Wouldn't it be nice to have a Derby winner where the general public is able to celebrate the victory without reservation? Sadly, even as I've looked for a silver lining in yesterday's win (yea for small breeders), the cloud overhanging this year's Derby remains. 1/x

Having previously worked for major stallion/racing operations and, as an attorney, having represented high profile owners and been very outspoken about eliminating all raceday meds from competition, I'm anything but naive. 2/x

I am thrilled for Gail Rice as a breeder. With Medina Spirit's win, it gives small breeders like myself a ray of hope in a racing world increasingly monopolized by the giant organizations, so reflective of the disparities we see in society as a whole. 3/x

And notwithstanding Baffert going down in history as the GOAT, and notwithstanding the fact he's personable and nothing but open and personable with the public -- all positive traits -- we cannot just sweep under the rug the drug violations. 4/x

This is irrespective of who the trainer is. For far too long, this shrinking industry has looked the other way in the face of drug violations, or in the case of my former employer, Sheikh Mo, human rights violations (now established in court). 5/x

And it breaks my heart. Put aside for a sec all of the god-awful sexual harassment & discrimination I personally experienced as a 20-something before I went to law school, this industry's refusal to look itself in the mirror and make major changes simply sucks the wind out. 6/x

I am hopeful that with HISA we will start seeing significant changes in the area of uniformity and enforcement. That the various HBPAs and backward-thinking states like OK would rather exist in the status quo, however, really ticks me off. It's so damn typical and cliche. 7/x

If this industry has any hope of surviving, the masses (both in & out of the sport) have to believe the playing field is fair. A good portion of us have grave concerns that it is not. Without a well-grounded sense of fairness, why spend another dime on the sport? 8/end

5-10-2021: This thread written the day after the Derby sadly, but accurately, reflects the sense of foreboding/apprehension that I felt about another Baffert win. That sense of apprehension is what I call the "Lance Armstrong Effect" where there's reason to question the wins.