TGJB--

I would rather see you (or someone with similar influence) (or even you AND Len, it carries a lot of weight when rivals/competitors are brought together by a certain issue) campaign for a single national racing body which could:

1) regulate and enforce an effective medication standard for all racing jurisdictions;

2)oversee the assignment of racing dates in all states so that tracks are not competing for horses;

3)coordinate the graded stakes schedule;

4)address issues concerning health care and insurance for backstretch employees, exercise riders and jockeys;

5)regulate and oversee the stewards in each jurisdiction, so that rules of racing are uniform and uniformly enforced in each state;

6)procure quality TV coverage of racing;

7)formulate a cogent strategy to compete with or interact with other forms of wagering;deal with the problem of offshore wagering sites;

8)regulate the construction of new racetracks and eliminate facilities which are no longer viable;

9) etc.

This needs to be done, it won't be done.

Considering the problems the country is facing inside, outside, and at our borders, it would be quite insulting if the "Feds" spent even $1 on Horse Racing issues.