We were there Saturday night - sitting in the dining room overlooking the finish line. The reaction from the crowd was beyond typical. Everywhere we went that night, people were talking about Michael Gill. I looked for track management myself, to demand answers as to when they would finally take a stand, and they were nowhere to be found. My hope is that there is now finally enough momentum building to get this guy out of racing altogether. I could not have been more impressed and proud of the jockeyās that took a stand Saturday night as well as the trainer that went into the jockey room and urged them to do so. That trainer did so at his own risk. There are alot of good trainers at PENN - but they cannot take a stand by themselves - not every trainer who ships in or needs money will stand fast with them. Until PENN management does the right thing, unfortunately the burden to take a stand will fall on the jockeys.
It was also my understanding that autopsies were no longer being done due to a shortage of funds in the racing commission. Now they say they are being done?
PENN needs to stop making excuses. Gillās break down rate is too high. His horses improve in condition too fast - he does not have miracle trainers or state of the art conditioning equipment. Heās taking older, class horses that know how to win, making sure they feel no pain, and sending them out to win or die trying. When a horse typically ābreaks downā during a race, the jockey will often feel it seconds before it happens. The horse itself will want to slow down or stop. Gillās horses never feel it coming, and as a result, neither does the jockey. They literally run their hearts out right up until a leg breaks ā this is far from normal behavior. Every horseman, track employee, and veternarian that KNOWS better should be doing their part to get this man out of racing.
Iād also like to know how Gil still has his ownerās license? How does he pass the background check?
I want to thank the jockeys again. Watching that horse break down was horrible. Worse yet was the fact that knowing Gillās reputation, as I sat down to watch that race, I had a feeling that I knew what the horseās fate might be. I hated being right and helpless all at the same time. That was a class horse with a very successful record. He had done his job and deserved to be retired, not in the hands of someone like Gill. As his front leg broke beneath him, he tumbled down hard. He laid there looking dead already for at least 10 minutes. But that horse had the heart that had made him a winner many times over. He was then determined to get up using only 3 legs and get into the trailer under his own power. It was a very moving scene for everyone to watch. While most in the crowd hoped for a happy ending, the horseman in the audience knew that the way that leg was hanging, his time with us had come to a very sad end.
Michael Gill and his trainers should be banned.
