I have to laugh at the Today show interview. Hoda called Richie ‘feisty’, that was a huge understatement. I love how the trainer said exactly what Richie did to the outrider, and the pony. I hope the outrider, and his pony are doing well. That really escalated when Richie was on the longer lead, he drew back and went for the outrider and pony again.
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His first 3 years he stood in the US.
I think Calumet Farm is the “prolific breeder” that “passed off” RS. ( “Who is” should have been “whose”, then it makes sense.)
@JanM thank you for mentioning the interview, I wouldn’t have seen it otherwise.
I had actually wondered about that last night- had this colt ever had a pick-up rider after a race? In smaller races, mid week stuff- does an outrider pick up the winner?
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From someone in Racing:
It’s called a Bite Guard, the outrider horse isn’t actually a pony horse, the outrider’s normal job is directing the post parade, keeping things going on time and catching loose horses.
So 99% of the time a bite guard isn’t something they need and it’s just another piece of equipment to get tangled up in case they have to catch a loose horse.
Most of the time when the riders pull up, they head back by themselves for the horse to be unsaddled, the outrider doesn’t accompany them unless the rider is having an issue and can ask the outrider for help.
He’s only doing it this time because it’s the Derby and they’re usually doing a post race interview during the walk back and there is a huge throng of people on the track and a big crowd so the outrider is there to help.
And you would expect a Derby jockey to be able to control his own horse. But some riders just stop riding when they get attached to a pony for some reason (And I say this as somebody who used to pony). So most of the time a bite guard on an outrider horse just isn’t needed and therefore rarely used.
This is how an actual pony horse should be outfitted. The front pad is a bite guard, the rear is called a hip pad. Because most racehorses are a little taller than the pony and they’re not quite side by side so the riders short stirrups and toes will jab the pony in the flank and hip and can also cause injury or a wreck when the pony has had enough of that. I also used bell boots as they often get stepped on and sometimes even put a bell boot on the right hind foot for protection. Some pony people wear shin or knee pads as they get beat up a lot as well.
It’s a TOUGH job for both horse and rider and a good pony horse is hard to find and worth it’s weight in gold. You’re trying to handle a extremely fit, fired up young racehorse that’s pumping full of adrenaline and wants to do nothing more than run away/stomp you, WHILE you’re also riding and having to control another horse that has a fire breathing dragon next to it and wants nothing more than to be away from that horse. Good luck!
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This is a video of a TV but it is the full coverage. turn the audio off, LOL
The horse was fine getting picked up, (FF to 3:22) NBD, going along fine for about 30 seconds then he just lost his cool and got studdy at 3:51 - he’s doing that jiggy crap and getting bitey and lunges at the bay horse/outrider and it’s pissy stud colt from there on out.
Hats off to the outrider for handling it. I am late to the race this year, I was consumed by Badminton. I’m sure y’all have hashed it to a hundred pieces, I just hadn’t found a video that still had all the post race vs chopped up for shock effect.
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And Ty Murray the RCA rodeo cowboy has weighed in about how the outrider was NOT a horseman and Tom Dorrance would be saddened. Give me a break. Glass houses and all and I am not anti rodeo. He is getting some flack though from both the rodeo and racetrack crowd.
I know he “rode” with one rein but what do all of these people think would have happened if Rich Strike bit that offside rein in half? Come on that would have been a real problem.
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I knew the “happy” poster would be back to come after me…I wouldn’t call it resentment; that’s taking it a bit far. Just merely pointing out that the backbone of the industry is not the uber-wealthy but the NBC broadcast fails to understand that every year. The real unsung hero’s isn’t Zedan, Bob Baffet, Chad Brown, Bobby Flay, the Coolmore associates. No, it’s people like Sonny, and Eric Reed, and Calvin Borrel, and the grooms and the unnamed exercise riders and the blue collar owners. The majority of racing in this country is mid-grade or lower horses backed by the blue collar folks trying to live their dream; not the uber Rich. But it makes a better story to make it about the celebrities, the uber wealthy, the million dollar two year olds to keep that old world “aura” about it like the times of the Vanderbilts and otherwise. Much like horse showing… you have the “Vanderbilts” and the Gates but the majority of the industry is composed of the regular-joes just having the time of their life. Stories like Mine that Bird and Rich Strike just drive the point home. It can be done. It will be done. Rich strike should not have been completely ignored from the time he gained entry to post time. But he was and he wasn’t given an ounce of coverage. they all wrote him and his connections off as has-beens.
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I’m guessing his barn name probably changed over the weekend from Richie to Richie Rich. Lol.
Also, it occurred to me today that his only two wins so far have both been at Churchill Downs, correct?
He must really like that place!
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No - the better story is - and always has been - the tale like the Sackatoga guys behind Funny Cide… or Mine That Bird and Chip Woolley hauling him to Churchill Downs on his own… or Rich Strike. That much has always been true and the media and even casual fans love this angle and the Disney-esque stories about the “little guys”.
Rich Strike only got into the field on Friday morning at the very last minute possible. Not even enough time to do any quick human interest stories on the longest shot on the board. Did you immediately consider him the winner based on past performances… or breeding… or connections?? Did you put him over horses like Epicenter or Messier? Only those close to him knew how much he was improving… and the suicidal fractions up front set everything up for a spectacular come from behind run like this - combined with an amazing ride.
Hopefully this tale will continue and capture new fans along the way…
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I think you read my post wrong. his prolific breeder (Calumet) put him up for Claim last September and that his how his current connections came to own him.
it is the better story when it comes to fruition. But was the media or anyone looking at Funny Cide or Mine that Bird prior to their wins? Was anyone looking at California Chrome before his wins? Hell no. They wouldn’t even give them air time. Hell, the track announcer couldnt even call Mine That Bird’s name five strides after he left the competition in the dust . The same almost happened on Saturday.
On Derby day every one was on this thread complaining about the immense media focus on the the celebrities and the wealth instead of what was at hand. that sums it up for me.
I didnt like Epicenter or Messier; so yes, if I was a betting person, I would have bet Rich Strike before either horse.
He’s become quite a good horseman in recent years.
He needs to sit down and hush on this point, though. Perhaps if he sat back and watched it again he’d have a different opinion. Maybe not, he’s entitled to be wrong 
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Funny Cide?? Where were you then? Yes, the joyous Sackatoga connections were a highlight of a lot of media coverage… including the school bus they came to the track in… you have really forgotten all that? And discussions about trainer Barclay Tagg being one of the hard-knocking “little guys”?
Mine That Bird had been Canadian Champion 2 year old male before he was sold… and there was a lot of discussion about that 1200 mile trailer ride from New Mexico and “cowboy” Chip Woolley. Calvin Borel added to that. That “track announcer” (Tom Durkin) did not pick him up as he snuck through on the rail… as I noted upthread with the videos as examples, that also happened with Rich Strike. Watching Mine That Bird’s Derby - I was all… “Who IS that coming up on the rail so fast??!!! Black silks!! Who IS that??” Durkin did not ID him until he was well in front…
California Chrome was not ignored and dismissed as you insist - for heaven’s sake, he came to the Derby after winning the Santa Anita Derby and was the favorite. Much was made of the Coburns and Martins being some of the “little guys” and their Dumb Ass Partners racing stable… he - and his owners - got far more attention than anyone else in the race. Plus Steve Coburn was always willing to get on camera…
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I know he is no longer rough stock and he has pensioned a ton of retired stock.
I want to know how all of these naysayers would deal with a horse that is savagely biting in an active multiple horse and rider dangerous situation. Not one that is that is biting in the cross ties or in a stall.
The only answers I have seen is just let him go or the jock should have used outside rein.
Neither were a good option either.
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WOW 
You really don’t have the slightest clue.
Every comment you make shows your lack of intelligence on this entire subject.
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Your memory is as poor as your interpretation of the situation.
Funny Cide and California Chrome had significant press coverage because they had the racing form to suggest they were serious contenders.
Rich Strike and Mine That Bird had a form that had them eligible for NW x 2 conditions (not an exaggeration for Rich Strike, a bit of one for MTB), which is why they are longshots.
Stop looking for injustice that isn’t there.
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Mine That Bird was the Canadian Champion Two Year Old Colt. I think he had more than one good race…
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Exactly right - as I noted in my previous post, Funny Cide and California Chrome received lots of coverage, as did their connections (not being racing elite). Mine That Bird had a human interest angle due to Woolley. Rich Strike did even have enough time as part of the field to get more than a passing mention.
I doubt that snaffle1987 had him picked out of the field as a prime contender…
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One who fell significantly off form when tried on the dirt against the top 2 year olds in North America… and never regained his form until he miraculously ran the race of his life in the derby.
A cautionary tale of why we shouldn’t discredit a horse’s past form! However, Mine That Bird would have not even qualified for the Derby with today’s points system. That’s back when lifetime graded earnings got you into the gate. Today, no 2 year old races in Canada earn you points, only his 4th place in the Sunland Derby would have been towards qualification.
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