THE MEDICATION DEBATE: PREACHING TO THE WRONG CHOIR

GEORGE STRAWBRIDGE (PaulickReport.com)

The medication debate is front and center this week as the Breeders’ Cup is fast upon us.  Just a few days ago, well known owner/breeder George Strawbridge weighed in during a speech at the Thoroughbred Club of America.  His opinions were brought to my attention by long-time Virginia horseman Mike Pearson.

Mike didn’t tell me which side of the argument he was supporting, he just asked that I publicize Strawbridge’s piece which I’m doing now.  Of course, I’ll throw in a few cents worth while I’m at it.

In short, according to the Blood-Horse, Strawbridge said the only way back to meaningful growth is to eliminate the use of all drugs as the medication situation has, over time, eroded the sports integrity and reputation.

(Of course, I know the standard reaction for many will be that Strawbridge is a wealthy owner who can afford to follow his convictions which will be deemed unrealistic by those that disagree with him...)

He made some pointed comments about Dick Dutrow and Patrick Biancone noting that while Biancone is banned worldwide for snake venom he can still train in eight North American jurisdictions.  (I’m assuming Virginia IS NOT one of those eight.)

Strawbridge is also concerned about horses at “low-level tracks” being given drugs to continue running in cheap races despite having arthritic and damaged joints.

Eventually, he got down to the critical issue: Race day medication. 

“What is our hope for the future? Our hope is change,” Strawbridge said. “We have begun but we must do more. Thankfully, we have role models throughout the rest of the world."  Here he was alluding to the fact that all other major racing jurisdictions overseas ban the use of all medication on race day.

STRAWBRIDGE'S FUGITIVE ANGEL

"Emulating the success model of the rest of the world would be a big start toward respecting the star of our sport. We need to stop treating the Thoroughbred as a commodity and start showing the public, and our fans, that we care and that we are a clean and legitimate sport. The Thoroughbred never, and I repeat, will never let you down. My hope is that we will stop letting this noble animal down.”

Now at this point, you are either cheering Strawbridge’s position as many owners and breeders (not to mention animal rights advocates) do or you’re rolling your eyes and disagreeing as many horsemen and veterinarians do. 

The battle lines on this seem to be fairly well defined.  Horsemen and vets scoff at the notion that the rest of the world is “drug free” advocating that they simply use illegal drugs thus making the problem worse for the horses.  Both parties strongly advocate that Salix is valuable for therapeutic reasons, and, considering various studies and common sense which says almost all horses bleed, this position seems perfectly reasonable.

The anti-medication folks make and equally sensible argument regarding perception, image and various long-term impacts on various stakeholders both equine and human.

Well, brace yourself, because I have the answer. 

Both sides are wrong.

Not wrong in their opinions, but wrong in their die hard belief that what they believe matters.  It doesn’t.  I’ve heard both sides, and both sides are convincing.  But, it doesn’t matter what I think or the horsemen or the vets or the breeders think. Yes, internal dialog is important to the process of finding a viable solution, but ultimately the focus has to shift to carefully targeted external dialog...

STRAWBRIDGE'S DYNAMIC HOLIDAY

If we want our industry to survive (never mind thrive), what matters is what two sets of stakeholders think: 1) the bettors who generate the purses and 2) the owners that pay the bills.  (And, yes, in that all too popular class war sort of way, wealthy owners are likely to take one side and less wealthy ones the other...)

Either way, we better figure out what these two groups think and what they want.  Then we better hurry to the realization that their perception of reality is the only one that matters.  If we can change their perception through education, so be it, but we better stop giving speeches and complaining to one another and start reaching out to the folks that drive the economic engine.

Like so many things in our modern world, the facts and simple logic don’t always rule the day.  If people stop betting on horse racing because they think it’s cruel and/or crooked due to legal (or illegal) drugs, it doesn’t matter what various horsemen, breeders and owners say to each other over and over again.  The key constituents won’t be listening.

Oh, and if you think it’s a touchy subject to the current generation of racing fans and bettors try asking someone under the age of thirty what they think -- someone you might consider to be a future fan/bettor.  I wager you won’t like their answer. 

As Sports Illustrated's Selena Roberts wrote so eloquently about the demise of Eight Belles back in 2008:  "In his white cowboy hat the folksy Larry Jones is one of many likable horsemen who cannot wrap their 10-gallon heads around the changing Marley & Me world order: Animals are the new people. Long removed from an agrarian society, we've morphed into technobots in an often isolating age of iPod earbuds, text messages and impersonal e-mails. Sometimes, pets provide the only authentic connections for those weary of facing RE: MEMO every day. 

Pets are uncomplicated and unplugged. This culture shake-up is catnip to PETA as it gains momentum and members (1.8 million strong), while amplifying the outcry over four-legged victims at every turn.

On behalf of dogs, the group used the images of mutilated pit bulls and Michael Vick. With horse racing, a photo of Eight Belles collapsed on the track is the picketers' pick."

EIGHT BELLES

In this now amplified 2011 backdrop it's going to be harder and harder to educate both existing and potential fans and bettors about the benefits of therapeutic medications.  That's a hurdle this industry has to find its way across or it has to embrace the world view of no (legal) medication.

As each new technology-driven generation of Americans becomes more urban and less rural, and as the fan base of parents and grandparents familiar with racing grows smaller, horse racing is looking at an ever-shrinking fan base.  If we can’t create new fans, we’re doomed.  If we don’t solve this puzzle, in 10 to 20 years we will be looking a handful of super tracks with super events and little else. Regional racing as well as regional Thoroughbred breeding markets will be things of a forgotten past.  – Glenn Petty