The Hialeah Casino Situation and Other Venting

[Merlinsky]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...hialeah-casino

I might be overreacting. Wouldn't be the first time. I'm passionate so pardon the soapboxing that's about to happen. Okay, this is yet another example of aggressive self-defense on the part of Calder (sometimes Gulfstream gets in on it obviously). Can't say I'd blame them if it was really a battle for financial success that required an either/or, them/us, eat/be eaten situation. It feels to me like a continued cannibalization where one group feels like they have to keep another down in this sport. If I'm wrong I'd love to know how, but it's a microcosm for me that is just infuriating and sad. A straw broke the camel's back when I read this article and I'm trying to keep my temper from getting away from me.

I just want the Hialeah I imagined as a kid. Maybe it's not gonna happen, I don't know. Better informed people that me know about slots, winter dates, political drama, and other things that affect racing in Florida, New York, Kentucky, Maryland, etc. What I can speak to is how I sat with my Walter Farley books, and I read about the flamingos in the infield, and I got the picture of a track that was magic. I've heard arguments about the neighborhood Hialeah's in not doing it favors or how people would love to see Brunetti go down in flames. Reasons Hialeah could never be like it was. Finley wrote this article about him here: http://espn.go.com/horse/columns/misc/1540436.html They see him as causing more harm than good. I just don't know what to do besides throw a tantrum about 'what can't mommy and daddy stop fighting?' We're the kids caught in the middle here. They're not doing what's in our best interest and I'm so angry I can't see straight.

Helping each other makes us stronger, not weaker, because it's hard enough in this world for a fan of horse racing without factions within tearing us apart. I think it's big enough in this town for everybody. I think, done right, there's enough money to go around, and there's no reason we couldn't get even more in this sport by banding together. There's not a land of milk and honey, but c'mon it could so easily be better than it is. There's a saying that "the true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." Does nobody think about the future of anything that doesn't involve their own immediate selfish needs? I'm in a really foul mood when someone--Brunetti, Calder, whoever--does something to keep us from what we could be. I'm mad at NY, I'm mad at KY, I'm mad at CA, I'm mad at FL, I'm mad at MD, and really whoever else that needs to be yelled at. Governments, tracks, anybody.. To people determined to be roadblocks when they could be facilitators of great things: Stop it, just stop it. You're behaving like children. Right now, I feel like this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WINDt...eature=related

There, soapbox done. If I'm out of turn on anything, please tell me so, gently as you can because if you're right, I promise I come around eventually. I really love this sport, and I'm pissed. As injustices go, I know there've been far worse than what set me off today, but I really needed to vent. If you've made it to the end of this post and not felt the need to jerk me up and tell me how I'm a fool, congratulations. If you do want to tell me I'm a fool, go right ahead and do that too. Wouldn't be the first time I've had to sit and eat my plate full of crow. I appreciate your time.