If Medina Spirit had tested positive post-anyotherracethanDerby, the horse would have been (rightly) DQd but it’s unlikely Churchill would have dropped the ban hammer on Baffert like they did.
But it simply won’t do to have their cash cow besmirched.
IIRC, there were a significant number of trainers using it indiscriminitely at the time.
Thank you for clarifying its a well known race strategy in any trainers barn and has been forever.
Wow! That video of Quality Road was a bit upsetting. I wonder if someone beat him with a whip either loading in a trailer or going into the gate. And the blindfold seemed like a bad idea. That wasn’t safe for anyone. What would happen if he had broken loose and ran down the track with a blindfold on? Very bad idea.
Well, I was Team Zenyatta all the way. 
Always was! I had not had a horse affect me that way in a very long time - or since. I still blame Mike Smith for costing her that final race where Blame barely held her off. I do not think he realized there were two groups of horses running ahead of him - or at least, that the first group was that much farther ahead. When he finally asked, it was a Herculean task to overtake all those horses… and she almost did it.
I was at Emerald Downs one Saturday when Zenyatta was running a big race elsewhere… and the announcer stated that everything would stop when Z’s race went to the gate and it would be shown on the big screen on the infield as well as every TV. So as the horses for the next ED race warmed up, we were all transported to Santa Anita (I think). I was watching on the main floor of the grandstand with many old railbirds and bettors around me. The whole place went quiet as they loaded… and was then transfixed as Z lagged behind and then came with her flashy turn of foot and roared by the leaders at the wire. Lots of wild cheering… TVs returned to other races and the ED feed. One old guy next to me clutching his mangled copy of the DRF had tears in his eyes. He said softly… "isn’t she something… "
Yes… yes, she was. And since QR’s meltdown came up - I rewatched that race a few times… just to hear Trevor Denman say THIS - IS - UN - BE - LIEV - A - BLE!!
Maybe that is what racing needs - another Zenyatta.
I loved Zenyatta. There have been better horses (though she was great), but yes, that one got to me.
I, too, love Trevor’s call, including “if she wins this, she’ll be a super horse,” as she was well back at the top of the stretch.
Another neat call was from her race at Oaklawn. “Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Zenyatta!”
I’d rather meet her than 99% of the stallions around on farm tours today (and yes, I know she’s not a feature on a farm tour, though I have entered the meet Zenyatta raffle a few times).
Why is it immediately assumed that a horse has been “beaten”? The blindfold works 99% of the time as the announcers explained on that video - I have seen it used many times. The gate crew guy prevented that very scenario from happening.
There’s no doubt Zenyatta was amazing. But I don’t think she was ever going to get around Blame. It’s like the Preakness with Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra. People said if only he had started his run earlier, or if there had been a few more feet of track MTB would have gotten past her. No, he wasn’t going by that day.
Why do some have to construct a backstory to explain “bad” behavior when they have no idea or knowledge of the horse or it’s life experience? Or understand removing sight from over stimulated, over reacting, panicked horses reduces the overstimulation? Think removing one from wrecked trailer or getting them OUT of a burning barn.
The blindfold is a long respected and humane tool to reduce overstimulation in excited horses. Something everyone who handles horses should know how and when to use. Needing to use it does NOT mean a history of abuse. Just mean an overstimulated horse needs help sorting out the overload.
I wish I had a dollar for every horse I ever dealt with whose owner tried to excuse bad behavior by telling me it was because the horse had been “abused”.
You and me both - I would own a farm instead of work on one!
Dogs too.
Except that loading a reluctant horse into a trailer (or the gate) can be one of the most frustrating things a person can do with a horse that is being stubborn or refusing to cooperate.
My friend had a mare who was so terrified of the trailer she would kick out if you even tied her to the trailer. She never refused loading, but would spin in the trailer and kick repeatedly and arrive soaked with sweat. Her behavior is very similar to what that horse was doing. My friend worked with that mare to manage her fear but it took a long time to make progress.
There are certain situations that invite abuse. Now maybe he was overstimulated and having a tantrum or maybe not.
What was she wearing? 
Amen.
Sometimes horses Just. Don’t. Wanna. And they’re big enough that, if that’s the case, nothing we do is going to change their minds.
I too loved Zenyatta but to me Flightline was Zenyatta times ten and most people have never even heard of him so I don’t see a mega star as being the answer
Ehhh…comparing friends mare’s issues inside the trailer to gate issues of a young stallion trained to explode out of the gate in front of a huge crowd amidst other young, excited stallions? Apples to oranges, not a fair comparison.
They do plenty of gate schooling but can’t recreate the actual atmosphere of post time at a big race with a big crowd , horses know it.
This is what’s out there. Not surprising, and terribly unfortunate.
Sports World Calling For End Of Horse Racing Following Another Tragedy (msn.com)
People who work at training centers teaching young Thoroughbreds to break from the gate aren’t going to keep their jobs for very long if they’re beating horses to “teach” them to load. Same with the racetrack gate crews.
Have you ever stood inside a starting gate? It is a VERY tight space, moreso than the average trailer. Some horses, especially bigger-framed ones, find it uncomfortable. Not to mention that in the circumstances - keyed up, adrenaline-fired, ready to GO - getting into a cramped and restrictive starting stall is counterintuitive for a horse. They do learn that it’s a requirement for the job and most deal with it peacefully.
Exactly.
Think of the insanity you see as a barrel horse is preparing to gun it for the first barrel.
Now stuff that into a starting gate.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
