In regards to the latest fatality at Saratoga Race Course, Pete's Parley on Aug. 20, the Times Union's coverage, centering on jockey Junior Alvarado's fall and precautionary trip to Saratoga Hospital, perfectly illustrates the mind-set of the racing industry and the media that covers it: An intelligent, sensitive being dies while entertaining gamblers and the newspaper's lead is a dinged up jockey.
The day's program continued as Pete's Parley was quickly forgotten, collateral damage in the not-so-heroic pursuit of handle cash. I cannot help but wonder if any of those in attendance understand their complicity.
A secondary tragedy here is that the Times Union continues to report these stories in the sports section, apparently oblivious (or indifferent) to the utter absurdity of statements like this: "It was the third racing fatality of the Saratoga meet."
Conditioned early on to view the track as a playing field and the horses athletes, those in and around horse racing have long since abandoned any objectivity on their precious game. Thus they fail to see (or choose to ignore) the incongruity of fatalities and sporting events.
But, I suppose, there was a time, say 2,000 years ago on the Italian peninsula, when they seemed a natural pairing.
PATRICK J. BATTUELLO
Legislative Committee, New York State
Humane Association
Loudonville