Of course the horses must go.....yet again.

There is a proposal going to the polls June 17th regarding the creation of a horse park and card room in Leesburg/Wildwood that is causing some debate. One of the many opinions I have read alleges that this activity will be "criminal activity and trash to the community". I have further read that Yonkers, NY is sited as an example. HUH?

As an owner of four showhorses and a native New Yorker I couldn't disagree more. I have been to horse parks, they are recreational facilities, not dens of sin. Crime? The only crime I have seen at horse shows is a few illlegal Mexicans grooms, parents verbally abusing their children and horse trainers ripping off their clients.

From what I gather, the issue is more with the card rooom and it effect it will have on the area. Using Yonkers as an example is way off base. The area where the track is located in Yonkers is not great, but it was that way for quite a while. I think that the sport was invented to revitalize the area...that's how long Yonkers has been not great. Given the fact that area was not desireable to start with from what I understand the addition of slot machines has actually helped the economy.

Let's talk about another area in New York that recently added a slot machine type of casino, Saratoga Springs. Saratoga Springs is unbelievable. A few years back it had some areas that were getting a little shabby, it depended on the track for tourism, but the track is only open one month in August. Since the addition of the Casino the place is jumping, home values have risen, the shabby area is no longer shabby.

What is it about horses that both attract and repels? While growing up on Long Island we had horses. When the builders moved in they used this as an illusion to sell homes. Every new subdivision was named to give vision to fields of horses, grazing with manes blowing in the breeze. As the builders took over, the horses were pushed out to make room for places like Hunters Glen Estates, every half acre plot of course being an estate. The horses were pushed to the more affluent areas and out of the reach of the middle class.

I wish the planners had the foresight to designate a horse park on Long Island. In order to competitively horse show we had to trailer off the Island to the Jersey Horse Park, to the Catskills and guess what....Saratoga.

Card Rooms? I've never been to one, I have been to many casinos. Let's look at Foxwoods in CT. I don't think it has harmed the surrounding area. How about Turning Stone in upstate New York, they don't serve alcohol and are still doing a thriving business and pumping up the local economy.

I would love to see a real casino built around here. I would love to see Donald Trump or some Indians build one. Hey Donald, if you're reading this, build me something to do.

What we have here is the NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) mentality, we have fear...some of it may be justified. You never know what will happen with a horse, they are unpredictable, they might draw flies, they will urinate, they might die. They also might teach your children responsibility, competitiveness and impart a sense of pride. They will teach your child to put the horse's comfort before their own, to love and ultimately they will break your heart.

Yes, the horses must go.