(2/2) And I don’t mean people shouldn’t point to areas that need fixing or that we shouldn’t try to hold others accountable for breaking rules. Just the opposite. We should aspire to demonstrate integrity in all aspects. Our tent is shrinking already. Don’t hasten it

One of the special things about horse racing is so many people feel (and indeed claim) a stake in both the sport and the industry. But responsibility comes along with that. If we claim to represent the sport, we have to consider the harm our words can do, too. (1/2)

Handicap ratings don’t determine who the best horse is. Racing does that. They don’t determine who to bet. PPs and tote boards do. All they have to do is fill a starting gate with horses who can win on a given day. And we won’t have to guess as often if horse is in to win or sell

Reasonable to expect as more handicap races are run, the ratings will fall more into line. Clusters of similar horses (even if wrongly rated against each other but close enough to be in 10 pt range that puts them in same race) will sort themselves out on the racetrack.

Have been a proponent of a handicap system in racing for many years and not changing now. We need to promote keeping horses with owners who want them rather than forcing those horses to run for price tags just to compete. Kinks to work out but perfect can’t be enemy of good here

Seeing a lot of discussion about the Woodward’s short field and we are one of the owners that plan to run elsewhere with Awesome Aaron. Four stakes races in NY/KY/DE 8-9f on dirt this weekend. Don’t know that there’s one entity to blame but there aren’t enough horses for that.

NOGRADI makes his 1st US start in race 7 at @LaurelPark. @jockey_jb18 has the call for a 3:15pm post time. Switching over to @ColonialDowns, SIEGE OF BOSTON looks to get back to the winner’s circle in the race 7 allowance. He reunites with @jorgeruizjockey for a 6:52pm post.

A much-needed winner at a price!

NAME IT switches to turf today in the finale at @ColonialDowns. @VCarrasco28 retains the mount for a 4:25pm post time.

ROTHSCHILD gets back to the turf today at @ColonialDowns in race 7, and is ready to get a win! He teams up with @VCarrasco28 for the 1 1/4 trip. Post time is 3:32pm.

Winning at Saratoga is special—but winning your first ever race at The Spa? Unreal. Huge thanks to Norm for a stellar job and congrats to our partner @JustinTheNich. Looking forward to a big summer with I'm Wide Awake! 📸: Susie Raisher / Adam Coglianese

What a way to end the Belmont Stakes Raving Festival at Saratoga Congrats to @AJSuitedRacing @JustinTheNich & @NormCasse amazing job. Giddy Up!!!

This past week, the racing world lost a great man with the passing of Christophe Clement. I didn’t know Christophe personally, but I know many who did—and one thing is universally said about him: he enjoyed life. Deeply. Fully. Every single day. That resonates with me. If

Not just our little horse racing social media community but the sport as a whole lost a friend and an ambassador this week. My thoughts go to his family and the many folks here who knew him well. Just unfair

About a dozen years ago, my INTERN invited me to a Member-Guest at some new course he joined on Sea Island. I legit almost said “No Thanks”. But i went. It quickly became my favorite place and event on the planet. We’ve played 15-20 tournaments down there since. More fun than

Pretty neat watching a horse I picked at auction for 50k and a horse I picked out to claim for 40k dual late in a Grade 3. Even better that the one we still own actually won! Special day today (pun intended). Well done, Norm and team, and great ride by @ljlmvel !

NY and KY especially have added enough $ to convince ppl to run there. They’ve even, finally, made necessary infrastructure changes. It’s time to help the people that run the horses in these places. We don’t need more 60 cent dollars going to the top. We need people in the game.

Don’t boost purses, give more starter bonuses to keep people going. Don’t expand the roster for top trainers by encouraging them to buy state-breds, pool some money to help new operations get started (either to help buy necessary equipment or support if owners pay slowly). (6/x)

If there’s a behavior to incentivize, it’s running horses, growing fields, taking out a trainer’s license and getting started (when many are seeing reasons to get out). (5/x)

The top of the state breeding market may increase but we’re not bringing in anyone who is going to buy middle and lower end horses. They’re even less likely to be productive as the top solidifies. Not to mention using KY sires makes even more sense in this scenario (4/x)