"If something is going to affect your life, it's best to know as much as you can about it." - Donald Trump
"Always Open"
Where is the KHHA?
3/3/08 KyHarnessRacing.com

    Let's pretend you're on a huge ship in the middle of
    the ocean. The ship has been damaged, is taking on
    water and sinking rapidly. The captain, has 200 extra
    people on board, that he can call upon and ask to
    help with repairing the damage. But, the captain fails
    to, or chooses not to, inform any of those 200
    people he has available. What would you think about
    the captain? Would you call him intelligent or stupid?

    Now let's go to the real sinking ship called "Harness
    Racing in Kentucky".

    Last Tuesday, February 26th, KEEP held a rally in
    Frankfort. Many people showed up, but many were
    not aware of the rally. Many members of the KHHA
    simply didn't know or did not find out soon enough.
    This was very unnecessary. Was Napier and Stewart
    sleeping? Or, were they awake and just decided to
    keep it a secret?

    What was so important to Bill Napier and Bob
    Stewart, that kept them from e-mailing each
    member, to notify them about one of the most
    important events in the industry. Or, has Bill been so
    busy he hasn't had the time to obtain email
    addresses from the members.

    Contacting members by email is not impossible. It
    takes less than 5 minutes, and this includes turning
    on the computer. Contacting members by phone is
    not impossible either. Most people have voice-mail
    set up. Both (email and voice-mail) are pretty simple.

    Bill may say that he sent email's, but how many
    members, other than board members, actually
    received an email. Did Bill forget that he gets paid to
    do things like that--KEEP THE MEMBERS INFORMED.
    Or, did Bob and Bill think that Billy Perelli passing out
    fliers at The Red Mile was -- "GOOD ENOUGH"?

    Maybe just as important, on that same day, a group
    met before a sub-committee from the Legislature,
    speaking on what casinos would mean to their group.
    In that group, the Thoroughbreds had a person in
    attendance, Quarter horses had a person,
    Saddlebreds had a person speak.

    But the Standardbred industry, they had nobody
    present at the meeting. Was someone selling cars
    that day? Or, did our leaders just simply not know?
    Which is worse?

    Again, Napier and Stewart must have had more
    important things on their agenda. Whatever these
    guys were doing, there's one thing you can count
    on, when something great comes out, Bill Napier and
    Bob Stewart will be the first ones to take the credit.

    Also, let's keep in mind, that Bob Stewart serves on
    the board for KEEP.

    Whether you take these issues seriously or lightly,
    you must ask yourself: Is the KHHA doing its job?
    What does the KHHA really do for you?

    Walter Fister, Dr. Sautter, and Kevin Thomas are
    three highly respected people that serve on the
    KHHA board. With people of this stature on the
    board, one has to ask: Do they ever hold Bill
    accountable? (He does get paid) Do they know that
    the membership never got an email or phone call
    about the rally? Do they know about the under use
    of the KHHA's website? (Surely they read the website)
    Did they know Bill went 5 years without a starter's
    license? Or, do they just listen to what Bill and Bob
    say, and go along to get along?

    We may not know what the future holds with
    expanded gaming. But, at such a crucial time, we do
    know that we need LEADERS, not a Mickey Mouse
    club.

    Maybe the time has come -- the time to form a new
    association.