As Edward Gibbons has pointed out in his momumental work, 'The Decline and Fall of the Racing Empire," the noble Sport of Kings could not have been plundered and pillaged by the one armed bandits and casino sharpies of the day if a once eager reformer who ran the most prominent information outlet of the day had not allowed his publication to become overbloated and stagnant, complacent and complicit.

That if he had used the bully pulpit to call for reforms or at least thorough investigations to put an end to all the corrosive speculation surrounding the industry he could have prevented the bulldozers at the gate from having their way.

Instead he chose to be an appeaser, knowing that his own financial interests were best served by serving the establishment rather than advocating for the best interest of his readership.

Such is the way of all flash.