[ELA]

One of the things you are missing is that these owners -- are not you. Unfortunately, we don't have black-letter of the law here. That is truly the foundation of the problem. Time and time again, all over, people who are and are not in this game hold others to their own standards. It's all hypothetical, because it's not you, it's not me, it's not whoever. I have 25-30% trainers who have never had a positive, and I have some who have.

My concern about what else is missing are the positive tests that aren't brought to public light. I know one -- high-profile trainer, who has spoken out against drugs, super-trainers, etc. regularly -- who came up positive 3 times this year (one meet, one track) for something that is not part of everyday use on the backstretch. You want to know where that's going? Nowhere -- because it never got started. Are the ones who are caught any more guilty than the ones who aren't?

However, I don't see Jess Jackson -- who is calling for "transparency" and drastic reform to certain aspects of the industry -- leaving his trainer. I don't see Satish Sanan --who himself has called for and acted as a catalyst for change and reform -- I don't see him leaving any of his trainers. What about Cot Campbell? Barry Irwin? WinStar? And the numerous others. Where does the judgemental line get drawn? With which drug? Which positive?

People will often stick by their friends, sometimes to a flaw -- at least a flaw to others. There's your side, my side, and his side. In this case, the owners who are the target of the hecklers, they are on their trainer's side -- and it's always going to be that way, until we have change.

I would suggest that people attend The Jockey Club Symposium, and all of the other industry events. This summer, in Saratoga, Ogden Phipps said that the Jockey Club board was very disturbed (I don't remember the actual words he used, but it was not soft-spoken) that this is going on and for the first time said that the Jockey Club would like to see owners held accountable. While it may bring us to entirely new and unknown world, something drastic is in fact needed -- a national governing body with bite behind the bark to enforce uniform medication rules, nationwide.

I think there is in fact a great deal more to it -- not that it would change your view or mine. A great deal to the point where it's beyond a discussion in an internet chatroom/BB/etc. There are many opinions here that I respect, read, and think about. For example, you brought up some very good points -- as perhaps benchmarks that should be looked for and the industry should look at. I put credence in those opinions becuase they come from a perspective of credibility. Then of course, there are the ramblings of armchair experts, internet trainers, etc.

I never take a myopic or one-dimensional view of anything. Either people are going to be in the stands or in the game. I for one like to see accountability in every aspect of the game, including the judge and jury. Unfortunately today, we have very little. But that will change.

Eric