Industry Stakeholders Need to Pull Together

Horse racing is always evolving. As new issues arise and confront us, we have had to overcome many challenges. We hear all about the negatives and things that are wrong with our sport. From controversies about cheating to declining crop size, new regulatory bodies to disagreements over the effectiveness of The Jockey Club and Breeders' Cup, the struggles of historically important venues, to the safety, care, and aftercare of our beloved equine athletes... the list goes on and on. We could all throw in the towel and say that our sport is spiraling and on borrowed time. Or, as I choose to do, we can look at the bright side and figure out ways to improve things—together, as an industry. I look at our sport with optimism. I'm not wearing rose-colored glasses and ignoring that which we must overcome. There is plenty of work to do. But when I watch racing on television or when I attend races in person, I am reminded of what is so special about Thoroughbred racing. Whether you are an owner, breeder, trainer, jockey, farm worker, or a fan, there's nothing quite like watching as horses come charging down the stretch. Maybe you had $2 on the winner. Maybe you bred a horse in the race. Maybe you just bet on a horse because you liked the name. There's something electric about watching a race. I believe that's why those of us who have dedicated our time and money to the sport do what we do and care so deeply about the sport's future. So, where are we? What are some of the biggest obstacles that confront us? I'll start with the safety and care of the horses themselves. It wasn't that long ago when the headlines were filled with issues concerning racetrack fatalities. Whether the fingers were being pointed at the safety of the track surfaces or the soundness of the horses training and racing, it seemed as if we were failing. I think we can agree that we have turned the ship around on this front. There's still work to do and, sadly, this problem can never be entirely eliminated. But the statistics show that we are making improvements. I think we have to credit the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's efforts on this front. HISA is still in its infancy. Yes, things haven't always gone as smoothly as we might have liked. However, in talking with many of the top trainers in the sport, the consensus has been that we are on the right path. Certainly, issues will arise and approaches will be modified in order to make improvements. The safety of our horses and the integrity of our sport are paramount. I have faith that HISA's efforts will continue to work toward these goals. Aftercare is always a major issue. Of late, there has been much about this topic in the headlines. Unfortunately, we seem to have run into a bit of an impasse as some in the sport have taken issue with The Jockey Club and its role in this crucial area. I do hope cooler heads can prevail and we can move forward together as an industry to find common ground. Debate is healthy. That's how progress is made. If we don't identify issues, we can't improve things. What I can say with some certainty is that those involved on both sides of this controversy have commonality. They care deeply about the sport and want to see it thrive. Everett Dobson has taken over as the chairman of The Jockey Club fairly recently. Everett is a man who has the respect of many of us in the sport. I have great faith that under his leadership, we will find ways to address not only aftercare but other issues that have become a point of contention. What we don't need as a sport is infighting and public dissension. We need to unify. I have heard legitimate concerns expressed that The Jockey Club will have to navigate. I hope we can find common ground and that compromises can be reached. Let's pull together and be unified in our efforts to promote our sport. I can tell you with certainty that some of the most respected leaders in our industry are brainstorming with some truly inspiring ideas on how we can improve the aftercare efforts that currently exist. Stay tuned. I'd like to address one other important concern that we all share. That is, whether racing is viable in some of the historically important venues that seem to be teetering? I'm not smart enough to know all of the issues that confront racing in California. What I do know is that it is still the home of some of the most exciting races in our sport. Santa Anita Park and Del Mar are fantastic homes for horse racing. I do hope that will never change. What about Florida? It seems that Gulfstream Park's long run might be coming to a close. As a kid, I spent time at all of the South Florida tracks. Calder and Hialeah were such a big deal. I recall going to Hialeah as a teenager in the late '70s and sitting with my dad and John Brunetti and all of the industry big shots looking at flamingos and watching great racing. Will racing return to Hialeah if Gulfstream is gone? And/or will we see the establishment of a new great racing facility in the Ocala region? Maybe there we can establish another Keeneland. Wouldn't that be fantastic? The future of racing can be bright. The new Belmont Park will be open before we know it, hopefully inspiring the next generation of horse enthusiasts. I truly believe the sport is ready to take off again and set to reverse some of what seems to be slipping away. We need to pull together to make sure this next chapter is a great one. Let's get to work. Together. Adam Wachtel Wachtel Stable