Letters to the editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Slots could repel the true horseplayers

I think I have the answer to the hypothetical question Steven Crist proposed in his Sept. 22 column, "After leading horse to water," namely, will increased traffic generated by a peep show in the back of a harpsichord store lead to an increased interest in harpsichords?

True aficionados of the harpsichord will find another venue for their purchases.

Suffocating bobble-head doll collectors and rock-concert crowds make it impossible to handicap and drive serious players to make their bets at offtrack parlors, or give up the game completely. Similarly, hordes of slot players crowding the subways, excursion buses, and parking lots will have more people thinking the racetrack is not the place to be.

Edmond Saskel

Jersey City, N.J.

Reduce the purse, don't increase fees

Regarding "What price glory?" (Sept. 25): To make it easier for horses not nominated to the Breeders' Cup to run, let them run for a reduced percentage of the total purse. For example, a horse not nominated to the Cup would run only for 40 percent of the purse and would pay the standard entry fees. This will eliminate most, if not all, of the problems associated with supplemental fees. Unfortunately, this simple solution will probably not be used and the racing public will be denied seeing some top-quality horses in the Breeders' Cup.

Steve Cedroni

North Providence, R.I.

Romero deserves Hall of Fame honor

That jockey Randy Romero hasn't even been nominated to the Hall of Fame is a disgrace to the sport of racing.

Randy's accomplishments speak for themself. He has more than 4,200 victories and more than $75 million in purses won. He rode champion horses Personal Ensign and Go for Wand. Who's to say this was all about the horse and not the man? Do you really believe that Personal Ensign was going to get up at the wire in the 1998 Breeders' Cup Distaff, probably one the best races of all time.

But let's not judge Romero on one race. He had many thrilling victories. I am confused how two great horses are enshrined in the Hall of Fame and their jockey is not. Randy was great at his game, and his greatness should be recognized.

This man has done so much for the game and is still trying to do better for the game in his campaign to have the scale of weights raised to a realistic, healthy level. As a fan, I can only pray for Randy and his family, for his good health and happiness, and that next year he will be inducted to the Racing Hall of Fame.

Mark Faden

Las Vegas