by Ken Lowe
(TDN is replaying this letter for the newsroom, which appeared in Wednesday’s newsletter, due to an editorial error.)
There were a lot of empty seats on the table when HISA was invented, which was the “Central American Grand Prix,” which covered almost every jurisdiction between “the moon (California) and New York City (NYJC).” Now, as “blue-collar riders,” we all know that a stool requires three (3) legs, and in this “fixed race” it is Kentucky. Throw kerosene into the fire, when certain coaches are indicted by the Feds and… as Fred Capossela and Costy Caras have repeated, “Now is the TIME!”
For many years, horse racing was sometimes referred to as “the sport of kings” but more appropriately “the sport of kings”. Very few people have billions of dollars to buy professional franchises, but in reality every Purebred owner has their own professional sports team. An athlete (horse), coach (coach), midfielder (horse racing), sports coach (veterinarian) and other similarities including team name (Seabiscuit), bronze uniform (color) plus you can legally bet on your team, (Pete Rose), now Americana.
Reading the Small Business Administration Act (1953), an act of parliament, one can conclude that every owner/trainer in this country is a small business. The SBA was created as an independent agency of the federal government “to assist, advise, assist and protect the interests of small businesses; preserve free competitive enterprise; and maintain and strengthen our country’s overall economy. Small businesses drive economic growth by securing job opportunities and raising employment rates.”
The U.S. government often favors small businesses with incentives, tax cuts, subsidies, and good accessibility to help maintain their competitiveness. Now it’s more Americana.
But, “Wow, Nellie!” Does HISA interfere with the SBA Act (1953) causing termination, hardship, unemployment, etc. to the racing industry? Has this government acted in an outrageous, personified way only to be dismissed as unconstitutional by the courts (U.S. Court of Appeals and Supreme Court)? Where in the United States Structure does it permit the formation of a forced, erroneous mission with little input from the industry, especially hard-working and horse-loving people, potentially in the tens of thousands and thousands of people? thousand horses, in “Central American Racing?” Those who wake up between 4-5 am, 6-7 days a week, calloused hands, stiff backs and “boots on the ground” who never have a voice. That’s not Americana!
The elimination of the Central American Grand Prix would come with the banning of Lasix, an approved drug for humans and horses. If you ever witnessed a horse bleed, you would skip the use of diuretics. Humans take Lasix in tablet form. Reducing public awareness about treating horses with “syringes?” and concluded, “there is no medical evidence to suggest that Lasix is harmful or a cover-up for horses” and the Central American Grand Prix will continue….if not, it is the Golden Rule: “The person with the gold puts the bets.” out the rules and that’s anything but Americans! “
Across the United States, this amazing thing Structureal Republic, founded on the capitalist economic system, the end of the race by eliminating Lasix with a baseless mission that threatens all but the top of the industry and we deserve it. deserve better. Remember this quote from the movie “Seabiscuit”: “They say my horse is too small, my rider is too big, my trainer is too old and I am too stupid to know it!” Well, the “racing heart of America” knows it and HISA will be suspended indefinitely until all voices have a chance to be heard, the truth known, and we all get along. together, for the sake of the safety and well-being of the horses and the people who finish first in every race. Now that’s the Americana we’ve all been hoping for!
Ken Lowe spent his early years around horses, starting working on horse farms in Charles Town in his late teens until graduating from Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, WV. He “jumped” the idea of going to law school and attending the New York Equestrian Club School for Racing Officials, where Kenny Noe twice suggested he stay and work with the NYRA. as a racing official. After many years as a successful businessman, he became an owner and breeder in the Mid-Atlantic region. He served as Chairman of CTHBPA and currently serves as Chairman, WV Racing Committee and RCI Board of Directors.
