Kentucky Derby 2015

[kdow]

[QUOTE=SportArab;8133183]
They visited with some of the horses in one of the recorded segments. In their defense, both rode as teens, which is a lot more of a connection to horses than most of the TV folks have.[/QUOTE]

Also, they both were competitive athletes at a pretty high level - if they weren’t just there mostly for the color commentary aspect, I imagine they might actually be able to do quite an interesting interview about the process of training for the Derby and those elements, as they have some familiarity with prepping for a special competition themselves. Of course, that’s not what they were hired to do, really, so they’re not going to do that, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they could.

(Obviously I don’t expect them to know a ton about horse training, but they know about being athletes, and that term certainly applies to race horses.)

[Zonderpaard]

Just watched the reply–nice race–lots going on. Gorgeous horses. Gotta hand it to the jocks to keep everybody upright in that bums rush to the first turn. Nerves of steel . . .

As for the TV coverage, I’ve long felt that Churchill has some responsibility for that–they encourage the circus atmosphere and of course that’s what gets the air time. They negotiate that TV contract and I’m sure they have some input into the content, including where/what is going to make the cut. It’s a partnership between Churchill and NBC. They naturally want mobs of people–many of them won’t care about what is a ‘lesser’ sport among the American populace, but Churchilll needs the seats filled and the ‘mass appeal’ so they roll out the non-horse stuff to make it a day at ‘disneyland’. This is what happens when big money corrupts sport–not that horse racing has ever been squeaky clean, but the corporate-ness has a scale effect. It might be worse with Churchill as they also have stockholders to please. (As an aside, I hate the way the first turn shot looks nowadays–can hardly find the spires behind all that crap they built. )

[FalseImpression]

The puppy was right!!!

[Anne_FS]

As for contacting NBC, I hope more people do. I looked at the NBC Sports FB page and there are some complaints about the ice skating duo there. And of course, those people are immediately blasted as homophobes. :rolleyes:

[Sunflower]

[QUOTE=FalseImpression;8133253]
The puppy was right!!![/QUOTE]:lol::lol::lol::lol: Yes, he was!!!

[Shammy_Davis]

My money was poorly invested. Should have followed the puppy results.

[BAC]

[QUOTE=Anne FS;8133260]
As for contacting NBC, I hope more people do. I looked at the NBC Sports FB page and there are some complaints about the ice skating duo there. And of course, those people are immediately blasted as homophobes. :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

Is FB the best way to complain, do you think? I think the skating duo should stick to their own sport.

[SportArab]

Didn’t bet Pharoh because of the odds, but expected him to win. Now the question is does he have what it takes to grab the whole enchilada?

[Elly_Mae_II]

I agree about the spires being lost amid the stands. I know it is all about money but seems like they could have had a better design. Tapered maybe.

[Sparrowette]

[QUOTE=Anne FS;8133260]
As for contacting NBC, I hope more people do. I looked at the NBC Sports FB page and there are some complaints about the ice skating duo there. And of course, those people are immediately blasted as homophobes. :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

Replace Weir with Carson Kressley. At least Kressley knows horses! He owns mainly ASBs, but doesn’t he have a TB or 2 in training?

[SportArab]

My recollection is that Weir is an accomplished equestrian who showed at Devon as a teen.

[vanessajean]

I am very happy for American Pharoah and even happier that everyone is safe. I thought it was a good race and was happy to see Danzig Moon get up for 5th after a rough trip.

[Madeline]

[QUOTE=SportArab;8133360]
My recollection is that Weir is an accomplished equestrian who showed at Devon as a teen.[/QUOTE]

This drove me to Google. He did compete on a pony ,but quit riding when he started skating at 11-12. Maybe he was one of the original hunter princesses?

[Shammy_Davis]

[QUOTE=SportArab;8133360]
My recollection is that Weir is an accomplished equestrian who showed at Devon as a teen.[/QUOTE]

http://www.goldenskate.com/2001/12/weir-jumps-from-show-ring-to-ice-rink/

Weir grew up on a horse farm. I just wish he wouldn’t wear pajamas to the Kentucky Derby. I’m also a big golf fan, I couldn’t imagine the heartburn I’d have if JW did the color commentary at Augusta.:lol:

[Sparrowette]

But is Weir an active horseman NOW? All I found online was this…

https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Johnny+Weir%22+and+Shadow+at+the+%2B%22Devon+Horse+Show%22&newwindow=1&biw=1280&bih=641&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=eChGVYriN5TpoATUhYDYCw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ#imgrc=AbfK1zi-0LsiZM%253A%3BfzISVpI1O-jFuM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.counter-canterculture.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2014%252F05%252FJohnny-Weir-Devon.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.counter-canterculture.com%252F2014%252F05%252F05%252Fequestrian-fashion-advice-now-comes-from-figure-skaters-obviously%252F%3B300%3B259

One photo from when he was what? 10? Seems as though he gave up riding in favor of skating.

One can easily find all sorts of recent photos of Kressley riding/showing ASBs and Friesians, and here’s info from his Wiki page:

“His family raised ponies and he competed in equine events from an early age, was a member of the U.S. World Cup Saddle Seat equitation team in 1999 and won a world championship in 2009.[SUP][1]” [/SUP]

Kressley is an accomplished, current horseman.

Weir appears to be just someone who rode when he was a kid. But the big thing is, he has made his public persona into that of a clown. The only things missing are the red nose and floppy shoes. The Derby has enough pageantry on its own. There’s no need to add clowns.

[Maythehorsebewithme]

I thought it was a good race and that American Pharoah ran well, although he did not dominate the way some people thought he would (including me).
To give him the benefit of the doubt, even though the time was slow, the track seemed deep, and the early fractions were slow. And of course he was running at relatively fresh horses, because of the slow early fractions.
However, I am not too sanguine about his triple crown chances. I thought he looked all out, and that he looked very tired afterwards. And he has only two weeks to recover for the Preakness.

[findeight]

OK, I finally dug up what happened to Upstart-nothing they can find. He was eased since nothing was happening and, according to trainer, no sense battling for third to last when the horse obviously was not even going to try.

Poked, prodded and scoped. Couldn’t find a thing wrong other then dirt in the trachea which, I take it, is not unusual? Leaving them to ponder the inscrutability of training horses. Taken with the DQ in Fl, this one doesn’t seem to have any luck.

Materiality came back with three shoes, might have pulled it leaving the gate.

Bafferts other three Derby winners went on to win at Pimilco. I don’t know if that’s a good sign or a bad one since they lost in New York. Firing Line might have something to say as well as Frosted if they get to Belmont.

Watching the replay a couple of times, wonder what the time would have been if AP hadnt been 5 wide and then some turning for home. Thought he hung up a little midway down the stretch, maybe distracted, maybe tiring, but once he got his neck in front he sure seemed to fire. We’ll see if this wore him out or was a learning experience on hooking up in the stretch.

[Sparrowette]

Don’t think there will be a TC this year either. Glad there was nothing wrong with Upstart.

[rcloisonne]

[QUOTE=SportArab;8133316]
Didn’t bet Pharoh because of the odds, but expected him to win. Now the question is does he have what it takes to grab the whole enchilada?[/QUOTE]
I read somewhere he’s a rig? Would that effect his value?

RC - just a peanut gallery member

[Drvmb1ggl3]

@vineyridge;8132936

No to be a downer, but what are the whip rules in US racing? Espinoza was belaboring American Pharoah pretty darned hard all along.

It would appear that what little whip rules there are in the US are just not enforced. The rules of the KYHRC says the jockey is supposed to “give the horse time to respond”. By my count, Espinosa hit the horse 28 times from the turn to the line… here’s the replay, see for yourself… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKGkgyFTK8I
That is an unmerciful whipping. There was not even a whisper from the stewards about the whipping the horse got.
He would be stood down (banned) for weeks, and would receive a sizeable fine if he did that in any other racing jurisdiction in the world.

Look at the replay again and contrast his ride with that of Gary Stevens on Firing Line. Stevens is a horseman.