I really don’t know a lot about this guy other than a few articles I’ve read. I know he and Mark Shuman used to do myectomy’s on every horse they claimed. He’s been claiming several a day at Philly Park and other circuits - he has to have 150 head right now.
I’m wondering what everyone’s opinion of him is? Is he a good person and anti-slaughter? How do you get rid of what must be a dozen horses every week that are either done or need time (when they don’t get claimed off the drop).
Oh, dont get me started… cant post now but I’ll be back…
I will say that he never really went anywhere… different trainer, but still Gill has been claiming horses for quite some time now in Md…
Acertainsmile is right. He really never got out. I think Alameda was involved in trying to sell off some of the horses. What was that, 2004 maybe? I was in Toronto… maybe 2003??
Could someone explain why he does the myectomies?
I was told he had it done on over 20 horses in one day that were racing at Suffolk Downs last season and 6 died as a result. They quietly asked him to leave mid-season for other reasons.
I THINK that he once owned my now adopted horse. Once I found his name on my horse’s records I looked him up. INTERESTING STORIES…
I thought he got out of the game for a year or two when Delaware blackballed him from running there. I knew he was still in the game, but he’s claiming now at the most torrid pace I’ve ever seen anyone claim (even when he was rolling with Shuman and Jerry Robb).
I don’t know what kind of deal he works out with his trainers, but without naming names, I’ve heard that several of his current and former trainers owe a lot of people money.
So, he’s still doing the myectomies?
[QUOTE=Eventer13;3700578]
Could someone explain why he does the myectomies?[/QUOTE]
He does cut every horse in the barns throat… he does it because he thinks it helps and gives him an edge…
That being said, what I do know is that G Vasquez’s father who was ruled off way back when (basically took the rap for Gill when he was an owner/trainer (yes, Gill did have his trainers license at one time)… is now reinstated and claiming horses for Gill…
As far as a good guy, I’ve only met him once, and he was cordial… as far as his “practices”… I can only comment on what I’ve seen personally… we had an owner claim a horse from him against our advice… horse had much going on in his ankle, and was pulled up promptly after the start of the race… NO way was the damage done after two or three strides… Gill was looking to lose a very bad horse, and he found a sucker… (we operated on the horse and retired him)…
And to those who might think it’s sour grapes on my part, it’s not… I had personally seen some of the very sore horses train, and was aware of what was going on in his barns… private vets, unconventional use of drugs for every horse, etc…My husband was offered a training job, and spent a day at the farm (watched a bunch of horses that day get their throats done) and spent a few weeks at CT with his outgoing trainer there… my husband backed away quickly from that operation.
There was a rumor that a van came twice a month and picked up horses headed to the killers… this came from a van driver that worked for Gill… I didnt witness it, just commenting on what I was personally told.
I know that there is at least one person on this board that worked for him as a groom that will dispute these things (this stuff has already been posted before)…the only thing I can say is that I’ve been around along time, and know what is BS and what is not.
I would be really interested to hear more about those myectomies. Can someone enlighten me a bit more???
[QUOTE=2boys;3701018]
I would be really interested to hear more about those myectomies. Can someone enlighten me a bit more???[/QUOTE]
I beleive he does the Llewellyn, what info are you looking for?
Well, I could be (and probably am) reading into this but… My horse who he originally owned shows some clear signs of funky sounds in his airawy at times. I am just curious I guess.
With that particular surgery it is possible for the vet to trim to much of the palate…water and food can get in the wrong tube, and come out their nose (I’ve seen it happen once)… if he spent anytime in Gills barn, then you would probably be safe to assume he has had some sort of throat surgery… you can always have your vet scope him to see what is going on…
How soon after Gill gets the horse does he have the myectomy done?
I have a now 9 yr old that I bought from him dirt cheap as a 2 yr old when the horse started to break down so Gill dumped him. I haven’t noticed anything funky but this thread does make me curious…
This colt came through one of the 2 yr old in training sales to Gill…
Thanks!
sigh
Suffolk was blissfully free of Michael Gill for the past couple years, but this past season he came back like a cancer and finished up at the top of the owner standings.
His string dwindled substantially (but not completely) towards the end of the summer and I’m fairly certain that had a lot more to do with this rather than having been asked to leave.
Well Casual Conflict had - just after he was euthanized - his leg sawed off under Gill orders. You cannot for the love of jesus not tell me that wasn’t to cover something up.
Claiming races and horses in those ranks are a big chunk of the sport. Plenty of good folks are successful at claiming and make money without squeezing blood from a stone.
I don’t care for Gill and think he adds nothing to the sport in reputation or economics. As I recall reading in the last couple of months his mortgage firm in New Hampshire was under investigation. I wouldn’t doubt he runs his business like he does his racing.
It was because of the mortgage scandal that Gill was quietly asked to leave Suffolk Downs. Surprisingly, Suffolk’s VP of Racing was entering Gill’s horses in races for him until Gill was asked to leave. The sawing off of the leg story is true…done by a vet.
Gill was one of the many people who claimed Sylvester from me over his career. Sylvester was 9 years old when he took him. He has made over $250k at the time, and had several races where he was within a tick or two of the track record. When I claimed him back the first time he ran him there was the scabbed up hole in his neck. If ever a horse had proven he could breathe…
[QUOTE=Acertainsmile;3701058]
With that particular surgery it is possible for the vet to trim to much of the palate…water and food can get in the wrong tube, and come out their nose (I’ve seen it happen once)… if he spent anytime in Gills barn, then you would probably be safe to assume he has had some sort of throat surgery… you can always have your vet scope him to see what is going on…[/QUOTE]
hmmmm I ended up having to soak his food because I was so afraid he would choke. He coughs a lot when eating and almost roars (kind of sounds like a pig grunting at times) when eating things from the ground. Not sure what the scope would do, but I am sort of bothered by the fact that this was man-made. Starting to feel a bit lucky for my boy that he ended up where he did.
The man has no place in racing. Period. End of story.
Acertainsmile I would not think “sour grapes” when I hear the story or hear it from you!
Unfortunately for the sport and people who play the claiming game it’s reality.
Happens all of the time. You will usually find the people who are winning at a percentage of 30 or more. The people who can claim for $25,000 and run back for $12,500. They either do no harm and steal one or people get tired of the “stealing” and drop on one. And get burned.
Tough game when you have to run against that tactic. As well as questionable medical treatment.
Here is likely the same as everywhere. There is a go to vet that does a lion’s share of the high percentage trainer’s work. Everyone knows who it is, but not everyone is willing to be of “questionable” reputation.
It’s what makes our industry look bad. It’s a shame.
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