid spending money on court cases

[Miguel_Sanchez]

I like the part about fractional owners needing a license but and this is a big but - How do you know who is in the LLC?  The Stable LLC doesn't have to disclose all the members of there LLC's so anyone, even a barred USTA member could own.  I don't know a real solution on this one? 

[jupiter]

In the past in NJ, if a groom or trainer got a positive test (pot, coke, booze whatever) the 1st offense, you go to counseling, retest and sign an agreement they can test at any time. if ya don't pee you're suspended. No appeal! If you got a second test you were out for 1 yr, no appeal!, gone. If you got back after your year and got number 3, it's 5 yrs!!! Again, no appeal!!!!!.  Seems ya could fuck with grooms back then with NO due process. Ask  Billy Lemire

[LAW AND ORDER]

In the past in NJ, if a groom or trainer got a positive test (pot, coke, booze whatever) the 1st offense, you go to counseling, retest and sign an agreement they can test at any time. if ya don't pee you're suspended. No appeal! If you got a second test you were out for 1 yr, no appeal!, gone. If you got back after your year and got number 3, it's 5 yrs!!! Again, no appeal!!!!!.  Seems ya could fuck with grooms back then with NO due process. Ask  Billy Lemire

I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU. THAT PRICE IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL TODAY ALA BUSTING THE LITTLE TRAINERS AND WHEN THEY HAPPEN TO RUN ACROSS A BIG NAME, WELL THEN ITS JUST A SLAP ON THE HAND. BUT YOU WATCH AND SEE A LITTLE GUY COMMITT THE SAME OFFENSE AND SEE HOW VERY DIFFERENT THE PUNISHMENT IS. DIFFERENT RULES FOR DIFFERENT FOOLS. ITS NEVER CHANGED, GROOMS ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FEEDING TUBE, THEY NEVER HAD MONEY TO HIRE AT ATTORNEY OR COUNSEL. THESE BIG TIME OWNERS TODAY HAVE DEEP POCKETS SO WHEN "THEIR GUY" GETS THE HOT TEST, THEY KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO CHALLENGE THE RULING AND PLAY THE STALLING GAME. ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES I SEE IN HARNESS RACING TODAY IS THERE SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH, OWNERS, TRAINERS AND DRIVERS OR GROOMS FOR THAT MATTER. THE INDUSTRY NEVER THOUGHT THAT THEY NEEDED THE LITTLE GUY OR SMALLER STABLES. THEY ALWAYS THOUGHT BIGGER IS BETTER AND, IN THAT CASE, THE LITTLE GUY WITH 4-5 HORSES COULDNT COMPETE WITH THE BIG TIME JUICERS SO THEY LEFT THE INDUSTRY. NOW ALL YOU HAVE TODAY IS TOP 5% OF BIG TIME TRAINERS AND OWNERS STAELING MONEY FROM EACH OTHER. I LOVE IT. LET THEM CHEAT EACH OTHER WHIL BUILDING 100-200 HORSE STABLES THAT RACE WHEREVER. I LOVE IT.

[Larry Bird Boy]

The horsemen do end up cheating each other. That’s why the games never changes. Most horsemen are low life’s and have been cheaters their who life. That’s all they know.

[Mailbox Money]

The horsemen do end up cheating each other. That’s why the games never changes. Most horsemen are low life’s and have been cheaters their who life. That’s all they know.

Ding,Ding,Ding we have a winner!!! If they were to develop signage for this theory,KASH JR. would be the poster boy for the NFLD campaign!