EXCLUSIVE: NTRA CONFIDENTIAL
Within two weeks of the June 19 Congressional hearings that looked into Thoroughbred racing’s safety and medication issues, a small group of industry insiders met at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., to discuss potential reforms that could stave off threatened federal intervention.
A confidential discussion document that came out of the Keeneland meeting and talks with other industry stakeholders outlines a far-reaching program of potential reforms as well as suggestions for implementing and enforcing them. The Paulick Report has obtained a copy of that confidential discussion document and memorandum (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) sent to the board of directors of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association written July 9 by NTRA CEO Alex Waldrop.
Among the possible reforms discussed in the document are minimum national standards for medication, drug testing and penalties; benchmark safety standards of racing surfaces and/or a mandatory switch to synthetic tracks; a ban or limitation on racing fillies against colts; eliminating timed workouts at 2-year-old sales and distance restrictions for 2-year-old races; a funding mechanism for permanently disabled jockeys; wagering protocols and mandatory public disclosure of wagering abnormalities; uniform scratch rules and "other player-friendly advances"; integrity clauses and potential revocation of Eclipse Awards for individuals involved in infractions; and a national placement program for retired racehorses.
"As part of our post Triple Crown public relations and communications strategy based on consumer research findings, it is clear that the industry must implement real reforms in the area of horse health and safety ," Waldrop wrote in the memorandum to the NTRA board. "It is equally clear that the NTRA must play a leadership role to ensure responsible, timely and uniform execution of the equine health and safety reforms put forth by a number of industry organizations, including The Jockey Club Safety Committee. To that end, we believe it will be necessary for industry stakeholders to come together to reach consensus on industry reforms and to agree upon the methodology for timely implementation."
Waldrop recommended two days of meetings of industry leaders in Lexington, Ky., Sept. 3-4.
Waldrop called the confidential discussion document "far-reaching and ambitious to say the least and impacts virtually all segments of the industry. However," he added, " it appears that virtually all segments of the industry are in agreement that if we do not take pro-active action on the integrity front, the Federal government will very likely act on our behalf. And the questions from fans and media asking, ‘What has the industry done since Eight Belles?’, will come soon enough."
Congressman Ed Whitfield of Kentucky, the ranking Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee that conducted the hearings, is calling for an amendment to the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 that would set minimum standards for racetracks wishing to conduct interstate simulcasting.
In fact, the threat of federal intervention will be used as leverage to get people on-board with the reforms, the document suggests. Suggested implementation would occur in four phases, beginning with "house rules" at racetracks "commencing upon the start of each track’s first full racing meeting in 2009." Phases II and III would depend on adoption of model rules and minimum standards by the Association of Racing Commissioners International and its member associations in various racing states. The final suggested phase would be the formation of a "national governing body comprised of key industry stakeholder and legislative bodies under an interstate compact."
Potential penalties for failing to comply with whatever reforms are pushed are loss of eligibility to host a graded race, loss of Breeders’ Cup stakes money or consideration as host site of the championships, loss of NTRA membership or loss of right to conduct interstate simulcasting.
The discussion document also calls for the commitment of owners, trainers and jockeys to compete only at tracks that operate under the agreed upon rules.
Copyright © 2008, The Paulick Report
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Tags: 2-year-old sales, alex waldrop, congressional hearings, disabled jockeys, eclipse awards, ed whitfield, eight belles, interstate horseracing act, jockey club safety committee, Keeneland, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, Simulcasting, wagering protocols
July 28th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Ray, It’s interesting that none of the people on any of these committees has never bothered to visit Old Friends. We’ve had more than 20,000 visitors in the best 18 months. I don’t mean that we have the answers to all the retirement problems but you think, if they are serious, they might be moderately curious about a retirement place that’s gone from raising $18,000 in 2004 to more than $500,000 in 2007 and increased our Thoroughbred residents from 1 to 30 at the farm and 14 more off the premises. HRTV sent a producer and crew last week and People magazine was here the week before…They should also visit the TRF prison program, ReRun, the Luci Center and several other programs that are working very well…Thanks for the update…Michael.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I think its great that they are moving forward some of this doesnt make sense, poly tracks NOOOOO Woodbine is expierincing new consistent injuries on the track up there. I think its way to early to do that, also horses last longer when they raceat 2 it creates better bone developement
July 28th, 2008 at 11:41 am
I have had several meetings with Alex in the past 6 months about the issue of equine athletes coming directly off the track into a program funded by the track and by monies collected nationally from all elements of racing/breeding etc. The first steps of this program are already in place at Suffolk, Penn National, Philadelphia Park and Finger Lakes. And, a number of mid-west tracks have inquired about starting programs. This seems to be headed in the right direction. We need to keep up the momentum. Thanks for the report.
Diana
July 28th, 2008 at 11:47 am
With all the “confidential” stamps on the documents, it was shouting out to be leaked to the media! But Mr. Paulick did a great job with his sources to receive the entire text and obviously be told it was his to do with as he pleases. It actually makes Mr. Waldrop look again like he is trying hard to push the NTRA in becoming an organization of change. Sure, critics can take aim and say that the industry only reacts to controversies and typically in ways to slow the process down until the media scrutiny shuffles to another sport. But to question Mr. Waldrop’s sincerity - I believe - is wrong.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I was very impressed with Waldrop on the Preakness telecast. he is clearly trying to make positive changes.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
It seems it would be fairly easy to raise money for famous horses in a horse-centered community, but what about the groups doing work out there in the trenches? Taking in the animals that didn’t win a stakes race, didn’t sire anything of note, and never made any kind of headlines?
I wonder what exactly “working well” means? Every TB support group in the country is in financial dire straits, turning horses away every day.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Waldrop seems to be doing a bit of ‘grandstanding’. The first page of this document reads more like a press release than a confidential document. Still, it is an interesting mix of good ideas and absurd ones.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Here’s my problem with the NTRA pulpit peddeling…..the national regulating authority won’t be in place until all the other initiatives are addressed and in place first? Kind of assbackwards if you ask me. And actually, I don’t think a four legged ass would stand for it.
Kind of like putting the cart before the horse (or ass) if you will. I am not impressed on any level with Waldrop. He just doesn’t seem to get IT! This is a time delay, hold on to power tactic. Move, shoot and communicate, I say. I see the communicate, but not much movement, either way. Fix (shoot) the problems. Don’t try to out psych the situation in an attempt to hold on to the little and disorganized power that you have. And, other equine breed racing needs to addressed too.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Denise seems to be on the right track. Looking at the sorry history of NTRA, who can disagree.
A couple of other observations: Use of the term, “industry stakeholders”. What is Waldrop’s definition of the term? Mine is: Everyone who actually has money invested in the industry. My definition excludes all the parasites who are living off it without ever putting up a stake. Would any of the NTRA crowd be a real stakeholder?
Waldrop’s “nuspeak” actually means the same old gang that has controlled the industry for years and brought us to our present , sad place. When there is some discernible movement to throw-out those bums, I’ll believe we are getting on the right road.
Talk about playing to the mob! Ban or limit fillies running against colts. That is playing the Eight Belles violin. In Europe, fillies run against colts (and geldings) all the time. They have their fair share of success. So, whats this bull about a ban?
July 30th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Has anybody given any thought to limiting the amount of mares a stallion can have in a season? How is it we have stallions covering 120+ mares in a season and not think there is going to be a ridiculous amount of inbreeding, to a level that weakens the horse?
I believe that limiting the number of mares a stallion can cover to - just for argument’s sake, 65 or so - would improve the overall soundness of the breed, by spreading out the male gene pool a little bit. Furthermore, since it admittedly cuts into the mammoth take that the few stallions like Smarty Jones and Big Brown make, there is less financial incentive for the owners of the best male 3-year olds to scoot to the breeder’s shed. (Because that’s another thing that’s harming us terribly - outside of Curlin very few of the celebrity 3-year olds [think Afleet Alex, Smarty Jones, Street Sense, etc. - remain for their 4-year old years, as opposed to Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed, all of whom raced at 4.)
July 30th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
[...] Round Table Paulick Report
July 30th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Hear, hear, Nickel Claimer (though Secretariat didn’t race at 4).
Is there any actual evidence that racing fillies against colts is harmful, or is it just superstition and a knee-jerk reaction to what happened to Eight Belles? Fillies run against colts in other countries all the time.
Some of these proposed reforms look solid, though. I just hope recommendations will be based on empirical evidence rather than gut instincts, the marketing efforts of synthetic track makers, and what TPTB think will look best to racing’s detractors.
August 3rd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Does anyone think they’d actually consider limiting the number of Derby starters to 14?