The First Hurdle

Editorial - Opinion - Comments

Issue 1 Volume 2, June 16th 2008

Letter from the Editor -- Bob and Sharon Blanchard

We would like to do a brief recap of the past 6 months without the NSA. In December the Little Everglades Steeplechase (LES) and the Queen's Cup (QC) parted company with the NSA. Shortly after these resignations, Mr. Lou Raffetto was hired as the new CEO of the NSA to bring change and correct problems in the sport. The Chronicle of the Horse recently quoted Mr. Raffetto saying "My role is going to be dealing more with strategic planning and the future and getting the word out about this sport. It's not about day-to-day operation. I am leaving that up to Bill Gallo." It seems it is just "business as usual" with the NSA; except for the fact that there is now another high paid employee that the NSA membership and race meets need to pay. Rumor has it that Mr. Raffetto's salary is in excess of $200,000 a year.

Keeneland Race Track, the most prestigious race track in the USA has told the NSA that they will not be invited back to race in 2009. What a sad moment. George Sloan, George Strawbridge and Mason Lampton worked so hard to get steeplechasing to Keeneland and now it is all for naught. It was part of George Sloan's legacy and something we all remembered him for, along with starting the Sport of Kings racing series. What a thrill to have a horse run at Keeneland. No one cared whether they won or not. The thrill was just being a part of the experience. We look forward to reading more about the Atlanta/NSA/Keeneland fiasco.

Recently a total uproar occurred with the Maryland Racing Commission (MRC). It was rumored that Lou Raffetto called the MRC and suggested the horses that ran at the LES and the QC should not be allowed to run at a track with pari-mutuel gambling. Not sure why, as it was never a problem in the past 10 years when horses ran at other hunt meets for money, but that will remain a mystery. Next, we heard that the MRC called Mr. Raffetto and brought up this point. NEXT, we heard that the NSA board was told it was the NSA attorney who told Mr. Raffetto to call the MRC and address this point. Will the real culprit please stand up? Well, we all know that the attorney will be the one thrown under the bus. We wonder why it was never an issue in the past when horses ran at nonsanctioned meets for money? Could this just be another ploy to upset the horsemen and try to force the LES and the QC back into the NSA fold?

We have from time to time heard comments that the NSA Board and Management did not intend to have the Tail (Little Everglades Steeplechase and the Queen's Cup) wag the Dog (NSA). That again is a mystery. LES and the QC pulled away from the NSA because we felt the dog was sick. There was never an intention to wag the dog, only to remove ourselves and enjoy our meet. Could it be the dog is too busy chasing its own tail to spend time working on making itself healthier, stronger and a better animal?

At a recent steeplechase, I was asked if I thought of my self as a problem solver. My answer of course was "No, more of a trouble maker if that is the only way to solve the problem!"

Letter to the Editor -- Bill Price

I have just finished reading your Chronicle of The Horse of May 2, 2008 IN THE COUNTRY section where you report that the Queen's Cup elected not to run sanction for this year's race meet. I think it is important to get the story straight for your readers.

The Queen's Cup and Little Everglades decided against running sanction for numerous reasons, not the least of which is, and continues to be, our unhappiness about the direction of the sport of steeplechasing in the United States and in particular, the management of the National Steeplechase Association.

On December 11, 2007, we notified the NSA that we would not be running under NSA sanction for the 2008 Queen's Cup. On March 24, in hopes of ending the stand-off, we notified NSA in writing that Queen's Cup would be willing to put aside all of its differences for the time and being and would run sanction on our date this past spring if 1) we could be assured of having the Queen's Cup sanction date protected from Atlanta moving onto our established date of fourteen years and 2) that the NSA would address each of Queen's Cup and Little Everglades' grievances to the satisfaction of the collective horsemen of the NSA. We were given a response that effectively said they would not hold our sanction date even if we came back this spring.

It is important that your readers understand that we made every effort, putting egos aside, to rejoin the ranks of the NSA this past spring on the assumption that we could do more work to help right the ship while being on-board rather than standing by the shores and watching the ship sink. The NSA chose the path that we now face for 2009 - running four race meets on one day, the last Saturday of April.

For reasons that are obvious to most, there is a continuing shortage of horses, jockeys and owners in our sport. Running three hurdle race meets and one timber classic on one day will put a tremendous strain on the horsemen and the overall quality of the sport of steeplechasing will suffer, sanctioned or not.

To date, the NSA has lost three race meets in the spring, Little Everglades, Queen's Cup and now Keeneland - that should be enough damage to the sport done for one year. Either way, losing three premiere race meets in the spring should send a clear message. Whether you are on the ship or watching from ashore, all is not well on the USS-NSA.

Bill Price - Race Chairman - Queen's Cup

Editor's Comments: When you consider Ken Luke chaired the search committee to hire a new CEO and when you recall that Ken Luke is on the board of the Atlanta Steeplechase, as well as, the NSA Board, is anyone surprised that the NSA approved Atlanta's move to the date previously held by Bill and Carrington Price and the Queen's Cup for the past 13 years?

Letter to the Editor -- Martha Hopkins

The day was cool, really cold at 7 AM on Sunday morning March 9th at Dade City, Florida, but as the sun rose in the sky by race time it had warmed to 60 degrees. A glorious day for man and horses. Race Day at Little Everglades Steeplechase, a most beautiful course and setting. The grass is like green velvet, soft and plush. The terraced box area is awesome. The tables are set with white tablecloths, fluttering in the wind, and pots of red sage and white lamb's ear. They overlook the paddock and a sea of white tents where 20,000 people gather. This is a big day for a very small town.

Everyone stands for the National Anthem and then the red-coated buglers sound the Call to the Races! The stewards and judges are all up in the tower, which overlooks the course. The ladies of all ages are dolled in wispy summer dresses and big, big hats, even the little girls. The races begin. There are six races with a half dozen horses in each race. There is no pari-mutual betting, but there are great cheers when the winner crosses the finish line. In between races, there is a Jack Russell Race, a contest for the prettiest hat, and one for the best tailgate. There are two enormous tents for food and hospitality, open all day long for lunch and supper. One is for the lawn box holders and sponsors and one for the owners, trainers and jockeys. The food is tremendous in both. There are no falls or problems.

The owners of this beautiful course and ranch are Bob and Sharon Blanchard. They gave their time and financial support. They made the dream happen. They oversee all the details, right up to race time. Most of all, they make everyone feel so welcome. Such a great couple who have given so much to the sport. We all owe them our gratitude.

To top off the day, Bob and Sharon's horse won the last race! A perfect ending for a perfect day.

Martha D. Hopkins - Elberton Hill Farm - Darlington, Maryland

Issue 1 Volume 1, March 16th 2008

Letter from the Editor -- Bob and Sharon Blanchard

Running a race meet without being sanctioned by the NSA has been very interesting and eventful! It was challenging to learn ALL the aspects of putting on a steeplechase and what fun it was to educate ourselves on the who, what, why and how to do all of the necessary jobs.

We have had many comments concerning the Mercedes-Benz Little Everglades Steeplechase that we would like to share:

"the only difference between your race meet and an NSA sanctioned meet was that it was a more relaxed, civil atmosphere."

"Thanks for a wonderful experience and perhaps more importantly for providing hope that better things are within grasp."

"My congratulations on staging a first-class race meeting. Little Everglades is the 10th steeplechase racecourse that I have visited in the US and its facilities are by far the best!"

"Many congratulations on your extremely successful hunt meet. Your success was a great accomplishment and a tribute to you both."

The flip side of this coin came after reading the editorial from the Steeplechase Times: "And face it, the NSA soft balled the two meets for 2008, in hopes they will rejoin the circuit. If they stay out in 2009 and beyond, the split may become more contentious. Does the NSA encourage horsemen not to attend? Does it do the same to officials? Does the NSA urge drug-testing facilities and veterinarians not to serve the two meets? Who ultimately controls use of the National Fence? And on and on and on. Check the personality differences at the door, listen to each other and move beyond this dispute."

This veiled threat is counter productive and hardly makes one want to return to the sanctioning umbrella of the NSA. It has nothing to do with personalities even though some of the NSA staff could use a course or two in dealing with their employers.

What if the NSA decides to start playing hard ball with us in 2009? Well, we will pick up our ball and go home and close the gates behind us! Not only will the NSA lose a sanctioned meet, but the steeplechase world will lose a race meet that usually has visitors from Europe.

While some participants were disappointed that the LES race results did not count in NSA standings, more OTRs were thrilled to receive a healthy check and not to have their horses moved to a higher level of competition for future races. Little Everglades Steeplechase was a wonderful prep for Aiken Steeplechase and the horses that ran at LES preformed very well in Aiken. Check the record.