Calling Steve Byk to rebuke Finley's drivel

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

You may be right. There is already a chance that Belinda may want to sell the property. But there is also a chance that she won't sell and will keep the track open. If Chu shuts the track down, then Belinda won't have a choice.

Chu is a hack House Member how the heck does she shut the track down? Civics aren't taught in schools anymore, are they?

[moses]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Chu is a hack House Member how the heck does she shut the track down? Civics aren't taught in schools anymore, are they?

Even if she could somehow influence people who have the ability to shut down the track, it’s likely that she simply wants to be seen as “doing something” about the issue and putting out a strongly worded press release that is combined with some nebulous self-imposed “reforms” by the race track that “make racing safer” is enough to keep people happy until the vast majority of people forget about the topic.

Politics is governed by crisis these days. Once the Santa Anita issue fades away, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of the changes announced by Stronach walked back a bit. But I’m also a little cynical from knowing too much about New Jersey government so maybe California doesn’t work that way.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Chu is a hack House Member how the heck does she shut the track down? Civics aren't taught in schools anymore, are they?

I didn't literally mean that she had the power to just unilaterally shut the track down on her own. But she obviously has some power, as does every House member, and I believe she represents Arcadia. Whether she is a hack is irrelevant. I think most of them are hacks.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I didn't literally mean that she had the power to just unilaterally shut the track down on her own. But she obviously has some power, as does every House member, and I believe she represents Arcadia. Whether she is a hack is irrelevant. I think most of them are hacks.

House members from the great state of California have a habit of being FOS and alleging nonsense, the only people who take them seriously are themselves.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by freddymo

House members from the great state of California have a habit of being FOS and alleging nonsense, the only people who take them seriously are themselves.

If you've read any of my posts in the politics section, you know I am no fan of liberal politicians. But regardless of politics, nobody is going to tolerate horses breaking down left and right. Something is going to give if this keeps happening. If there is too big of a public outcry about something, politicians will take action. We may like racing but we make up less than 1% of the population.

By the way, there was just another breakdown at Santa Anita (in the 4th race).

[Dawgswin]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

If you've read any of my posts in the politics section, you know I am no fan of liberal politicians. But regardless of politics, nobody is going to tolerate horses breaking down left and right. Something is going to give if this keeps happening. If there is too big of a public outcry about something, politicians will take action. We may like racing but we make up less than 1% of the population.

By the way, there was just another breakdown at Santa Anita (in the 4th race).

Correct. I don't think any one of us who even halfway have been exposed to racing and the facts DON'T see the absurdity of the response and the response of politicians (and the track). I think we all get it. It's laughable and sad.

None of that matters. Just like it didn't matter what the facts were around the PETA "hidden video." The message and issue were lost. There was no way to recover.

I'm not saying that is the case with Santa Anita. I don't know what the outcome will be. But the narrative is already gone, lost. Those who love racing and understand the reality of how the animals are treated....don't matter -- period.

I got roasted on here when I pointed out that it didn't matter what any of us thought about PETA's undercover tactics. The vast majority of the public would think nothing but "oh those poor horses, shut all this down."

That's what's happening again.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Dawgswin

Correct. I don't think any one of us who even halfway have been exposed to racing and the facts DON'T see the absurdity of the response and the response of politicians (and the track). I think we all get it. It's laughable and sad.

None of that matters. Just like it didn't matter what the facts were around the PETA "hidden video." The message and issue were lost. There was no way to recover.

I'm not saying that is the case with Santa Anita. I don't know what the outcome will be. But the narrative is already gone, lost. Those who love racing and understand the reality of how the animals are treated....don't matter -- period.

I got roasted on here when I pointed out that it didn't matter what any of us thought about PETA's undercover tactics. The vast majority of the public would think nothing but "oh those poor horses, shut all this down."

That's what's happening again.

Here is the difference if you get it or not. The industry stood together after the PETA video and denounced it for what it was, propaganda swill. This time TSG embraced the narrative got morons like Finley and others to legitimize the "fears and concerns." This is the equivalent of eating your own. This is why I thought Steve should pen a killer Op-Ed to stem this tide and disinfect this narrative.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Here is the difference if you get it or not. The industry stood together after the PETA video and denounced it for what it was, propaganda swill. This time TSG embraced the narrative got morons like Finley and others to legitimize the "fears and concerns." This is the equivalent of eating your own. This is why I thought Steve should pen a killer Op-Ed to stem this tide and disinfect this narrative.

Why don’t you a Titan of industry write that Killer Op-Ed instead of trying to throw someone else into the line of fire?

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Here is the difference if you get it or not. The industry stood together after the PETA video and denounced it for what it was, propaganda swill. This time TSG embraced the narrative got morons like Finley and others to legitimize the "fears and concerns." This is the equivalent of eating your own. This is why I thought Steve should pen a killer Op-Ed to stem this tide and disinfect this narrative.

Actually Freddy, the industry didn't stand together until the distortions and fabrications of the video were fully demonstrated. In the immediate aftermath, Dinny Phipps in fact, vilified Steve Asmussen saying he shouldn't show his face at Derby/Oaks. Those that defended Scott Blasi and the barn as a whole were attacked by the agenda machine. My memory on this is particularly clear.

There's far too many working parts to try to 'stem the tide' in one sitting or with one voice. On ATR, we have 15 hours a week to offer proper perspective to Stronach Group's obfuscation of the original problem's root issues and the resulting flood of misinformation and wider opportunistic pandering. Beyond my own ongoing commentary, we've presented appropriate pushback from Hill 'n' Dale's John Sikura (industry leadership vacuum), DRF's Jay Privman (TSG irresponsibility), Dr. Steven Allday (anatomy of breakdown clusters) and yesterday, RacingUK's Nick Luck (appropriate response to animal welfare question). Florida HBPA board member Chuck Simon visits in studio today and I'll be broadcasting from Santa Anita Wed-Thu-Fri-Mon and will deliver an array of stakeholders, including Eclipse's Aron Wellman & LRF's Billy Koch) to voice their views and concerns.

We're offering drivel-rebuking op-eds on a daily basis.