I don’t know racing but I know that sometimes with horses, if you are quick about something that you know they might have some trouble with, it can work better. Not letting the horse have time to think about whether he wants to go in or not. Of course its all monday morning quarter backing- too fast, too slow, etc
Poking
here is a video on you tube, you will see the guy come after many attempts to load (QR is realy being a jerk) snap the whip at him then you will see them put the blindfold on then as they load you can see off to your left the whip come in and his poking.
It may be the very poor video quality, but I see an AS snapping a lead behind QR, not anywhere near contact. And I see them trying to get a strap over his rump to push. If you’re talking about the AS to the left of the screen and behind, who appears (again, crap video for me) to maybe have a lunge whip I don’t see him hitting QR, just popping the whip. Nothing unreasonable, given they did not have all day. There are twelve other horses standing around, eleven in the gate and one unable to load until they get QR in. And I’ve seen lots of loads watching racing over the last twenty-odd years, I’ve seen the blindfold go on, I have not seen a horse go that ape$#! from being blindfolded.
The helicopter might be a factor–also, if QR was in fact as lame as people on this thread have said he was all week, he may have been sore and cranky and hates loading anyway and just decided he was NOT going today. It’ll be interesting to see how he does loading for a race after schooling.
I also think luvstoridewbs may have a point as well–with my old OTTB (the bad trailer loader–ironically he never had a problem loading in the gate when he was racing) we had our biggest trouble with him if we gave him too much time to think about a situation and decide he was going to react.
Still no guarantees with Quality Road running in the Saturday’s Grade 1 $300,000 Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile:
Pletcher said he wanted to wait until after Quality Road returned to the track on Wednesday and had another gate-schooling session at Belmont before discussing Quality Road’s status with owner Ed Evans and farm manager Chris Baker.
“I haven’t seen anything since this horse came back that would say we can’t run,” Pletcher said Tuesday. “But I’ve never been in position where I’ve had to factor in a 3,000-mile van ride either.”
His stitched up leg, by the way, is all good.
Connections have nixed racing in the Cigar Mile
And though his training and gate-schooling sessions went well in New York, the prospect of an off track Saturday was one of several factors that led owner Ed Evans and his farm manager, Chris Baker, to pull the plug.
“The bottom line is we felt maybe it was a little bit of a push for the horse given everything that transpired between Santa Anita and now,” Baker said. “We’re focusing now on what we hope to be a very productive 2010 campaign that puts him in position to be champion older horse and Horse of the Year. With that in mind we’re giving him a little bit more time.”
Baker said that Quality Road would be shipped to south Florida next week and likely begin his 4-year-old campaign in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope at Gulfstream Park on Jan.3.
So it will be time off until 2010 when he comes to a gate near you 
Poor horse, lost a lot of time as 3 year old with feet, but hopefully he’ll get his head on straight and his feet straight and come back to be the champion he was meant to be at 4.
I think this all worked out for the best, most of us had doubts about him running in the cigar
His return to racing is sooner then expected with a start this Sunday (January 3rd) at Gulfstream Park: the $100,000 Hal’s Hope Stakes (Grade 3) at 1-mile.
In the aftermath of his Breeders’ Cup debacle, Quality Road has professionally handled schooling at the gate. If that gives any indication, the four-year-old promises to be on his best behavior as he goes into post 2 with regular rider John Velazquez.
Just want to post to get a Jan. 1, 2010 date! Funny how that works! I’ll be sawing logs when the New Year is ushered in. And, please racing gods, make this a good one for me and mine…
Today’s the day.
Mike Welsch for the DRF:
Season of change begins at Gulfstream
excerpted from above
Quality Road will carry high weight of 122 pounds and go postward as the heavy favorite in the one-mile Hal’s Hope.
“He couldn’t be doing any better in the morning, including his sessions at the starting gate,” Pletcher said. “He’s stood at the gate several times a week with both the regular gate crew and Bob Duncan and has been perfect. He seems to be handling everything very well, and a one-turn mile is something he’s done before. Hopefully, he’ll run well on Sunday but not run the race of the year because it’s a race we’re looking to build on for the Donn.”
To win the Hal’s Hope, Quality Road will likely have to beat his uncoupled stablemate Harlem Rocker, who makes just his second start since being disqualified from an apparent victory in the 2008 Cigar Mile more than 13 months earlier. Harlem Rocker launched his comeback by finishing second going seven furlongs under allowance conditions Nov. 14 at Churchill Downs.
Wishing a safe load & safe trip for all.
“He couldn’t be doing any better in the morning, including his sessions at the starting gate,” Pletcher said.
From all reports, he’s always done well at the gate in the morning. It’s racetime that’s been the problem. :rolleyes:
[QUOTE=rcloisonne;4594683]
From all reports, he’s always done well at the gate in the morning. It’s racetime that’s been the problem.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I have heard he’s a smart horse so I’m sure he knows the difference between morning schooling and an actual race. Would it be possible to warm him up with a race field in the afternoon and load him in the gate, but just do it as schooling and not actually run him in the race? This probably wouldn’t be allowed, but it would be better practice than schooling him in the morning.
I hope all goes well today. Quality Road was my Derby pick last year (before he got sidelined) and I still like him. :yes:
No load problems, no gate break issues, decent challenge by You and I Forever but he wins it with the style expected …
Good. I hope it’s posted on youtube.
8th race - Gulfstream Park - January 03, 2010
Video Race Replay
Pgm Horse Win Place Show
2 Quality Road 2.80 2.20 2.10
1 You and I Forever 6.80 3.80
9 Congressional Page 5.20
$2 Daily Double 4-2 7.80
$2 Exacta 2-1 20.00
$1 Superfecta 2-1-9-7 305.40
$1 Trifecta 2-1-9 70.20
$1 Pick 3 13-4-2 (3 correct) 294.00
Obviously no issues gate, soundness or otherwise…
He set all the fractions, pulled away and won under a hand ride.
Link to DRF chart: http://www.drf.com/drfPDFChartRacesIndexAction.do?TRK=GP&CTY=USA&DATE=20100103&RN=8
I was listening to an interview on HRTV with the jock…and if what he said is true about Quality Road I can TOTALLY share sympathies with all the connections… i have a filly that is the same way- give her time to think it over and she is a DREAM but push her into something that she hasn’t fully agreed to and OMG look the F out!!! she will kill!! and this is a great filly most all of the time… I have to think that Q.R. was maybe a victim of “bad post position” in the BC and maybe if he had been an earlier load they would have given more time… maybe… 
not that he would have beaten the Queen!!!
Glad to see QR came back with no problems. Look forward to him having a strong 4 yr old season and we get to see his potential realized.
Just chalk it up to a bad day at Breeders Cup.
The video…
:mad: I may be wrong with what I am about to say. BUT here goes :
After watching that video it is obvious THAT horse is either hurting or does NOT want to race.
Then, why do some trainers insist on making them suffer like that .?
Also , is it really necessary for all those grounds people to be fussing and trying to make this animal do something he does not want to do ?
Looking at him in the gate it is clear he was Upset and all they did was aggrivate him on and create a horrible experience for him.
Give the horse a break. Take him back home. Reschool him in the gate. OR better yet . Have a good vet go over the horse to see what is causing this pain.
" Is it always going to be about the money and NOT the well being of the horse " …
IF there is any of you " Pros" out there that would like to give me your input then please do so .
I would just like to see . understand. or even comprehend why or how any trainer/ owner can be so blind to the pain this horse " seems" to be in.
You don’t do racing, do you.
granted, my experience on small tracks does not qualify me one bit to comment on the mishap on a track with 30 to 60 THOUSAND people in the stands.
The gate is a difficult place on the track when it’s a regular day at the races, small crowds and little money on the line.
Excited horses (they know they get to run in a little), high adrenaline people, after all they have a tight schedule to keep and small things can flip the switch from normal to melt down.
Add an excited crows, TV cameras and a HELICOPTER I think conventional wisdom is pretty much out the window.
And I am sure that the connections of a horse of that quality already entertained the notion of chiro and dentist and massage. I am sure they read his hooves and tealeaves as well…
many horses do want to race, but could care less about the gate or was that could not care less…
