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| By | Tragic Two Days | |
| TPW 3/5/2009 8:47:46 PM | I realize that many of you will say that this is part of the game, but I'm extremely upset by the happenings of the last two days. It started yesterday with a 5 horse spill that claimed the life of Private Details in only her third lifetime start. It continued today as Sigh You broke down horribly (not that there is a humane breakdown) entering the stretch in Aqueduct's 8th race. What bothers me about this horse is his recent record. Obviously something went awry after his decent 4th place finish at long odds on September 21. He was put away from 10 weeks and it was evident that he still wasn't right as he finished 8th beaten 26 lengths. Another 33 days off and after leading through a very taxing half mile he backed up to finish last by 59 lengths. 62 more days off and he shows up today for a 25K tag. This is clearly a horse that was always put in spots where he couldn't compete and it's no wonder that Pat Kelly is 1-23 this year and a perennial loser. Then later at Gulfstream in their 7th race, Alota Uno also broke down midway on the turn. And another butcher of a trainer (Henry Collazo). This horse was on the board in 5 of her first 6 races, with the only off the board finish on the turf. She was off 54 days going into her last race and uncharacteristically uncompetitive the entire race and was eventually eased by Kent Desormeaux. 22 days later she shows up today and drops from 30K to 20K. Look I know that horses get eased and drop and will win periodically, but I think there should be some sort of review board that when these clown trainers enter these horses only with the hope of getting them around the track and hopefully having them claimed, that there should be some sort of penalty for this type of form and the resulting breakdown. I've been around horse racing for over 30 years and I've seen my share of break downs and I feel sick to my stomach everytime I see it happen.
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| dvlander 3/6/2009 11:08:59 AM | TPW: Agree wholeheartedly - these breakdowns are extremely difficult to stomach. In many ways, I have difficulty reconciling the fact that I am participating in any part of an event that lead to this kind of carnage. I don't have any track insider knowledge but I have a hunch that you are correct that the selfish/careless trainers are to blame more often than not. Everyone seems to look at the track surface as the problem but trainers pushing clearly unsound horses out to compete is certainly a major part of this issue. Where are the track veterinarians in all of this? Are they asleep at the wheel or they being bought off? Dale
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| pdavid6 3/6/2009 11:20:49 AM | I also agree, but I put some of the blame at the feet of the racing secretary, who is responsible for putting together the conditions of the race and if they can't fill a field in a particular race, then you see these horses put in over their head or when they are not fit to perform as a favor to the racing secretary, that hopefully will be returned at a later time, not to mention the secretary should be the first line of defense when they begin to take entries, they should raise a red flag in certain situations. They remind me sometimes of the boxing commissioners that have all but ruined the sport of boxing, along with the promoters.
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| TPW 3/6/2009 6:57:20 PM | As an aside, I live in Toronto and there was a harness racing accident on Monday night here at Woodbine. The horse sitting 3rd "crossfired" back leg hit front leg and went down. All 7 horses behind him went down as well. Luckily none of the horses were seriously injured although a couple of drivers sustained broken bones. Sure enough the race accident was shown on the news the following night. I have people that have never even seen a horse race asking me about this incident. Horse racing (harness and thoroughbred) can't seem to get out of its own way in terms of promoting the good about the sport. Terry
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| jeff 3/8/2009 4:54:38 PM | Was just going over the chart for the Big Cap this morning and noticed that Blue Exit didn't finish. A quick phone call brought news I didn't want to hear. He had to be put down after breaking a cannon bone. Horses give their all every day. And they do it for one reason only: They love to run. Sometimes it doesn't turn out well. We all know that's the way things are. This one hits kind of close to home because fellow HANA board member Theresia Muller sent me an email several weeks back telling me that the connections of Blue Exit had told her he was doing extremely well and was really starting to come around. A few days later he finished 2nd at odds of 18-1 in the Grade 2 Strub. Earlier this week, she sent me another email along with a link to some photos a friend of hers had taken of Blue Exit getting ready for the Big Cap. http://www.finalturngallery.com/g2/main.php/v/Greyhorse-s-Race-Photos/SantaAnita/BlueExit/ Rest in peace big guy. You gave your all doing what you love and you left it on the track. -jp .
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