Meet the New Boss

We all like being in charge and having the ultimate say. Well, today is your lucky day. You've been promoted to that big, overstuffed leather chair where the boss makes all the big decisions. The ideas that bounce around in your noggin will affect the sport and many jobs that benefit from the decisions that leave your lips. So, be careful. There is a great deal at stake.

Racing doesn't need HISA. Plain and simple. We must adopt a model that works and focuses on cleaning up the sport. - We shouldn't act like the "secret police" and come down on the hard-working men and women who keep our sport alive. When did we become such a hardass? Men and women obey rules and dodge HISA-like police who go through barn areas, vehicles, and every spot on the backside.

If there was a blood-testing process that was fair and accurate and not guilty before working with the horsemen; maybe we would have a complete compliance and transparent system. Sound good to you? Me too. I like the object of working with the trainers and helping to educate the workers on what will be accepted and other forms of alternative medications that have no performance-enhancing value. - By working with them versus walking around with a cloak-and-dagger-like presence I think we would see a sport begin to clean itself up internally. You have to want to change before you actually see active changes. Education and open working systems are more valuable than pushing your way into the lives of hard-working men and women.

First have a fair blood testing process, because now there are not enough vets to administer medication and conduct proper testing. - There is an investigative branch called HIWU which can walk into any barn, stall, or training area and demand to see everything in your operation. No appointment was made, but a strong "kick in the door" type process as they started asking questions instead of working with the horsemen. Wouldn't it be a better process if there was a bad medication sample and they followed up with an open-handed effort to help horsemen clean up the sport through education and open dialogue? - Let them know what will not be accepted and offer complete and thorough explanations of the effects of the medications and their uses.

As I stated, there isn't a need for HISA or HIWU. We could have a model like the MLB, NFL, or NBA to name a few where there is a fair process. Horsemen want to make a living, and many have done so for generations. Why would they want to chance losing anything by making bad decisions? - Racing can govern itself with the planning and implementation of solid rules and punishments. Sound like football season? Yep, it would be a sport that is governing itself and growing to become completely transparent.

Having tracks come together and address situations, and most importantly have a no-nonsense approach to honoring another state's decision and couldn't move to another racing jurisdiction to race. Having uniform rules would eliminate many problems and allow the sport to move forward versus an entity that was given open jurisdiction over the entire sport. - HISA is in some states embracing the new sheriff while others do not accept the organization. Therein lies the problem. There needs to be a complete acceptance of a national program where all tracks attempt to implement a program that levels the entire playing field.