This, the most unkindest cut of all.

"Among males, geldings usually are regarded as the most reliable claiming racers."

-Ainslie's Complete Guide to Thoroughbred Racing

I woke up far too early this morning and could not go back to sleep. I stole out of bed and hid myself in the study, pouring over my small library of horse books. There is a quiet energy that early in the morning that focuses the senses; I was groggy and nonplused so I missed it.

I kept thinking back to the Congressional hearings a few weeks ago and to the testimony of Alan Marzelli, CEO of the Jockey Club, in particular. Answering questions from the generally dimwitted and grandstanding members of the congressional committee (redundant, I know), Marzelli fielded one question in particular with what seemed, to me at the time, to make sense.

I don't remember what mouthpiece posed it but the gist was something to effect of...the breed was becoming weaker and why couldn't the Jockey Club put some restrictions on breeders as to the age of stallions and the degree of inbreeding allowed?

Marzelli riposted with the reason that that would constitute some sort of free market infringement and undue constraint on a breeders right to choose. Since I have a healthy respect for free markets and capitalism, Marzelli had me at hello.

What occured to me this morning and rang as clear as a bell was the fact that Marzelli is, wait for it....FULL OF SHIT.

Section V. RULES FOR REGISTRATION, GENETIC TYPING AND PARENTAGE VERIFICATION.
Paragraph D. To be eligible for registration, a foal must be the result of a stallion’s Breeding with a broodmare (which is the physical mounting of a broodmare by a stallion with intromission of the penis and ejaculation of semen into the reproductive tract).

The Jockey Club already tells the breeders HOW to breed. No artificial insemination, no bloodlines that are not registered in the American Stud Book. Kerry, at Thoroughbredbrief, has a great piece on other legal aspects of The Jockey Club's decisions.

Scott Gillies had a piece a few days ago that touched on how breeders in Germany restrict the age at which horses can enter into stud and the distance at which they were proven. German horses are as solid as a BMW K75 engine. So the argument that the Jockey Club has the best interest of the breeder's rights at heart is rubbish.

Dante wrote that 'The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a time of moral crisis, remain neutral.' There is much that the Jockey Club could do and the fact that it chooses to wink at its cronies, profess outrage at the situation and plead moral futility is a cause for pathos.

The game needs help and in no small quantity. What it needs most are horses that have careers lasting longer than 'Cop Rock'. Horses we can get the new fan to fall in love with the same way Spectacular Bid captivated me, by staying in competition and showing up every time.

Red quest just won the first race at Ellis Park. While a $4000 claimer is not much to get excited about it is a glimmer of the hope we need.

Evening Attire is still knocking heads in stakes company. Dana at Greenbutgame has a nice tribute to Lava Man who we just lost to retirement after a sensational career. The Tin Man, Commentator, Perfect Drift and Yeats are/were all out there winging it against horses whose sires they raced against. (By the way, I recommend listening to the race call of the Goodwood Cup. I can't find the race yet and I don't know the caller's name but his call of Yeats in 'Splendid isolation' is poetic.)

It is past time for those that can effect change to do so. Should we tell people who and when to breed to? Of course not but the fact that what drives breeding now is the prospect of breeding is ludicrous. The Invisible hand of the market works. It works with indiscriminate precision and if ignored for too long it will cut off the atrophied parts of this business.

Mr. Marzelli's shibboleth as free market champion notwithstanding, those cuts could just cut us all off from this game.