No prying eyes at a private training center

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by GBBob

So how do you compare this lack of access to other sports? I mean, I get it that they are horses vs humans, but if I can support your being "all access" as a legitimate contributor, why should "people"...assuming you are using that generally, be allowed carte blanche?

People are obviously allowed access at NFL training camps - and spring training in baseball etc. - when it comes down to in-season practices though - of course you can't have people around.

There is an element of secrecy with plays and formations...and the focus is on the team they will play the upcoming week.

It takes only purchasing the cheapest license to get that access on the backside.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

People are obviously allowed access at NFL training camps - and spring training in baseball etc. - when it comes down to in-season practices though - of course you can't have people around.

There is an element of secrecy with plays and formations...and the focus is on the team they will play the upcoming week.

It takes only purchasing the cheapest license to get that access on the backside.

but fans aren't allowed into the locker room-which i would equate to the backstretch. if people want to watch the works, i would think that would be similar to being in the stands watching spring training.
but i see no reason to allow random access to the backside.
besides, liability could cause huge headaches. horses get loose, so a bystander could get run over-then who pays when joe schmo sues? the owner of the horse? the trainer? or the track?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Danzig

but fans aren't allowed into the locker room-which i would equate to the backstretch. if people want to watch the works, i would think that would be similar to being in the stands watching spring training.
but i see no reason to allow random access to the backside.
besides, liability could cause huge headaches. horses get loose, so a bystander could get run over-then who pays when joe schmo sues? the owner of the horse? the trainer? or the track?

A room full of naked men getting out of showers might be a start as to why fans aren't allowed in locker rooms.

Unless you are looking for trouble or are a complete drunken fool - I don't think the backside is much of a dangerous place to say the least.

[Riot]

Unless you are looking for trouble or are a complete drunken fool - I don't think the backside is much of a dangerous place to say the least.

C'mon, Drugs - you know if the "general racing fan" or "public" were allowed to wander freely in the backstretch, some nice gambler from Ohio would get run over, kicked, or their thumb bit off by a horse on day one. You'd look up and some moron would be sitting in your office, walking down your shedrow, poking in your feed room. Kids don't belong there. Somebody would toss a lit cigarette down and burn someone's barn down.

The "general public" has no business being on the backstretch, for safety reasons alone.

When you go to the backstretch, what are you looking for? You trying to find the trainers and talk to them yourself? (versus the press).

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Mumtaz

When you go to the backstretch, what are you looking for? You trying to find the trainers and talk to them yourself? (versus the press).

I have on a few occasions - more often I'd go back to say hello to someone or just do a little casual observing to kill some time.

The only time I'd go there almost daily to see a horse was for Fabulous Strike.

I'm obviously much more in the minority on this than I thought. I also seem to think fans - even curious new ones - aren't as idiotic and dangerous as the guys who disagree with me all think.

It's a lost oppertunity for the sport in my opinion.

[AeWingnut]

http://www.rgs.uky.edu/odyssey/spring98/sponging.html

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Not sure I understand the purpose for linking to a 12 year old sponging incident - other than maybe trying to prove my point that if someone wants to do something like that - the security and rules that have been in place all along won't stop them.