SoCal,

That’s exactly what we are going to get.... A Federal agency to regulate the industry.

The political grandstanding will start soon, PETA has a platform and a voice for all their BS. Say goodbye to Lasix, no race day meds, longer withdrawal times, more vet scrutiny, excessive whipping penalties and cancellations every time it rains.

All this has been self inflicted over the past 50 years starting with Off Track Betting by an entire industry that has constantly made the wrong move at every turn. I would challenge anyone to come up with 6 good initiatives brought about from within since the 70’s.

Cutting back on the meds will cause a @$%& show, 90% of the trainers nationwide don’t have a clue anymore how to train horses without meds. Take out Lasix from a breed that has been drug dependent for 30 years and you will have handicapping chaos for sure. Many of the fears TGJB mentions in his Lasix article will come to fruition. Handle will plummet in the short term anyway.

The other wild card with getting the politicians involved will be the battle cry of why are we subsidizing a crooked industry? Slot welfare at many locations will be on the plate to be redirected to cover costs of bankrupt states.

How will Monmouth fill their entry box this summer without the dynamic pair of juicers? Most of the bottom level cripples here and at many other venues would never be allowed to step on a race track without pain blockers by any competent vet.....

While the Feds action is certainly to be applauded. I’m afraid it’s a bit too late to SAVE a DEAD industry that cannot sustain itself without casino revenue in 90% of its venues.

The game that we knew will never be the same and at best it will need to take 3-4 steps backwards to move forward again in any positive direction.

50 years of Nero fiddling away as Rome burnt to the ground has come back to bite the industry in the ASS......