You have a passive head of the CHRB who truly believes everything is okay. I refused to get into a mud slinging contest with him. You can bet your bottom dollar if his cattle business or his breeder awards were not doing well, he’d be calling for reform. But don’t expect anything much to come from the people currently serving on the CHRB because they simply don’t get it.

There are so many things wrong with the once great race place I don’t know where to begin. What I do know is thoroughbred racing, as we know it in California, is in free fall. Sadly, just as the case with our national leaders, we have nobody to look to. Horse racing can be likened to a rudderless ship.

Having covered the sport of horse racing coast to coast for over 30 years gave me a solid perspective of what is right and what is wrong. We have lost two generations of players, and we need only to point the finger at racetrack management. Name calling and accusations are not going to fix the free-fall from grace.

Years ago I wrote a column in the Pasadena Star News. In short I said horse racing needed a cfzar like Stan Bergstein. At the time Stan was the kingpin at the Harness Tracks of America. Some of the most brilliant marketing in sports was accomplished back in those days. You continue to see Stan’s name in the column he pens for the Daily Racing Form.

If I were calling the shots of horse racing in California I would sever all ties with the TOC, TVG and HRTV. That’s right, all three groups. For many years now I have placed a lot of the blame of our sport’s free-fall on the selfish owners who belong to the TOC. TVG? They could have been a positive force. Their format has stunk from day one and does little to promote a great sport of horse racing. I had hopes when Betfair entered the picture things would change. That has not happened. Tony Allevato? He’s never been receptive to constructive suggestions. Betting on horses is not a comedy. Allevato has never figured that one out.

For those of you who prefer HRTV over TVG, they are the best of the two. But when you cannot get their signal in far too many places, why back them? My suggestion is to send them all packing and to start over. Create our own program for cable, making the programs available during the early morning hours. Work hand in hand with other factions like Australia, Canada, and Great Britain. A 24-hour channel would not be mission impossible. And the tracks, not producers who don’t have a clue, would have the say on the format.

In my view the racetracks need to take back their house. If the selfish owners don’t like the way Santa Anita elects to run their meet, then let them go where they wish. You cannot have so many selfish groups running the show.

Last but certainly not least, we need new blood in the racing offices. The same old tired racing conditions are nothing but reprints of the previous meets. Get the assistants in the racing offices off their duffs and out hustling horses. Stop writing racing for horses you wish you had. Write race conditions for the horses actually available.

This comes from someone who used to play California races day in and day out. I’ve had it with synthetic tracks. My hard work at video tape review is not applicable. The morning workouts are of little use in the afternoon because the surface changes. You can’t have one substance at Del Mar, another at Santa Anita, and yet another one at Hollypark. And then there’s Golden Gate, probably the best of all the synthetic surfaces we have.

Bottom line. You have lost a host of horseplayers. When you lose day after day, and results are simply hard to explain, it’s time to make sensible decisions. I have quit playing the races at Santa Anita. I also wrote a letter to my friend Joe Harper down at Del Mar after their meet. I never received an answer. So I guess it’s the player be dammed.

If I told you the number of good players I know personally who hate synthetic tracks, you wouldn’t believe me.

Years ago when I was writing for the Pasadena Star News I tabled what I feel was a valid theory on bleeding. We used the first turn at Santa Anita as an example. The vehicles come in and park outside the clubhouse. Obviously there will be drippings of oil, and other substances hitting the asphault. After the races and the cars have left the cleanup crews come out. They used the blowers to push debris up against the hedge on the outside of the clubhouse turn. A vet friend of mine said it’s possible that the oil & debris that had been blown up against the fence, could be detrimental. In the mornings, during training, the horses go around and around. A number of horses back track on their way back to the stable area. So were there any studies made in regard to this theory? You know the answer.

Which brings me to synthetics. How much testing and study was done before Shapiro’s mandate was passed in California. You and I know the answer. How much affect does the hot surface hinder the performance of an equine, especially on a hot day? And what about the long term effects of breathing the spray of these syntheric surfaces.

Yes, count me out as a player as long as synthetic surfaces exist. Those majestic mountains are a beautiful backdrop to a place that was once the greatest place to bet thoroughbreds.

My longtime friend Don Kieger, a crack handicapper, was light years ahead of us all. As soon as they intruduced synthetics, Don told me it was not going to work out well. Kieger agrees places like Turfway may be faced with no alternative other than synthetics.

A lot has been written about the injuries to horses. Here’s the bottom line. What happens if the sport continues to lose gamblers who elect not to bet on “fake dirt?” Years ago I predicted in print that if things continued the way they were, the selfish members of the TOC would wind up racing amongst themselves.

Gentlemen. This past Saturday’s card was pitiful. Today’s Sunday card was more of the same. I guess my prediction has come true.

Zero tolerance is the only way. Enough lame excuses and crying. And Paulick, c’mon man this is your call to arms. Find out who the rogue racing officials are and take it to them. Use the readers’ comments as your guide. Who is reprimanding trainers who won’t comply? We all know it happens. Sounds like a big story to me. Find these vengeful criminals and take them down, once and for all.