Bring on the testifying horses

The US House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, in preparation for holding hearings on the subject, has written major Thoroughbred racing figures to ask for, among other things, details on equine injuries; whether racing programs bolstered by gaming revenue use money for research to improve the breed; and whether industry officials support formation of a national governing body for horse racing.  The Subcommittee may convene hearings on the subject as early as June.  Steroids will be a big part of the hearings, as they were for hearings held by the same Subcommittee on baseball and other sports.  I think this is a very positive development, although the Subcommittee is not giving the industry much time to provide the information that they've requested.  In a way, even that might be a good thing because it will make it clear what a state of disarray the industry is in with regard to knowing what it's doing.  This Subcommittee also has jurisdiction over the Interstate Horseracing Act, which allows for simulcast betting, and it sounds like taking away simulcast betting is being held over the industry as a very sizeable stick to ensure cooperation.

I know that this may devolve into a states' rights issue, especially with a Kentucky Republican being the ranking member of that subcommittee, but I hope that this will be what finally modernizes the sport.  At least everybody seems to agree, at least publicly, that the industry needs external help to get its act together.  My rep., Edward Markey, is on the Subcommittee so I've already written him to express my support of increased scrutiny and reform of the racing industry.  I have no idea what his position on the matter might be, but hey, at least now he knows one voter's. 

sage cocktail sage

If you google sage cocktail, you get a bunch of results about people who think they are cocktail sages, sage colored cocktail napkins and sage colored cocktail dresses.  Plus a couple of recipes :-/

My not terribly interesting experiment tonight yielded the information that you need a lot of sage, and it requires more muddling than either mint or basil do.  I suppose the leaves are a bit tougher.  Making a sage-infused syrup might be a better way to go, although I don't know if I want to be locked into making sweet drinks--I really want to figure out something more hearty, more appetizer than dessert.  All I did tonight was muddle some sage with bourbon and top it off with some sparkling cider.  I like the sage in the bourbon but the cider is much too sweet.  But, it's a start, and I learned something about sage.