Firstly, I really enjoyed Kevin Blake's Op/Ed in yesterday's TDN (click here). I found it covered both sides of the coin fairly and after reading it, I have found myself torn.
I've been hugely into racing since I was around 10 years of age and in the last 16 years I've often thought of certain information that I felt, should it be in the public domain, would significantly add to an everyday punter's racing experience, specifically; horses' weights, wind operations and fillies who have recently been put in foal, to name three.
My punting arm is very much pro freedom of information. I agree with everything you've said regarding the potential significance this information might have to a punter's perspective on a given horse in a given race.
However, due to the frequency of these operations in modern racing, I feel my breeding arm opposing the publication of such material. Certain trainers are renowned for their use of such operations, often before a horse has shown any signs of needing one. This is arguably unfair on breeders, whose stock could be branded under this one-size-fits-all “wrong-of-his-wind” banner. Admittedly, my example is that of a NH trainer where the same premium is not placed on breeding, but nonetheless I feel it applies.
My third and final point relates to the institutions within the sport, who would have the final say as to whether such information should be made publicly available. I agree that many of these institutions are largely conservative and reluctant to make any significant change. However, like all conservative institutions, the fear of the floodgates is often what impedes their growth and development. The question has to arise as to when does the publication of like information stop? There is an increasing pressure placed on trainers to satisfy the needs of the betting industry, possibly to the detriment of their relationships with their owners, and there must be a fear that the publication of this material will lead to further obligations been placed on trainers in the future.
I know I'm certainly not qualified to strike a healthy balance between the needs of the trainers/breeders versus those of the betting public, but I thought I'd throw in my two cents worth!
–Patrick Roche
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