Macedonio: Priority number one is horse welfare

When was the last time you tried to look at a situation from a different perspective or performed a completely selfless act? We all can see the issues with Harness Racing because they aren't subtle anymore. But nothing gets fixed because owners talk about what an owner needs, trainers talk about trainers needs, drivers about drivers, tracks about tracks, media, caretakers, horse players, blah blah blah. All SELFISH thoughts.

So while that was happening, a guy in Australia got parked out, pressed on, finished last and got suspended. I'm not Australian, but I've learned that the Australian culture takes animal abuse very seriously. Remember, Down Under is where they are eventually going to ban whips.

In America, we see parked-out horses pressing frequently enough and I'm sure the instant response would be "this is ludicrous, this happens all the time in America!" That doesn't mean it is right! America isn't the best at everything and it's time for us to look at harness racing from a different perspective. A selfless one!

Instead of saying that's a stupid rule, try to understand what their thinking is in creating that rule. Fans don't want their horses abused . . . plain and simple. They don't want to see a horse coming to a walk after the driver makes an error. We all know that the driver gets off the bike and moves on with his life, but it's the horse who suffers for the next few days.

Fans are smart and sports are more transparent now than ever. Horse racing without transparent rules to protect the animal does not appeal to anyone that isn't a fan. We don't have enough current fans to sustain economically. That is a reality which needs to be the absolute top priority when discussing a topic.

The final answer to every debate should be, “This is what's best for our equine athletes and we strive to protect them.”

End of discussion