WISH LIST FOR 2008

Thought with the new year fast approaching, there are a few things that I'd like to see for 2008.

• That the New York State legislature and the New York Racing Association do there very best not to let racing n New York shut down. Aside from the tens of thousands of jobs affected if such a travesty show indeed happen, I don't want to be resigned to watching Turfway Park and Sunland for my winter racing.  Come on folks, you had 10 years to figure it out, don't  leave it until the last four days of the year. You are all adults, get your act together. 

Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense with Calvin Borel up 

That the winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby does not have his retirement plans announced 5 minutes after the race is run, and his 2009 book of mares posted on his web site by evening.  That maybe, sportsmanship will come before greed, and we might actually see some of these 3 year olds to stick around until 4.

That probable horse of the year Curlin races as a four year old.

That Lava Man returns to form to dominate in California, and actually have a chance to win the Breeder's Cup Classic, and become horse of the year.

 That DirecTV will finally add HRTV to their line-up, so I can watch Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park and Churchill Downs again.  And so I don't have to watch Matt Curothers consistantly pick chalk on TVG. 

Evening Attire winning at 9

Give us more geldings!  Since the breeder's seem to whisk away every fully functional 3 year old to the farm, never giving the public enough time to form a following.  But geldings can't breed, they can only race. So race they do - some of the greatest warriors in this sport are geldings, and the names of Kelso, Forgo and John Henry instantly come to mind.  This is why I love geldings such as recently retired Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide and nine year old Evening Attire, whose trainer Patrick Kelly said if he's healthy and happy, he will race at 10.

That American racing joins in with the global racing community and bans race day medication.  American born runners are perfectly capable of performing on the world stage, they do it all the time.  It's just American-trained horses that can't seem to be able to detox enough to not be disqualified from big time races abroad (remember Brass Hat?).  Time to get serious. 

That thoroughbred owners take responsibility for their horses after they are no longer racing, and insure that they do not end up destined for slaughter.  They race and die for us, they trust humans, and that trust should not be betrayed by such a horrible end as slaughter.  There was outrage at the deaths of Exceller and Ferdinand, there should be equal outrage at the slaughter of $5000 claimers.