Dear Sir,

I have just read Adrian Robson’s comment on harness racing in the paper today. Adrian, please stick to commentating on human sports because you just don’t have a clue when it comes to anything equine.

To equate harness racing with dog fighting is just blatantly stupid. “Ponies on the open road, sweating profusely in obvious distress.” How on earth do you know that the ponies are in obvious distress? Because its sweating? Have you ever seen a human runner on the road not sweating? “Contorted faces of ponies as they struggle to release themselves from the harness”

They want to go faster for Heaven’s sake and their responsible drivers are keeping them in check. Give us a break Adrian, I can almost hear the violins in the background. You are not going to be awarded the Pulitzer for this piece.

As someone who has owned and raced ponies since we started this sport 20 years ago, I can tell you first hand, that there is nothing that these ponies like to do better than run like a bat out hell, its what they are bred to do.

The “contorted faces of ponies as they struggle to release themselves from the harness.” Oh Please!!!

Its them saying Woo Hoo, Let’s Go!!! From the minute I would put my pony in the trailer to go to the track, he would not keep still. I would harness my pony up and he would prance, paw in impatience, struggle in the harness until it was time to run up behind the start truck. As the speed picked up, his ears would prick, he would set his head against the lines, lengthen his stride and run as fast as his little legs and big heart would let him and no-one can tell me that he didn’t enjoy it.

I would also like to comment on Colin Thompson’s articles. I can’t believe that The Royal Gazette actually pays you to write, let alone publishes this, one sided drivel. I don’t know who your “reliable source” is who states that “these guys have been drugging their horses for years”, but the vast majority of riders and drivers are vehemently against any drug being used to either enhance performance or mask injury in horses or ponies.

They have been drug testing ponies on the track now for quite a few years and this is the first time that there has been any cause for concern, so how could they have been drugging them for years? A ban on performance enhancing drugs has actually been in place from the day the track rules were written, almost 20 years ago.

Also, all the members of the club had the opportunity to vote either for or against testing. The vote was to test. Why would a person vote to test if they drugged their ponies? You published the opinion of one rather bitter sounding person. Why did you not spend a little time interviewing other drivers before writing your incredibly subjective articles?

I thought the idea of journalism was to present a balanced, informative story that told all sides of a situation. You failed miserably. It is unfortunate that this round of drug testing has unveiled three people who have tried to enhance the performance of their ponies. They should accept their punishment, because it IS wrong and they deserve to be suspended. However, there are 70 odd other ponies that race every week without any enhancements, why did you not interview a few of them?

Your article makes the owners and drivers of racing ponies out to be demonic pony killers. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every horse owner I know, takes tremendous care and pride in their animals. Their ponies and horses are fit, healthy and happy. In an Island where land is incredibly scarce and stabling and feed costs a fortune, keeping a horse fit and healthy is hard and expensive work. To see a neglected horse is an extreme rarity. To the contrary, virtually every horse seen on this Island is at the peak of health and none more so than the racing ponies. You will not see a fitter equine and these ponies ARE athletes.

I know of many people who have, at great expense, shipped their ponies out to the States and Canada to retire their ponies after their racing career is over. Yes some ponies have been put down, but sadly sometimes it might just be the humane thing to do.

If you have a horse in Bermuda, you are severely restricted as to how you can deal with injuries and the needs of an aging horse. We are very lucky that we have at least one first class equine vet on the Island, however, we have no facility for large animal operations and there is no turn out for a horse that needs to be rested because of an injury or has permanent disabilities or is just plain getting old.

Is it kind to the animal to have to live out it’s days in a stable or on a postage stamp piece of land? Not everyone can afford to ship their horses to the US and not all horses are fit to make the journey. Deciding on the value of quality of life for your animal, be it equine, feline or canine, is always a dilemma for any animal owner and its no different for a horse owner.

I would also question your decision to only print your “reliable source’s” comments on discrimination within the sport. This is just plain sad. There have been drivers from all segments of the community, black, white, women, men, young and old, involved in harness racing for years. Is your “Reliable Source” really treated any differently than anyone else? Why did you not interview other drivers for their opinion? I am sure that you would have heard very conflicting opinions. But that does not sell papers, does it?

I find it ironic that the RG who have hardly EVER reported on this sport; even though it IS popular and is embraced by people of all walks of life; a sport where all compete on an equal footing now have three front page articles devoted to it!! Its a family oriented sport where all the family, young and old get involved. A sport that attracts the youth and that keeps them off the streets. Very few sports can boast that and your article hurls unwanted, undeserved and degrading aspersions at many good, hardworking people.

Your biased and shamefully sensational articles have cast misgivings and suspicions at a well run, family oriented, disciplined sport and the people who participate in it. Three bad and misguided apples do not make this a bad sport and the Driving Club certainly does not warrant your biased reporting. The Driving Club deserves an apology for your shamefully one-sided and badly researched articles.

ANNIE SOUSA

PS – The photo that you printed in your first article was of a young man, who is a fine, respectable and upstanding member of our community. He would no more drug or harm his ponies than he would poke a stick in his own eye. By printing this photo, whether intended or not, you cast suspicion on him. Shame on you.

SPORTS EDITOR’S NOTE: Stories written by Colin Thompson last week were the result of information provided by numerous sources not just one as Ms Sousa implies. On each occasion, Nick DeCosta, president of the harness racing association, was offered the chance to respond, thus providing the necessary balance.

The Gazette stands by these reports.

The fact that the association failed to reveal that certain drivers and ponies had been banned for drug related offences until The Royal Gazette published these stories indicates they were attempting to hide this information from the public.

The association also failed to mention that Colin Mello, a member of the club's executive committee which implemented the drug testing policy, was among those suspended.

The Gazette has frequently attempted to obtain information on harness racing meets but on each occasion has received no cooperation whatsover.

Ms Sousa's reference to runners also sweating is rather bizarre. Runners sweat and inflict their own torture by choice. Ponies do not have that choice.

Friday Forum is an opinion article targeted at current sports issues and designed to stimulate debate which on this occasion appears to have been successful.

The Sports Editor is of the opinion that certain aspects of harness racing constitutes cruelty. Ms Sousa is entitled to the opinion that it is not. But in making her case, it would be preferable if she stuck to the facts.