There is no reason to have unfettered access. Cannon Shell's points about danger say enough. It could be very easy to "hit" a horse or for someone with a grudge to plant some sort of illegal substance in a trainers barn or office. Barns like those at Saratoga are completely open and trainers should not have to hire guards to be sure that no one decides to go pat the pretty one, not knowing that he eats human fingers like carrots.
There is at least the assumption that if you are licensed that you at least know some of the basic rules of the backstretch, like don't march into the shedrow univited, don't ever touch a horse unless you've gotten permission etc. Don't approach if the vet is in the shedrow etc...
If you are a horseplayer who has over time amassed some connections who are willing to leave your name at the gate, you are assumed to know the rules and abide by them. OTOH, Joe Schmoe and his wife and 3 kids don't know how to act and could easily get hurt or be a general PITA.
In the morning, trainers are training horses. They are saddling them and checking wraps and watching the move out and are generally busy. They don't need a family of 5 asking them if they can pet the horses.
I have full access at NYRA but rarely use it. Unless I've called a trainer ahead of time or asked for permission to visit. I would expect the same courtesy if a trainer was planning on visiting MY office.
I ride show horses at a barn with a lesson program. They have novices and parents around all the time. All boarders/experienced riders are expected to help keep liability to a minimum by using caution with strangers in the barn. Horses can be volitile, even old pro school horses or show horses.
I do think that it is nice to get to see workouts and get a backstage peek. I don't know why at Saratoga, instead of getting so strict, they didn't just create a section near the clockers stand at Oklahoma for fans. No barn access, just ability to see training. A small roped off area up the stretch from the stand would be fine.
As for biancone, I'm not sure how they can keep him from training on property which he owns.
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RIP Monroe.
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