Letters to the Editor
DECLAN BURKE
LONG TIME LISTENER, FIRST TIME CALLER,
I, like most TDN subscribers, have read with interest Mr. Irwin’s various Op/Ed articles. Yesterday’s piece was no different to others I’ve read in the past. Mr. Irwin, it seems, likes to indulge his appetite to speechify his audience, oftentimes with an unabashed, no holds barred, flair for the controversial. He is no doubt a well-respected, highly successful member of our thoroughbred industry and when he does express his opinion those with influence and power should take note. This time, however, it’s my humble opinion that he could not be more wrong.
Horse racing does indeed need an all encompassing ‘alphabet group’ to govern our sport, just like the NFL, NHL, MLB or MLS. Something people had hoped the NTRA perhaps could and should be that group. Horse racing needs a governing body with the power to standardize and set forth uniform rules across all racing jurisdictions regarding race day-medications; rules that are black and white without room for gray areas, a governing body unilateral in its approach to meeting out justice to those that would infringe upon these rules. Racetracks could be its referees and be responsible for making sure their house is in order, that all players are playing by these rules and all balls are properly inflated so to speak.
Mr. Irwin knows it and deep down inside we all know that public perception holds the fate of our sport in its collective hands. Bringing in legislation to involve the USADA would be the death knell. This would validate the general consensus ‘that our troubled game’ is indeed tainted. The thing is there is a blatantly obvious difference between our athletes and the pro athletes of other sports. Thoroughbreds do not ask for the needle.
Declan Burke,
Lexington, KY
FRANK E. MACAULEY
WTL Equine International, LLC
Re: Barry Irwin’s Op/Ed
Not everyone agrees with Mr. Irwin on what improvements are needed, or how they could be implemented in the Thoroughbred Industry. They are not expected to. However, we should be appreciative that Mr. Irwin takes the time to share his opinions and offer a possible solution. How many of us are content with letting others take the lead and fight the battles. Where would we be if we didn’t have those among us that were not afraid to provoke the thought process, challenge our thinking, and propose a possible corrective action?
If anyone has a better idea on how to solve the regulation problem, I would certainly appreciate hearing it. Is the USADA the answer? We don’t know but it is one of the possibilities that must be explored. Surely, with all the intelligent people that are association with industry, a plan can be implemented and action taken to move forward toward a solution. I’m sure Mr. Irwin will be very happy to assist with the current inertia problem.
Thank you,
Frank E. Macauley
BARRY IRWIN
In response to Dick Powell’s Letter to the Editor of yesterday, I answer as follows:
Dear Dick,
I am glad to learn that my piece peaked your interest in learning more about what happened to Lance Armstrong and what USADA does, has done and can do for the sport of horseracing if Congress puts them in charge of drugs both legal and illegal.
To further your knowledge on the matters, I suggest that you do the research and learn for yourself, rather than simply take my word for it. That way it will be more meaningful you.
As for what happened to Lance Armstrong, I would suggest watching the 1 1/2-hour long current Showtime special on the downfall of the cyclist and USADA’s role in it. You can also read the book “Wheelmen” by Reed Albergotti and Vanessa O’Connell.
As for what USADA has done and what they could do for our sport, I would suggest reading about BALCO, which as you suggested began when a track coach dropped a dime on the lab’s owner Victor Conte.
I think you will see that USADA has been effective.
As for not being aligned to stakeholders in racing, they will not even agree to be involved with our sport unless they are completely independent. This is their only condition in making themselves available to our sport.
As for Marshall Faulk not going public and talking off the record about it, I will ask Marshall myself, as I have easy access to him since he is a partner in our Grade I winner Euro Charline.
I like to do my own research.
Barry Irwin
Click here to read Barry Irwin’s Op/Ed “Ensuring Integrity which ran in the Jan. 24 TDN.