Texas Thoroughbred Forum

[tinners way]

Gate, the comparison that counts is year over year. It was a great weekend, but how did it compare to 2010, 2009, etc.

Roger, dead on. Completely different set of circumstances.

In my opinion for the horses, trainers, and owners trying to determine whether to further exodus Texas should be the focus. Of course, the "Boutique Meet" would certainly influence the further demise.

I did not see where you mentioned the strength or economic impact, or lack there of the New Jersey Breeding industry.

[jrgators]

With all due respect G2W, I would beg to differ on that being anything that sounds like a good idea for Texas. You are forgetting that they always have a good weekend for the Haskell and not to forget the fact that they werent going under for the same reasons we are going under. Even with them facing shutdown, it would be a good meet at ANY of us racetracks.

The continued slander, and slap in the face for our little UGLY, slow inbred Texas bred horses is without merit, and filled with error, and what I personally believe to be aggressive bigotry to the state, and the breeders, owners, jockeys, and trainers of this state.

I'm not going to invite you to move out of state, but the mentality that you have consistently shown everyone who reads this board just further adds to the fact that far too many texans believe that they should leave this state! We shouldn't leave, and I personally am going to do all that I can do to stay.

As I've made adjustments to my own personal business plan there isn't one line in the plan to leave Texas. As I continue with moving my horses along, if they prove that they can run out of state as well, then I'll do that, but my PLAN is to run my Texas bred horses in TEXAS!

I will suffer thru this upcoming race gap as will all other who decide to do so, and I will hopefully meet you in the winners circle at SHRP in January.

God Bless Texas!
Theophilus Scales, Jr.
Not from here, but got here as quick as I could, and plan to die here!!

[Gate2Wire]

Rog & Tinner, you are not talking about apples & oranges. You are talking about quality racing that is selling their signal all over the country. Monmouth was in the same position as TX two yrs ago. Their signal was not selling, the track was not making money & looking at closing. Now, they have some of the best racing in the country. Your mushroom leader ridiculed their effort and called it a failure. People will support quality racing. PERIOD.

Pickard posted he was at the meeting today. Any other mushroom present? I guess Key was too embarrassed to attend after he emailed the TRC attempting to complain about the associations & was turned away w/the TRC stating the associations are conducting business according to the racing act.

[Roger]

Rog & Tinner, you are not talking about apples & oranges. You are talking about quality racing that is selling their signal all over the country. Monmouth was in the same position as TX two yrs ago. Their signal was not selling, the track was not making money & looking at closing. Now, they have some of the best racing in the country. Your mushroom leader ridiculed their effort and called it a failure. People will support quality racing. PERIOD.

Pickard posted he was at the meeting today. Any other mushroom present? I guess Key was too embarrassed to attend after he emailed the TRC attempting to complain about the associations & was turned away w/the TRC stating the associations are conducting business according to the racing act.

AACP
For Texas to have a boutique meet that could compete with Monmouth, it could only run about 15 to 20 days with equal purses. How long has Monmouth been running? It takes years to grow a bettors and it takes races to grow bettors. As long as we have a slots only agenda, Texas will continue to fall behind. Were you at the meeting today? I'm trying build my trust in the organizations, by letting them represent me. What would the membership think if you turned out to be a person who is expected to represent us?

[keyranch]

G2W, do not know your source of info, but it appears you are making it up as you go again. The TRC does not turn anyone away that is seeking information and to make those statements is to imply that not everyone can use them as a resource. They are a state agency and provide information upon request to everyone!!

As far as the associations conducting bussiness under the racing act; I really do not know or care. They failed their membership last year by not representing them and from the reports from the meeting yesterday they did not build confidence that they were going to do much better this year. The statement that Bob recounted on facebook that the commissioner repeated to the attendees that they should make their concerns known to the associations before meetings like yesterday was a bit odd to me.

The commission repeated the need to fill the gaps many times in the race dates debates last year. The TTHBPA has a horseman's rep at the track and still they did not know that the lack of racing opportunity was the number one concern for the horsemen. The commission appears to not understand that for several years the horsemen had no input in the dates process and until last year the deals were done before anyone knew what the deals were. If that was just the perception or real I do not know for sure because I was not personally involved in those days, but the sources are good.

The bottom line is that what I have been told is the TTA was a distraction and chose not to support the horsemen, the statements to discredit the TRC's efforts in approving simulcasting at the proposed Creedmore track was a bit out of place. The statements made by the TTHBPA representatives showed they were making the efforts to show the TRC they understood the concerns of the horsemen. Now the ball is in their court to prove they are willing to negotiate with the tracks to improve the conditions for the industry. Unfortunately, I got reports back from more than one attendee that it was more lip service than real concerns.

This is a real challenge and opportunity for the TTHBPA to mend some fences with its membership. When it came down to it in the end last year the president made a stand and we applauded her for it. They are capable and at this time suggest e-mails of support to Mrs. Haynes copied to the TRC and your state legislators. I can not overemphasize how important it is to make the legislators aware of industries circumstances and build that personal relationship before the next session. This is a golden opportunity with real world issues that affect the state, industry, and local economies.

[Gate2Wire]

Well Key, according to my sources, Pickard thanked the HBPA when testifying. You say the items the HBPA brought up (the gaps & the backside issues w/SH) were lip service. You criticize them either way. Other than causing trouble & stroking your ego, what is it that you want?

[Ajo]

A thought: Joe, you are so far off the track that you can't even see the starting gate, much less the wire. Mending fences between horsemen and their reps has never been an issue in the real horsemen's world; remember that there is an election every year which tacitly confirms the electors' approval of the electees. How do you justify yourself as a self-appointed mediator, Joe, when there is no requirement in that regard? Moreover, where were you yesterday? Certainly not at the horsemen's meeting. Yet you deign to wax with self-perceived brilliance about presentations that you did not hear and obviously have not been briefed about correctly. You are so consummed by your own propaganda on PQ and FBTb that you believe that six or eight dissidents can mold the agenda for all Texas horsemen. It's time to stop yammering and listen to what's really happening for a change. Your self distruction is not useful to the industry, and certainly not to yourself, nor is it admirable, particularly when not even you seem to know why you'd want it. I am not a sycophant of G2W; I don't even know who the hell he is; but I agree with his posture here and wonder why you can't get on board with the industrial mainstream!

Another thought: Legislators aren't offended by "the associations." Most legislators don't consider the votes of thirty thousand horse-related people important enough to even think about, because, in truth, most horsemen don't bother to vote, or even attend their own strategy meetings. (My legislator is exceptional, but he was overwhelmed by doubting colleagues) This "slots or nothing" stupid mantra, and the " you sold us down the river to a 60 day meet" inanity are "sour grapes," manifestations of frustration, nothing more, and abet no constructive purpose. I would also remind you that if the legislature can blow off thousands of voters, they will disdainfully ignore 3 racetracks as they disreguard the campaign funds gleaned therefrom. We're ALL on an even keel, and that tenuous strut is buried in the sand, really, really deep. Blaming industrial representatives and attempting to divide the industry into opposing factions is not going to extricate us from ultimate demise. I saw the seeds of cooperation being sowed at yesterday's meeting, and we need to make them grow, or we're all going to look like a Hill Country pasture in the August drought, 2011!

[keyranch]

You two have lost your minds. In the first place, I was recapping the phone calls I received about the meeting, period the end. I was not there, but there was nothing I recapped that did not come from more than one source.

In the end, my statement was in support of the TTHBPA and their stated goals to improve the racing schedule. In your zest to critisize any statement I made, you have again not read or understand the point of the post I made.

I will type real slow just for the two of you, the folks at the meeting are sceptical because of last years events. They hope as I hope that the TTHBPA, the tracks, and the TRC get together and solve the problem. They showed they were capable when the chips were on the table and when they do, we will support their efforts. The efforts to communicate our situation with the legislators is rather simple. We have gone to great efforts to establish communication with these folks and we do not want to ignore them until the week before the next session. It would be great to report that our representatives solved a big problem for the industry and last year was truly a turn around point for a better future for the industry.

Again, these were the concerns and yes there were others that said as you have that it could be the start of cooperation between all partys. That is what our man Theo, Roger, and the other four mushrooms have been promoting for awhile.

Finally, this industry is desparate for some good news! When the three groups get together, please keep that in mind! Yes, we know how important this is and that the decisions will impact many folks around the state!!!

[Ajo]

"Your man" Theo and "your man" Roger weren't there, but if they had been, I don't think they would have needed a puppeteer. Confessed mushroom Bob was there, but he seemed to be his own man, not yours. He didn't whine a syllable and talked like a knowledgable and concerned horseman who wanted to get something done. It worked, too; no one in the room disagreed with Bob's premises, and a fire of reason got lit.
Civility is a good thing (even though it's ellusive on these forums). Even yesterday's moderator showed some class when he was mildly rebuked by a frustrated horseman. He could have showed the guy the door, but instead he responded in a manner of cooperation and understanding. No one expressed "scepticism" about last year's hardships and failures. Disappointment, yes. But the focus of concern is saving the industry, not finger pointing and smirking over past failures. I see a turn-around in the future if Texas horsemen can realize that we're all in this together with purpose; otherwise, we're going to be totally out of it forever, and a lot of individual lifetime efforts are going to evaporate.

[jrgators]

Dr. Weilburn/Ajo and whomever G2W may or may not be. Gentlemen, I take absolute, and extremely strong offense to your statements about my not being present at the meeting, and Ajo, I've never been in need of Joe Kerby or anyone else to be my puppet master! I am an independent thinking person who attempts to be civil, and who desires to see progress moving forward.

I will say this, and then I hope I'll never have to address this again. I am currently in Ashtabula Ohio, and have been here for the past several days, and this is the 2nd time I've been here in very short order. I am both spending time with, and helping out with my terminally ill mother.

I wasn't able to make the meeting personally, but I was one of the 3 horsemen who wrote emails to the TRC prior to the meeting to share my thoughts, and concerns.

I would like to imagine that you folks are human beings and are aware that people have family, and lives other than our horses.

My mother is the most important person in my life. I have left my job, my family, and my horses to drive 1470 miles each way to be with her. You guys came off so cold in your comments, and I'm so very offended that I wouldn't dare begin to try and write words of expressions. Ajo, I need a puppet master! Wow dude, you have gotta be kidding me! Joe Kerby happens to be someone that I speak with a lot, and enjoy our friendship. I may be one of the quickest persons in his life to tell him when I think he's wrong. We disagree without being disagreeable. I don't think Joe is a bad person, and he definately doesn't control me, and knows better than to try if he were ever to want to try to do that. You should be so ashamed of yourself Ajo, you really should be! I have written on several occasions where I am, and why I'm here, and you just couldn't resist!

G2W, you are just special! A man/woman who is so cowardly they hide their identity shouldn't surprise me with anything he says or does. I can't tell you what to say, this is free speech, but remember folks are accountable to something much higher than Theophilus Scales, Jr.

I have made a direct effort to change my conversation on this and FB,and plan on getting our radio program back on the air after I return to Texas. You two have hit a very sensative nerve, and are making me think about what I should do, because frankly I don't need this type of nonsense at this point in my life! My mother is dying, and I can't do a DAMN thing about it, and it's pain like I've never imagined. I actually stopped something I was doing for my mother Tuesday afternoon to write a letter to the TRC just to have you two people say something so cold and insensative!

Ajo, I had sent you a message on FB to call me, please disregard my request.

Theophilus Scales, Jr.

[Ajo]

Theo, for some reason you always find a way to misinterpret what your perceived adversaries say. Everyone on this forum knows that your mother is ill and that you are there to comfort her, and you have all of our sympathy and empathy. We too have lost mothers and siblings and, yes, even children, so we understand the hurt, and understand that nerves can get frazzed easily under such pressing circumstances. If you reread my post carefully, you will note that it was in response to Joe calling you his man. Of course no one expected you to be at that meeting. My remark was meant as a compliment to you, Roger, and Bob. If you must put a spin on it, then that's the way you'd have it, I guess. I didn't call you last night because I did not want to disturb your household at such a late hour. I did respond to your query by e-mail, and hope it was of value to you. I truly hope and pray that you will have a better day today.

[jrgators]

Good afternoon,

I will take that I didn't read your comments correctly, but it didn't read that way to me last night, and even just now reading it again. This is one of the reasons that I haven't been a big fan of emails or text messages because they can be so misread, and misunderstood. I will take it that this is what happened in this case, and apologize for my anger.

My nerves are very frazzled, and this is much harder on me than I could have ever imagined. I appreciate your comments about Roger, and Bob as well.

All the negativity about Joe does get a bit old to me, and that may have also added to my frustration last night. I strongly value Joe as a friend, and as a person like his email to the meeting stated, depends on this industry for every dime he, and his family need to survive from day to day. Joe doesn't agree with something, and he says it.

Thanks for your well wishes for my mother! She's a true gem in my life, and watching her fade away is NO fun!! She's still functional, she is still fussing at me, and sometimes I look at her, and I can't believe how sick she truly is. Cancer is such a nasty, nasty disease! My mother is still young, and in my mind too young to be facing death. I know that many people have experienced the loss of their parents, but this is the first time in my life that I'm expected to not have MY mother, and it's killing me!

Again, I apologize after your explination, but I still feel that it reads so negatively.

I don't see you as an adversary at all! I've told you this in the past, and I will say it again now. We may disagree on certain points, but I think you are a person who's got a lot of time, and a lot of money invested into an industry that you love. That makes us NOT adversaries, but coworkers to help revive this industry. You have a postion on the board, and you've demonstrated your desire to stay in the business, and see us ALL make money in the business.

I was also not pleased with the low turn out numbers that I heard from the meeting.

I must go, but thanks again for your explination, and we are not enemies in my mind, we are just 2 guys that view somethings in a different way.

Have a better day also,

Theo

[Ajo]

Thanks, Theo. Once upon a time (I'm an old fart) I sent a belated letter to my step-father telling him how much I appreciated everything he had done for me. We had not seen eye-to-eye in most matters in our earlier relationship, but I had finally outgrown that and appreciated his perspective, which turned out to be correct in most venues. You can't imagine my sadness when I retrieved that letter, unopened, from his mailbox on the day of his funeral. Some things are are too important to go un-expressed, and what you are doing for, and with, your mother is irretrievably precious for both of you. You are 'ceasing the day,' and that is a good thing. The rest of the world isn't really going anywhere, so it can wait until you are right with it in your own mind and in your own time. Best wishes for you both.

[Gate2Wire]

You mushrooms keep beating the same drum...IRM's (rejected by the house/the Flores committee), ADW's (soundly rejected by Lt. Gov & many other house members), more race days for less purse money.

You remind me of the guy that went into the ice cream parlor & asked for a scoop of chocolate. The person behind the counter told him "I'm sorry, we're out of chocolate." The guy walks around & comes back & asked for a chocolate cone. He's told again "We're out of chocolate." He walks around some more & comes back & asked for a dish of chocolate ice cream. The guy looks at him & says, listen "if you take the straw out of strawberry, what do you have?" "Berry" the guy replied. "Now, if you take the black out of blackberry, what do you have?" "Berry" he replies again. "Now, if you take the "f" out of chocolate, what do you have?" The guy replies "there ain't no "f" in chocolate." "Exactly!!! That's what I've been trying to tell you." GUYS, THERE AIN'T NO F***in MONEY!!!!!!

[Roger]

[quote="Gate2Wire"]You mushrooms keep beating the same drum...IRM's (rejected by the house/the Flores committee), ADW's (soundly rejected by Lt. Gov & many other house members), more race days for less purse money.

You remind me of the guy that went into the ice cream parlor & asked for a scoop of chocolate. The person behind the counter told him "I'm sorry, we're out of chocolate." The guy walks around & comes back & asked for a chocolate cone. He's told again "We're out of chocolate." He walks around some more & comes back & asked for a dish of chocolate ice cream. The guy looks at him & says, listen "if you take the straw out of strawberry, what do you have?" "Berry" the guy replied. "Now, if you take the black out of blackberry, what do you have?" "Berry" he replies again. "Now, if you take the "f" out of chocolate, what do you have?" The guy replies "there ain't no "f" in chocolate." "Exactly!!! That's what I've been trying to tell you." GUYS, THERE AIN'T NO F***in MONEY!!!!!![/quote

This is the last time you are going to post these types of post. I will complain to the moderator and you have already had one warning.]