I have a feeling, based on his pedigree, that he won’t be getting too many mares. Perhaps if he wins the Triple Crown, but even then, there are much better bred horses for mare owners to choose from. Not to take away from his race, it was stunning.
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Great race. I told my SO I felt bad for the outrider, the corrections that need to be made in that circumstance will look terrible on TV, so I thought the outrider did the best they could without making it over the top ugly. Pony horse was a saint, I hope they use a guard for whoever ponies Rich Strike in the future.
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Do outriders that are to pony after the race usually use the leather guards?
Good question. I bet that if Rich is in the other two Triple Crown races, that the pony horses and outriders will have them, or he’ll only be handled by two outriders, so he’s out of striking distance.
I watched the clip of the after race attack, and it’s even worse when I watched it a couple more times, and knowing what’s going to happen makes it even worse. I agree that after seeing it again, the outrider was mostly slapping the horse away, and Rich kept coming back without it phasing him. I think if the the outrider actually punched him, it would have made much more of an impression. I hope the outrider’s pony is OK, that was a pretty long attack, and he couldn’t escape.
I wonder if the outrider’s pony will be permanently traumatized by this?
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That was some race, but I’m not a fan of his rank behavior afterward. One thing I always loved about American Pharoah was his sweet disposition. He was good at his job and a good boy too. It made it even more special to pull for him and see him be successful.
Rich Strike doesn’t evoke the same admiration. He ran a heck of a race though. Can’t take that away from him.
In other news…I love that big black and white appy pony horse so much.
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We were at Keenland to watch American Pharoh win the Breeders Cup. He walked out of the tunnel onto the track with truly the Look of Eagles- calm & cool. Amazing colt!
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Hail to Reason was known for being feisty and difficult, but he’s pretty far back in Rich Strike’s pedigree (through Roberto. I had a Roberto grandson who was strong and opinionated).
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I was just in KY for the LRK3DE and was able to see America Pharoah out at Coolmore. He’s one calm horse, who definitely understands that part of his job is to pose for the tourists.
I’m not sure I want to be that close to Rich Strike…
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I think that the outriders wouldn’t have the guards on usually. They might hamper a fast run, and maneuvering by the outrider’s horse if needed?
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I could not watch the race and am catching up here. After reading all the comments on biting the pony horse, to me, the pony horse outrider is more trying to slap the horse away than punching his head.
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I think a suit of armor might do the job. I wonder if Rich bites humans, or just horses?
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He’s on both top and bottom though, and Dam side twice. You run the risk of something ugly popping up when you breed so close.
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Yeah but the first half was 45 and 1/5!!!
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Aw, look at him! 
I want to get out there to see him one day.
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He had a go at the outrider, not just the horse!
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Rich Strike’s jockey could have shortened that outside rein to help the outrider a bit. HIgh Drama all around.
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@Laurierace. I said as much to my husband. But can you imagine the meltdown the non horsey viewing audience would have had if the horse had actually gotten what he should have!
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I was thinking that, and then I thought that perhaps the jockey knew his horse was about to blow and did what he could at the time.
Second guessing a situation like that (Jockey just won the Derby, horse savages outrider and his horse), I think they probably did their best.
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Why did the jockey not try to keep him from biting the pony? After the first couple of nips.I was yelling at the tv LOL. “Turn his head!!!” My husband was not amused.
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Sometimes grabbing them will make them try harder. It was an odd situation that I think was unforeseen. I’m sure everyone did their best at the time.
If the jockey had turned the horse’s head out, they would have no control over him at all and his hindquarters would have been against the outrider.
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