WE ASKED YOU: SHOULD CANADIAN EQUESTRIAN ERIC LAMAZE BE ALLOWED TO COMPETE
FOR CANADA AFTER TWICE BEING CITED FOR COCAINE USE?

I compete against Eric on a regular basis and will be competing against him
this weekend at Spruce Meadows.

I find him to be a pleasant fellow who is extremely good to his horses.

However, Eric should have been banned for four years.

He took cocaine while under an appeal on another ban. That appeal process
still allowed him to be on the team.

Cocaine may not be performance-enhancing. But, it is mind-altering -- thus
causing you to take chances you might not normally take, making an injury
to your horse, yourself and/or others a very real possibility.

Eric got back on through a loophole and he knows it.

I agree with the owners of Spruce Meadows and have advised them of my support.

I will be competing against Eric this weekend but I won't be happy about it.

Kim Hogg
White Rock

Let Him Ride

Ontario equestrian Eric Lamaze has worked hard to be where he is, and has
the courage to come back against a lot of criticism for his cocaine addiction.

He has two strikes against him, and in any ballgame you are allowed three
strikes.

It is plain horse-sense that he should be able to have another try.

If his horse is not complaining, why should we?

Fred Perry
Surrey

What Will Rest Of World Think?

Eric Lamaze should not be riding for Canada. It is a very, very bad showing
- -- especially considering what the rest of the world will think of us.

J. Walker
Vancouver