Letter to the Editor: Jeff Bowen

I start my day each morning reading and enjoying your newsletter. While I appreciate the many ongoing efforts for change, it is far past time to address the 600-pound gorilla in horse racing, that is cheating. Along with equine safety, there is absolutely nothing more important to change right now. The public perception is that our sport is fixed. Everyone knows about the cheating, the Mar. 9 indictments were of no surprise to anyone. The question is, are we going to do anything before it's too late.

The case for a central authority, uniform drug standards, and an aggressive penalty system is no longer in question. It needs to happen yesterday. But there is more we can do to discourage the cheaters. With today's easy access, affordable, and comprehensive technology solutions I suggest we implement the following:

1) Install close circuit cameras in every stall of every racetrack and training center is the country. Record the activity 24/7.  Footage can easily be accessed when questions arise. Share the cost of this system among all industry participants, A 1/4 percent of handles, purses, sales proceeds, etc., would easily fund this. I can't fathom too many of the cheaters wouldn't think twice before the frequent injections or the clandestine pre-race funnels.

2) Use data technology to monitor trainer trends and look for aberrations. Racehorse Analytics has a great yet simple database of trainer stats showing win percentages since the March indictments. I realize that a month and a half is too small a sample size, but I'd sure like to hear from (or at least put pressure on) the trainers whose win percentage plumments by the end of the year. Everyone has good and bad streaks, but does anyone really believe there's nothing questionable about a trainer winning 40% off the claim. Honest trainers have absolutely nothing to fear, in fact they ought to see their numbers improve on a level playing field.

Every major sport (and business for that matter) uses technology to improve its product. If we want to have a sport going forward, it's way past time we do the same.

Thanks,

Jeff Bowen, Gryphon Investments LLC