Mud Calks @ NYRA

[ELA]

The Jockey Club had it's Round Table Conference this past summer in Saratoga, as they always do. I don't know how many people here actually went. From the industry, you name 'em, they were there. The top names in the game. While there may not be a national czar or governing body, the closest you are going to get to the decision makers were there.

This topic had an entire session dedicated to it. Numerous studies, tests, white papers, etc. were done. Tremendous research was done. All of this material was presented and the results were definitive. Clear cut. The results were injuries, breakdowns, lameness, and so on. There were other statistics shown that were surprising, and at least one that I think was in fact distorted to some extent.

So, what does this mean? Personally, what I think it means is that there are probably more studies and research saying the exact opposite is true. Statistics don't lie . . . statisticians do! LOL.

Regardless, it's easy to sit here, absent of facts -- at least the known facts that are out there -- and say one way or the other is true, factual, or whatever you want to call it. I am sure there are two people that someone could respect tremendously, and each one could be on opposite sides of the fence.

Bottom line. It's a new rule. It is what it is.

Eric