Sometimes, the only way to get something done right...is to do it yourself.

Sick to death am I, of our sport in which the needs of the horses come dead-last, at almost every turn. As we watch the insanity unfolding in New York—the needs of little men with enormous egos taking the lead over the needs of the sport as a whole—and hear more and more about horses being doped…I find that I am abandoning my minimal government stance for a more strict, more law-based ideal.

Allow me to elucidate: I am against Big Government, Big Brother telling me when I may take a drink of water or turn on the lights. I’m as far to the left as one can be without falling off the edge.

And, God knows, the current New York State government—executive AND legislative branches, alike—are showing, once again, that the more power one is granted—the more power one will demand. Egos and power struggles run amok, as horsemen and their critters head to Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Like rats off a sinking ship, New York racing is relocating south--and the only ones to blame are sitting in Albany, dining on watercress salads and Perrier. (For which we paid.)

Our sport is still run by people who refuse to institute a Commission and Commissioner to administer, in spite of a raft of evidence that proves, sans a doubt, that a Commissioner is necessary if our sport is to grow into the 21st Century. A few weeks ago I called for a Commission and Commissioner, as you may recall. Interestingly enough, a horsewoman of questionable morality from Kentucky TOLD me to take the column off of this ‘site. Of course, I refused. To quote Pontius Pilate, “Quod scripti, scripti.” (“I wrote what I wrote. Period.”)

I will never retract a statement I’ve made when I know that I’m right.

So now I’ve come to realize that the LAW is a tres different concept from that of the concept of LAWMAKERS. Lawmakers, as we know, are those fatcats who ride in nice cars; reside in upper-scale neighborhoods—and suck cash off of us in order to maintain that lifestyle.

While they're preening in Albany, New York State racing is going down the terlet. The rest of the country is no better: we're still "figuring out" if shooting a needleful of cobra venom is a punishable crime.

Racing across America is running wild in the paddock because there are no unified laws that dictate morality. Sometimes morality MUST be dictated, as we frail humans allow greed to cloud our ability to see and act morally.

The LAW, you see, is objective. It follows the Constitution, and philosophically and logically grows into a living, breathing entity that doesn’t care about individual demands, or how much money one possesses. The Law is, like King Solomon, the only entity concerned about wisely creating a society based on compassion, kindness and ethics.

For this reason—and because my plea for a REAL Racing Commission has fallen on deaf ears—I’m calling for the creation of The Center for Equine Law. A place where the Law can be studied; nurtured; cherished and created for presentation to the idiots in government.

The cretinous Visigoths in government are like so-many trained dogs: if you tell them that This is a Good Thing, then threaten them with expulsion from the pack if they don’t go along—their hearts and minds will follow. Their tails begin to wag, they smile and drool, and, by God...they go along.

So our sport needs a place where Law can be studied, promoted and created. I care deeply about horsemen’s needs; financial gain for those involved in the sport; and equanimity and balance for all those who wish to join us in this gorgeous endeavor.

But my biggest concern is (and always has been) for the horses, those athletes lacking thumbs and a voice. Mother Theresa said, “God has no hands on Earth but our hands.” It is OUR job, we horsewomen and –men, to stand up for the horses: to treat them with love and respect; to assure that they’re neither abused nor doped; and gently, lovingly retired.

And if we have to institute laws to make sure that people do The Right Thing, then, So Be It.

And if I have to create The Center for Equine Law to make sure that that happens, then, by God—I’ll do it.

And since I now work at the College of Law at a major Kentucky academic institution, working with a professor of Equine Law—WE will make it happen.

That unethical Kentucky horsewoman who demanded that I retract my call for a Racing Commissioner will no doubt object to new laws that may seem to restrict horsepeople’s rights to do as they will with their equine charges.

But I don’t give a damn about her opinion, only about what’s right for the horses. The Center for Equine Law may not exist as I write this, but watch out, evildoers and horse abusers—your days hurting our Thoroughbreds (and all breeds) are numbered.