Horse Racing Divorce From Reality

I had a friend once commented while we were at the track that he didn't see the big deal with horses running around a track with a underweight  person riding. Unfortunately there are many who feels this way about this sport that requires more than just horses running around a track. People outside of horse racing doesn't see the hard work and dedication that it takes to keep these magnificent animals happy and healthy on a daily basis. That is why I am puzzled how the horse racing community has dealt with the Peta undercover story done on the Steve Asmussen's barn. Peta who thinks their love for animals supercede all others, inflitrated the Asmussen's barn and documented his now fired assistant Scott Blasi saying insane and absurd things about the horses in his care. Blasi sounded like an old bitter assistant who never got his big break. He is that understudy that night after night watches the leading man receive all the accolades while his name and work is never realized. I watched the video and was amazed at the level of lack of love that crept out of his mouth. He needed time away from the animals to remind him that they are the reason he was in the position he was in.  A top assistant in a top barn. Steve Asmussen had no recourse but to fire him, trying to stop the wildfire that was swallowing his barn with a fury that he wasn't ready for. Ahmed Zayat one of the owners who had horses with Asmussen removed his horses from the top trainer's care.

The horse racing community has stood in silence since the story broke. I listened for the chatter and the outcry for sweeping changes to be done but remarkably everyone with the exception of the first few days stayed away from the storm. The two major horse racing network in the United States barely touched the firestorm. They gave it a passing glance and quietly went on with other matters. Sadly that is horse racing. That is the day to day operation of the sports I have love since I was a little boy going to the track, trying so desperately to be like my father. Horse racing likes to ignore its wounds. Whether its trainers who are drugging their horses, selling horses to slaughter houses, or tracks who treats the jockeys like second class citizens. That is horse racing. The marriage that looks beautiful on the outside but behind close doors the wife is addicted to depression drugs, the husband is an alcoholic and the children are all doing drugs. Yes horse racing, the sports of kings. A facade of hypocrisy that runs deep.

Steve Asmussen sadly to say isn't the only trainer that is treating his horses unfairly. There are probably countless trainers whose practice mirrors that of the trainer with the high win percentage. What was the mantra a few years back? Just Win Baby..JUST WIN. Trainers all want those owners with the deep pockets. They want the owners that are going to sit at the sales and shell out the six figures for the horse with the royal breeding. In order to attract these big spenders..one rule..JUST WIN BABY and in some cases at all cost. don't you think there are trainers running five thousand claimers that wants to have the glamour and glitz of Todd Pletcher and Bob Baffert, or have a winning percentage like Jerry Hollendorfer and Steve Asmussen. What about having a horse of the year like Bill Mott and Wayne Lukas..JUST WIN BABY..JUST WIN

Peta's behavior is not one of lets save these horses. They are all about themselves and the attention they crave. Sadly there was good reasons to go undercover in the Steve Asmussen's barn. Asmussen has been the center of attention before from other news organization with his violations. He hasn't been the poster boy for the sport when it comes to running a clean operation. The infractions have been multiple.

This Saturday Asmussen will send out Tapiture in the Arkansas Derby. Tapiture will be one of the betting choice and if he gives a good account of himself, he maybe one of the favorite in the Kentucky Derby. That would be great for the horse and the owners, but it will shed more light on the Asmussen than he probably wants. This triple crown season has been a little slow developing with no horses really stamping their dominance over the rest of the group. Peta and Asmussen maybe the biggest story of the derby season and that is unfortunate for the sport where the horses should be the deserving story.

I hope horse racing  can clean up its house before the clock strikes midnight on this sport. The life support is weak and we need voices that aren't afraid to stand up and make a difference. We need individual who aren't afraid that owners and trainers won't grant them interviews if they expose the truth. The only thing that matters for those of us who love this sport is seeing the sports spread globally and achieve the exposure it had once upon a time. JUST WIN HORSE RACING..JUST WIN!