Franchise Delay Hangs Over Trainers

[blackthroatedwind]

Great and insightful post. I think you are dead on about the slots at Belmont debate especially since Excelsior has clearly said that without that they are not interested in any involvement.

One thing, though, and believe me I say this with no malice. I feel for the hardships of the trainers you described, however, when the horsemen's group backed Empire they spoke for the horsemen. Now, I understand that some ( perhaps even many ) did not feel they were speaking for them. However, why did they not speak out publicly then? If they had really looked carefully at Empire they certainly would have known that was the wrong horse to back.