I read much of your recent series of interviews with young people in racing, as well as your piece reflecting on the series. I applaud your efforts to present some fresh thinking. I was also pleased to see the concerns regarding nepotism discussed. Certainly any individual business practicing nepotism suffers. An entire industry where nepotism is as common as in racing will ultimately experience crippling effects.
The series rightly prioritized horse welfare and public perception, along with public relations, opportunities for women and other critical issues. One important subject, however, was entirely unexplored.
I read nothing about human rights. Just recently, I could not help but wonder at the coverage of the Saudi Cup by racing “journalists.” Coverage that seemed completely oblivious to the authoritarian government and abysmal human rights record of the host country. I'm sure we'll see the same with the Dubai World Cup. Ironically, the Saudi Cup occurred at the same time as a new golf tour sponsored by Saudi concerns was engendering public controversy as well as resistance from the PGA and its golfers, hardly known as hotbeds of progressivism.
Yet racing – while properly concerned with the need to be acceptable to people vis a vis its treatment of animals – seems blind or uncaring about the industry's tacit acceptance of the mistreatment of humans. Of course the amount of Saudi and UAE money and influence in breeding and racing operations makes ignoring these countries shameful human rights records expedient. It does not make it acceptable.
Confronting this is not just the morally right thing to do — it is also the self-interested course. Racing's leaders, if there actually are any looking beyond their balance sheets or P&L statements, must realize that any industry that partners with or even silently benefits from repressive governments will not endure. The current situation in Ukraine serves to remind us of most American's feelings about undemocratic regimes. Though the public spotlight has not yet fallen on a niche sport's cozy relationship with autocratic and authoritarian countries and rulers, it is one short step to coupling maltreatment of horses with persecution of people. Not to be overly dramatic, but that may just provide the death knell for racing as a viable industry in America, particularly one which requires political support.
I hope in future you continue the excellent work of the Paulick Report, including the needed discussion regarding this subject. I believe if we don't address it ourselves, those who would happily see racing disappear will do it for us.
–John Koenig
Owner
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