Longtime state Rep. Bob Heleringer does an adequate job of delineating some of the problems facing Kentucky's horse racing industry, but he flounders at the finish line.

Heleringer claims Kentucky's racetracks suffer because of an "abject failure of political leadership," and that the answer is in electing a "dynamic, passionate" governor in 2015 "who will not tolerate the current anemic, deteriorating status quo, but will elevate racing to an even higher level of national and, yes, international prominence.

I do agree that we need a "dynamic, passionate" leader -- dynamic about reforming a corrupt, bloated government and passionate about creating the kind of environment that promotes "free markets for free people" policies.

Such an approach could even revive our horse-racing industry in a way that puts it on solid footing for the future.