[RC] WEC Fiasco - Ridecamp GuestPlease Reply to: Howard Bramhall howard9732@xxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== Well, I don't want to be the one who says, "I told ya so," but, well, we may want to think who we are in bed with when it comes to our beloved sport. Because, if we continue on the track we are on we will end up on this course, the one that rewards winners with big money and Sundowner trailers for racing and achieveing first place, when, what we really wanted was to run for T-Shirts and the enjoyment of the sport, and that alone. And, please, don't think it hasn't tainted us because it has already. Take their money, as we did last year at TEvis, and, will most likely again this year, and, well, there will be no end to the beginning of the end of American enduarance as we now know it. It will become a rich man's sport, no others need apply. The only way to stop it is to get involved. Tell them, "No, we won't accept the money, we won't race for the gold because it's not what this sport is about. At least not here." cya, Howard Yes, maybe our Thoroughbred gambling syndicate hasn't jumped into yet, but how many of you "Ridecamp junkies" have seen this website? Check it out, you'll find it interesting. http://www.ambassadorendurance.com/ Once you've entered the site, on the left site map bar, hover your cursor over "Rules-Regulations" and then click on "FEI Emirates Worldwide Rankings". Then when that page opens on the lefthand side map bar, click on "Prizes". You will see that the First Place (Gold Medal) winner in their point system wins $25,000 US Dollars. The Ambassador Endurance offers over $70,000 in prize money. What's next, an Internet-based Parimutuel Betting System for endurance? I don't think that's it too far off!! I agree that the FEI rides are an ENTIRELY different thing than AERC rides! Apparently "Ambassador Endurance" is an organization based in France that promotes racing at the FEI level. It is headed by an Emirati, and on their Board of Management they have members from Ireland, Great Britain, the U.S.A., Norway and Switzerland. Is endurance turning into a "richman's sport"? The Maktoum's also have so much money they can win a bid on a horse for over $675,000 at a Thoroughbred yearling auction, at not even know it. With all of it's extravagancy, putting on the WEC for the Maktoum's would be the same to us as putting on a backyard barbecue? A new book out is "Horse of a Different Color", by Jim Squires, published by PublicAffairs. The book chronicles the life of the breeder of the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner. Much of the book mentions the Maktoums (among others) who are monopolizing the Thoroughbred breeding industry by buying up many of our Top Stallions. Sound familiar?! The book is good reading and enlightening re: the Thoroughbred industry. Karen =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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