Backstretch Dodges Bullet During Immigrant Boycott

I spoke with a couple of trainers about Monday's boycott, and each said they did not notice major absenteeism. The small number of mostly young backstretch workers that were absent could have as easily been missing due to "bottle fever," one trainer noted. Another trainer said one of his exercise riders was missing, but that the rider in question had a less than stellar attendance record to begin with.

MSNBC reports similar results at Churchill and the nation's tracks in general. Last month the Blood-Horse noted that the industry and the American Horse Council, of which I am a member, were voicing their concerns on capital hill given the reliance on immigrants on the backstretch.