County commission chairman Jay Matthews visited an “agritourism day” at the English Farm racecourse known by the Spanish name for a century-old farm. He said another event is planned for May 19, with reported racehorse training going on.
The track does not yet have a business license and the first reading of the county agritourism code it would fall under is set for Lamar County’s May 21 meeting. The second reading will be held in June. Matthews stressed it would not be only for the English track, which would be the fourth or fifth such facility in Georgia if it is approved.
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Sound attenuates by distance from the source. It generally attenuates by spreading of the sound waves, although absorption by things along the path can play a large part.
Any dB level at a single point unrelated to the actual source is meaningless for impact on neighbors, because a level at any one point that is unrelated to characteristics and distance from the source cannot possibly define the sound reduction by distance.
We can have 45dB SPL at a property line, and the sound might be heard 20 miles away. We can have 100dB SPL at a property line, and the sound might be inaudible 100 feet away. This is an absolute fact.
What is required to reasonably define impact on neighbors at a distance are TWO measurement points. Let's say we set a regulation this way:
Sound level must be less than 65dB SPL at the property line, and no greater than 59 dB SPL at any point 25 feet or more from the property line. This forces sound reduction to a slope of at least this amount:
Line = 65 dB SPL
25 ft from line = 59 dB SPL
75 ft from property line = 53 dB SPL
175 ft from line = 47 dB SPL
375 ft from line = 41 dB SPL
In this case the initial equivalent measurement distance from source is forced to be 25 feet or less, so distance+25 = distance from source. Every time distance doubles the sound drops at least 6 dB.
Without establishing a slope, sound reduction could be almost zero with fairly large changes in distance.
You can play with this using on-line sound calculators and see it is true.
No business license yet? WOW! I had to have one within days of notice by our county or face a few hundred $$ of costs!
A restaurant? I thought this was on a farm? Restaurants need business licensing, don't they?
I have been told, just talking with a few folks, that there is betting and drinking. The fact that it is not sold by the proprietors does not stop people from bringing it.
When our county has Agritourism activities such as gardens and farms, demonstrations of farming activities, even petting zoos or other family activities such as rodeos (remember the Ag Center that got torpedoed some years back), those would be an asset to the community. Horse racing is not exactly my idea of agritourism. I cannot address the sound issue but Tom Rauch is doing a great job of that. Is he being ignored too, just so that some friend of some commissioners can do what he wants?
Julia
"Making a living as a jockey is a dangerous proposition. Race horses can weigh up to 1,450 pounds. A racing Quarter Horse has a top speed of nearly 55 miles per hour; a racing Thoroughbred can sustain 40 mph for over a mile. While riding these speed machines, a jockey doesn't sit in the saddle. He stands poised on toes that are pinched into stirrups, the rest of his body hovering over the horse in a stance that University of North Carolina researchers have described as “a situation of dynamic imbalance and ballistic opportunity.”
From JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association):
"In the sport of horse racing, the position of the jockey and speed of the horse predispose the jockey to risk of injury."
from Inside Edition, 4/5/12:
"At tracks across America, majestic race horses compete for big-money prizes. But while horse racing may be known at the sport of kings, at race tracks across the country, there is a dirty little secret. Each week, an average 24 horses are being put down and many have to be euthanized right on the track, after suffering horrific injuries.
At a West Virginia race track a few weeks ago, one horse fell during a race, causing six others and their jockeys to fall on top of each other. It looked just like a car pile-up on a highway."
Again I ask.... are there emergency services on site or on call? What are we doing?? Calling this a "training track" so that we can get it approved under the umbrella of an organization that does not have the expertise for overseeing horse racing and/or training? There are organizations that specifically handle these activities. Are they involved?
Julia
I have a feeling the people riding the horses signed up for it and know the risks involved. It's probably not their 1st Rodeo.....but just in case there's an accident I think everyone knows the universal emergency number "911". geez.
I have entered horses in the training races, at Mr English's facility, and found it to be a wonderful place, to prep them, for the pari mutuel tracks. I am wondering what organization, has been overseeing my training all these years? Please enlighten me.
There are organizations for Jockeys and for track safety. Here is the trainer organization. http://www.racehorsetrainers.org/homepage/index.asp
Most importantly, I have been to "training tracks" for QH and it has been many years. Most of the time they come and they go pretty quickly... Most of them are not as nice as the Sweetwater Horse Track and Hawkinsville, neither of which are posing as Agritourism.
You know, from your experience, that racing can be a dangerous sport. Horses and jockeys getting injured are not out of the ordinary. Part of my problem is that this is not Agritourism and part of it is that no one has answered me about emergency services and part of it is my concern that it is no different than many "fly-by-night" tracks that come and go in the name of "training". As you know, training is not the same as racing.
Julia
I would like, to see Mr English's track get approved for AQHA official works. I imagine he will be looking into that, in the future.
As far as to whether this falls under Agritourism, or not, I'll leave that decision to those more qualified, in that area.
I agree, it can be a dangerous sport. But then so is fishing, hunting, football, ect.
And yes, there is a difference between racing and training. Most farms don't have starting gates, a track, qualified jockey's ect. so they can train at home. This is where you have the choice, live at the tracks, or train locally, at training centers. I've done both. But the quality of my, home trained horses, far exceeds, the ones that I have trained exclusively at the para mutual tracks.
Rene, the jockey that rides for me, at Mr English's track, is one of the best I know. He will be also be riding for me at the para mutual tracks. Trainers all over the country fly him in to ride for them. He is very much a professional, and aware or the dangers.
In poking around, I came across the Quarter Horse Assn and they have some good stuff going in areas where racing is allowed. There is an organization in GA working on racing now, and pari-mutual betting, but they have a long way to go. We had a good conversation today as I worked on research.
The licensing done by stewards is at approved tracks, and now they have continuing education at 4 hours per year. But, there are no approved tracks in GA, at least until the association working on it gets the GA Constitution changed and the legislation through that would allow for it.
The sports you mention are nothing like racing, except maybe for pro football, and I actually enjoy horse races. But the dangers in it are real and they are bad when they happen. Safety IS an issue and so are veterinary and ambulance services.
I don't know if the English track has a starting gate but if the "training" is horses going out of that gate one at the time, or jogging, or even galloping with a training buddy is what people are seeing, then it's not as big a deal. If it is what I think may be happening... it is a big deal.
I am glad you have a good jockey. There is nothing better than a good team to win races, and a good jockey is a must. I am sure Rene knows the risks...
Julia
there is nothing around that property to bother anyone. I can't wait to go watch the races, I'm actually looking forward to it. I know your bitter because you didn't even make it to the ballot for County Commissioner. Cheer up, it will get better with time.
This facility is really none of your personal concern other than you feeling the need to complain and try to make it and it's attendees seem like some evil spawn of satan.
You really need to get a new hobby that is less stressful.
its the debil,its the debil---witches,witches everywhere.quick get the stakes!!!burn'em burn'em.ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! ahhhhhhhh! ahhhhhhhhhh! ahhhhhhhhhhh!
Workouts are the official timed works of racehorses preparing for an official start.
First time starters are required to have 2 published works, one of which must be approved from the starting gate within 60 days of race date. Also, horses which have not had an official start within 60 days must have a published workout prior to starting.
The published info includes the distance traveled in the work and a description of how the horse performed. Workout information is provided by individual tracks and training facilities. Of which Georgia has several. For a complete list of official works at Ga. training facilities, go to www.equibase.com
Trust me, getting a trainer's licence requires a knowledge of not only racehorses, but the law's and regulations also.
Thanks for the information. I actually like racing, but I am concerned that this will turn out like the track in Meriwether County, shut down in 2011 for all sorts of problems. 14 arrests, horses seized, etc.
Like any licensing, I am sure there has to be extensive knowledge... I have no complaint about that. I also understand training tracks, having worked at some (back in younger days) and I am sure that there are improvements over when I worked in the industry.
What I am concerned about has to do with safety, cleanliness and proper licensing of the facility, problems such as were faced in Meriwether County, etc., that have already been mentioned.
Unless they have changed a lot, schooling starts don't actually start a race. The horses learn, as I have mentioned, how to handle the gate and the excitement and the starting bell (or starter pistol). You know as I do, that training is not always a race preparing for an official start.
Julia
So I'm just wondering, are you also going to go after all the barrel racing associations, and saddle clubs. You know barrel racing can be dangerous too, better check those bathrooms and make sure there clean. And there might be a beer, or two to be found also. But remember barrel racing is a very popular sport in Ga. NBHA was founded in Augusta, Ga. The NBHA world championship's, both youth, and open are held here.