Oh this was a treat to read!  Thanks so much for posting it.  I like Caton Bredar, she is genuine.  And heck she is a good writer!  Would love to see more of this from her.  Thanks for the link.  Totally new website for me.

I thought it was well written too...Zoe Cadman tweeted it - Zoe's another great ambassador for the sport. 

Sometimes I think we'll only ever get there in baby steps.  But recently I am really and truly heartened at the direction things are going.  Now Luck didn't help but there does seem to be a positive momentum especially with the building focus on giving the horses new life after the track.  That is my main concern because, as you posted, without that too many go to slaughter. 

The quick reaction of NYRA to the recent fatalities is something I never though I would see and I am very pleased.  Now it took 17 deaths which is unforgivable,  and it took a directive from the state but at least there is a change coming.  And the message that the sport is being watched closely.

Speaking of which- what do you think about the move to cut purses for low level claimers? I don't know enough about the claim game to have an opinion

Absolutely needed.  The high purses for these claiming races a direct contributor to the recent high fatality rate.   Good info in the article you posted and more on the Aqueduct thread.  

Thanks for your take on it - I'll go look at the Big A thread.

GG will be back riding on the 10th, in races the 22nd....

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/68155/gomez-to-resume-comeback-march-22

ger

Thanks for this - I'm so glad he's going to work horses for a couple of days this time before testing his foot from the starting gate!

I'm no expert, but I think the lack of understanding of horse handling reflected a lack of understanding of the game.