Horsemen and women have been hesitant to go on the record in regard to the Windsor Raceway race-fixing situation which came to light earlier this month. Recent Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Bob McIntosh has broken that silence
.
An article by Bob Duff in The Windsor Star quotes the LaSalle, Ont.-based McIntosh as looking at the positive side of the situation.
"As far as the public is concerned, they see that the ORC (Ontario Racing Commission) has done something about it," said McIntosh.
He went on to say, "It's not good publicity for the game. In our sport, bad news always makes the front page."
On September 3, the ORC announced that drivers Brad Forward, Gene Piroski and Kevin Wallis had been handed suspensions ranging from five to 12 years and fines ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 for conspiring to affect the outcome of horse races at Windsor Raceway. The three have since files appeals.
In The Windsor Star article, McIntosh referred to some advice his father, Jack, had preached to him early in what is now a storied training career.
"He told me to protect my integrity, because once that's gone, you'll never get it back," McIntosh said. "That's a policy I've lived or died with my entire career."
The article also highlights that the fact that yesterday's opening night card at Windsor saw a very big decline in handle from the track's 2009 meet-opening card. In 2009, Windsor kicked off its meet with a program which attracted $262,467 in overall handle. Last night's meet-opening card brought in $177,067.
The article also contains quotes from race-goers, who didn't hold back on their assessment of the situation.
In regard to the race fixing allegations at the border oval, standardbred groom Ernie Kelso of Windsor was quoted as saying, "This wouldn't have happened in the past, but they've basically turned Windsor into a 'B' track. Funny things don't happen when you're racing for big money, because there's too much at stake."
(With files from The Windsor Star)
Related Stories
• Suspended Drivers File Appeals
• Michigan Charges Imminent For Race Fixing
• Windsor Welcomes ORC Action
• Forward, Piroski, Wallis Fined, Suspended
• More On Wallis Suspension
• ORC Suspends Wallis
• Harmon: "I Am Innocent, 100 Per Cent"
• Five Suspended In Michigan
• Race Fixing Investigation In Michigan
If anyone thinks cheating
If anyone thinks cheating occurs in standardbreds and not in thoroughbreds they should give their head a shake.
Phil Clark
I would like to see the ORC
I would like to see the ORC expedite the appeals process and get the facts out on the table so that the racing community and public have the full story. This includes the opportunity for the implicated individuals (who have been understandably silent to this point)to respond to their accusers. At the moment, the suspended individuals have been written off as cheats in the minds of many, yet few if any facts are known. Get it all out there, give life suspensions to anyone found guilty of race fixing and move on. It probably won't be pretty but it is necessary.
Anyone who thinks it is just Windsor that is going to suffer from this latest black-eye needs to give their head a shake. I know a lot of former standardbred bettors who have switched to thoroughbreds but none that have gone in the opposite direction. I don't see much of a chance to reverse this trend as long as this cloud hangs over us.