Who ran into Hollywood Handsome?
Looked to me like Hollywood Handsome ran up on the heels of the horse in front along with getting bumped which got Giroux completely off balance. On replays you could see Giroux way to the left and then back to the right before getting himself centered in the saddle. Scary for sure as it could have gotten ugly.
IWC ran a good race and just got beaten by a better horse at the end.
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Belmont is not a deep track, and the surface is a composite, it’s not straight sand. Race tracks are engineered surfaces, it’s not like running on the beach. He’s not going to lose much fitness in 3 days, I’d be more concerned about him mentally. But physically there is no risk to shedrowing for 3 days before a race.
I was impressed how long he stayed on, in control and with the field! All without interfering* and causing a wreck!
*only saw it during race, no replays so maybe he did ‘interfere’ with other horses as he struggled to get out of the fray and under control.
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Luckily, he was at the very back of the pack when the incident happened and then managed to get to the outside when the horse took off. It didn’t look like he came in contact with any other horse after the initial heel clipping incident.
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Great job by Florent Geroux on Hollywood Handsome in sticking on and getting the horse out of the way (and eventually pulled up) after he lost his stirrups. For a jockey, no stirrups = practically no emergency brake, nothing to brace against.
Could have been very bad–a bad fall or a loose horse impeding the field.
I went back and watched replay to see what happened. yes, could have been bad. Once jockey got settled on horse’s back and took him outside, there are places where he’s riding w/ only one had on reins, fiddling w/ goggles or something. Looking for all the world like for a canter in the field, lol.
I did wonder if Geroux is singing in a much higher register today!!!
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Geroux did a great job easing him up and the outriders on the backstretch were finally able to help him out. Although Hollywood handsome has a bloody leg; looks very superficial. One reason why I am in support of wrapping all 4 legs! Mightve helped diminish the damage in this case
Great race and everyone came back to the barn in pretty good order.
Snaffle1987, a post-race article in the BH said that HH had a lac behind his left knee that required staples. Not thinking in this case that wrapping would have prevented that injury…
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if you see the photo its more like below the knee, slightly to the inside of the leg. Article says he clipped heels with the horse in front of him, but It kind of looks like he stepped on himself from the video.
