Guilty or not, owner Mike Gill’s situation reflects poorly on racing industry.

Racing’s worst public relations disaster? When criminal tamperings involving last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Ultra Pick 6 came to light, it was supposed to be the most harmful thing that had ever happened to racing as far as public image is concerned.

But with time, and the concerted efforts of the NTRA and major tracks, that black mark is beginning to fade. Now we have a new PR nightmare—one that shows no signs of ending anytime soon and could actually affect the general perception of racing even more adversely in the long term.

People who have never seen a pick six ticket, or the inside of a race track for that matter, have read or seen or heard about a weird incident involving a “horse who had his leg cut off.”

News has spread far and wide about one of the industry’s top owners who is barred from competition at one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s major tracks—and now is talking about selling off his 300-plus horses and getting out of the business.

People everywhere are struggling to understand why, with it being so difficult to find individuals who are willing or able to invest in race horses, the environment has turned so hostile toward someone who is obviously deeply committed to the business.

The man at the center of the storm is Mike Gill, a 47-year-old New Hampshire resident who has spent a fortune acquiring horses at all levels, but mostly lots and lots of claimers, over the past two years.

Success has come Gill’s way: He is currently the leading owner in the country with 153 wins from 704 starts and earnings of $2,993,184 (through May 11). But rumor and innuendo outnumber wins when Gill’s horses step out on the track.

Is Gill doing something wrong? If so, it’s never been proven, or even brought out into the open. Gill’s single official reprimand in the past few years is the well-publicized case in which two of his trainers, John J. Robb and Mark Shuman, were penalized by the Maryland Racing Commission last fall for a medication violation (Guanabenz).

The infamous incident in which Gill had his veterinarian remove a leg from one of his horses who broke down and was euthanized at Gulfstream Park last winter is right up there at the top of the list among odd things that have happened at a race track. But a lengthy investigation exonerated both Gill and Shuman of any wrongdoing.

Delaware Park, where Gill was the leading owner in 2002, has refused to allot him stalls or allow his horses to compete this year. Monmouth Park has refused him stalls. Why, exactly, track management won’t say.

Race tracks being private property, track management can exclude an owner, or trainer, without giving a reason. That right has been well-established by the courts, and is not likely to be affected by Gill’s latest lawsuit (filed in a Delaware federal court on May 1).

Still, by refusing to discuss Gill’s alleged wrongdoings the tracks are making the situation worse than it already is. While their goal may be to protect the interests of racing, the perception is of convicting someone (a major player, at that) without a trial.

The public is confused, and rightly so. Why not let Gill state his case, and his accusers state theirs? Address the situation openly, as happened with the pick six scandal, and then let it become history—so that everyone can get back to the business of racing.