12/29/2003

Nothing changes

Frank Stronach is an auto-parts guru. Frank Stronach, though, does not know anything about horseracing.....and neither, apparently, do any of the minions that work for him at Magna Entertainment Corp, judging by MEC's latest gaff of cutting off punters who watch racing per their own XpressBet network, unless they also restrict their betting exclusively to the same.

2004 has not even begun, but such harbingers do not augur well for the future of horseracing in North America or harmony between the major players. So a total free-for-all would appear to be in offing, as independent operators vie for the sports betting market. And, as has been suggested before in this space, one has to wonder what role (if any) the NTRA can or will play in such a scenario?

Can they step forward and set up a united front? Or will they become irrelevent passengers?

Certainly it is most disturbing how the Magna phenomenon threatens to impose its ways upon the noble sport: making one wonder.....is there a Churchill out there out can rid us of such evil?

In the meantime, as was once again suggested by RR, the prospect of D.Wayne Lukas training for Michael Paulson seems quite likely......which is bad news for poor Azeri. For remember what happened to Lady's Secret, who got so disenchanted with her trainer's handling of her that she pulled herself up on the clubhouse turn at Saratoga!

Now, agreeing fully with the Whittingham belief that Robin Hood was the only person to do any good with a bow, we would like to remind Messrs. Paulson and Lukas of the old horseman's advice: The only place where one should blister a horse is right behind the withers.....so no saddle can be placed there for a very long time......thus affording the rest that is needed to recover from injury.

Stay tuned in 2004.