Racetrack plans hit snag; debate rages on

Most businesses of this scope and amount of activity have a business plan and a real business license. Why our county cannot handle a loophole in the law escapes me completely! It has been months and we have not gotten this corrected or shut down. WHY??????????????

I am glad that the ambulance service is at the track when races are being run. Is the veterinarian on the premises while racing?

The noise and the fact that everything is pretty much in Spanish should be an eye-opener to the county too.

I have been told more than once that there IS gambling out there. And a purse won at the end of the day... gambling? lottery? what????????

I believe if trying to do this the "right way" was true, then a business plan would have been submitted for all the activity planned for this farm and racetrack, that a business license would have been sought, that loopholes would not have been the way this racetrack was put together.

Julia

Check this out.... if there is going to be racing, looks like AAEP outta be involved. The entire article is available to Mr. English if he is interested. He can find me on Facebook.

The AAEP acknowledges that the following recommendations for modification of the business model of racing will have significant economic implications (some positive, some negative) for racing managers. We do not make these recommendations lightly. Further, we emphasize that one of our highest priorities as an industry must be to reduce equine injuries. The greatest potential for decreasing injury exists in making procedural and policy changes within the business model of racing, particularly in the claiming arena.
In order to put the safety and welfare of the horse first in the business model of racing, the AAEP recommends:
• A critical analysis by the racing industry of the safety and welfare implications of the current schedules, procedures and policies surrounding the conditioning, sale and racing of two- year-old horses.
• A period of rest for all horses to provide an opportunity to refresh and diminish the volume of persistent cyclic loading that occurs in the absence of rest.
• No horse shall be permitted to race within 10 days of its last start.
• Every horse entered to race shall be on association grounds in sufficient time to have a pre-race veterinary inspection for racing soundness by the regulatory veterinarian.
• Standardization and enhancement of pre-race and post-race veterinary examinations with mandatory cross-jurisdictional sharing of information.
• In those jurisdictions that practice it, racetrack management must discontinue the coercion of trainers to enter horses according to stall allotment.
• Uniform participation by all jurisdictions in injury reporting for both racing and training injuries.
• Investment by all racing venues in capital improvements of the racetrack that will enhance horse, rider and personnel safety, such as safety rails, padded starting gates, and helmets and vests for starting gate personnel.
• The development in all racing jurisdictions of a program for rehabilitation, retraining and adoption for horses whose racing careers have ended. These programs should reinforce owner responsibility and support a secondary market for racehorses. The Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program in Farmington, NY is an example of successful collaboration between racetrack management and horsemen. Any new programs can be linked nationally with the Unwanted Horse Coalition, currently operated by the American Horse Council.

• The generation of funds by the industry to assist in the transition of horses from racing into second careers.

• Governance change within the horse racing industry to establish uniform regulatory authority to accomplish widespread and consistent compliance throughout the industry.

• Development of continuing education and accreditation programs for owners, trainers, stewards, jockeys, grooms, starters, farriers, veterinarians and security personnel.

Last I knew, America is an English speaking country. I have nothing against spanish speaking folks, especially after having lived in Key West for a number of years. Lots of people are bilingual, but if these events and the Facebook page are primarily in Spanish, then maybe some folks need to learn the English language or go back home to where Spanish is their language is primary to their country. I rest my case too, on this matter.

(I don't usually talk with people who have no name, but this was important, so I made an exception for you, Mr. WDM).

Julia