Ramifications For A Horseman ...."Casino Style"
3/11/10 by Terry Cullipher
Updated 3/22/10
3/11/10 by Terry Cullipher
Updated 3/22/10
- FREEDOM - is it a privilege, or is it your right?
Whether we realize or not, as Americans we have been exercising our freedoms all of our lives. That
knowledge has been embedded in our minds since we were born. Most of us have grown accustom to this
free society that we live in. So much so, that by the time we become adults, we have taken for granted
that there we're people that fought and died just so that we, the people of the United States of America,
could live as a democratic society. For that reason, and that reason alone, the word FREEDOM should not
be taken lightly.
In this country, during and before the 1960s, businesses (restaurants for example) thought they could
refuse to serve anyone they wish, just because. This went on for years until enough people stood up and
said “We are Americans. We have rights”. Although, a few places of business may have continued this
practice after 1964, eventually the United States Constitution prevailed, and they either changed or were
shut down.
The year is 2010. And believe or not, right here in the United States of America, there are still
establishments, open to the public, that still believe they can exclude or remove anyone they wish from
their property for “NO REASON”. Just because a law or state statue may allow for this, does NOT make it
right. When a person hasn't done anything wrong, and a business such as a restaurant, bar, racetrack, or
casino can exclude them from their property for “NO REASON”, it begs to question; Is it in their best
interest? Is it in the best interest of this country?
A few years ago in West Virginia a lady horseman and her husband, were excluded from Charles Town
Races & Slots owned and operated by Penn National Gaming for “NO REASON”. You can read more about
that story by going to Tom Lamarra’s column, At Large, on Bloodhorse.com. Another ramified blow that
happened most recently was in South Florida, where a horseman/reporter was permanently excluded,
again for “NO REASON”, by The Isle Casino & Racing Pompano Park. This horseman writes a comical
column and issue related articles for website publications. The same day one of his columns was published,
John Yinger Director of Racing for the Isle Casino & Racing Pompano Park, sent the letter booting this
horseman from the property.
All of this has an appearance of mafia style control – "do as we say or else". Not something you would
believe could happen in the United States of America today. Although it does happens more often than one
would want to believe, and it is nothing less than an American travesty.
When ego, politics, and incompetence are combined with people abusing their powers, it creates the
ultimate formula for corruption. It's a formula that has been around for many years. The only difference
today is that these type of folk are much easier to see. The casinos have helped in bringing that to light. If
casinos continue to operate this way, eventually the tables will turn on them as their ego, politics, and
incompetence may bring them down. It happened with horse racing - will it work the same for the casinos?
People that abuse their powers would like for everyone to believe that it's their way or get the axe. To their
credit and belief, this seems to be holding true -- for now.
These establishments, that are government / state regulated, may be able to take away your privileges and
right to make a living just because you take a stand, or you exercise your First Amendment rights. But the
one thing they will never be able to take away, is what so many before you fought and died for - YOUR
United States Constitutional rights.
FREEDOM - a word that should not be taken lightly, because we live in the United States of America.
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