Readings: Bailey
“Horses and racing, by their very nature, evoke strong emotions.
“When you are a fan, you shake, you shout, you do everything you can to urge your horse home first. When you are part of the sport, you shake and shout for a very different reason. Much of the time, you want to scream in frustration.
“Racing, it pains me to say, is far from reaching its potential. It is, in many respects, an ailing industry plagued by infighting, backward thinking and overall lack of vision.
“This was clear to me as I served three-plus terms as president of the Jockeys’ Guild, from December 1989 through 1996. Regrettably, nothing has changed since then. I fear for the future if the sport doesn’t alter its course soon.” — From “Against the Odds,” by Jerry Bailey with Tom Pedulla
