Weekend races

[Cassi1125]

@findeight

Oh, at least one of them went to jail but it was for numerous fraudulent practices including altering appearance. Had an acquaintance who was a plaintiff in that action but it took until around 2001 to find them and file the suit.

That doesn’t make sense. The bulk of the matter was over with by the time Mike Brown “left” IAHA some time in late 2000.

[findeight]

Possibly some civil litigation continued or possibly it was in the late 90s not 2001. Almost 30 years ago, do recall case had both criminal and civil elements.

[Mara]

@Cassi1125

@findeight

Oh, at least one of them went to jail but it was for numerous fraudulent practices including altering appearance. Had an acquaintance who was a plaintiff in that action but it took until around 2001 to find them and file the suit.

That doesn’t make sense. The bulk of the matter was over with by the time Mike Brown “left” IAHA some time in late 2000.

Isn’t that the same Mike Brown, aka “Brownie”, who failed so spectacularly in as head of FEMA when Hurricane Katrina destroyed south Louisiana?

[Cassi1125]

@Mara

@Cassi1125

@findeight

Oh, at least one of them went to jail but it was for numerous fraudulent practices including altering appearance. Had an acquaintance who was a plaintiff in that action but it took until around 2001 to find them and file the suit.

That doesn’t make sense. The bulk of the matter was over with by the time Mike Brown “left” IAHA some time in late 2000.

Isn’t that the same Mike Brown, aka “Brownie”, who failed so spectacularly in as head of FEMA when Hurricane Katrina destroyed south Louisiana?

Yes.

[Cassi1125]

@findeight

Possibly some civil litigation continued or possibly it was in the late 90s not 2001. Almost 30 years ago, do recall case had both criminal and civil elements.

I believe the suits brought against IAHA after the suspension was handed down were civil in nature - defamation, slander, loss of income type things. IAHA could only find for violations under its ethics/code of conduct rules. (FWIW - cases against the farm and trainers that I found on Minnesota’s CCAP are civil cases, primarily under contract law. Arizona is a PITA to search, but a cursory one found no cases there.)

[skydy]

@findeight

On the breakdowns, its hard to research when there no central, accessible database or requirement to record training injuries or for ownership groups/trainers to report all off track accdents, surgeries, diagnostics and results. The Jockey Club does NOT keep track of such things even on the track. They are a breed registry and verify ID. They don’t even keep track of ownership if they are not breeding or on the track, you just sign the back of the papers. No fee. No send it in to change ownership.

Hopefully the implementation of HISA will make it possible for improvements in record keeping, including a more centralized injury and breakdown safety data base. Of course, as with any new organization, it will likely take time to develop the best methods to achieve some sort centralization.

[findeight]

One can but hope…

[On_the_Farm]

@findeight

Linda Rice. You go girl. Tying for leading trainer at Saratoga ( on top of 3 other LT titles this year) thanks to a knack for picking claimers. Not like the sheiks are dropping their sale topping yearlings at her barn. She said she looks for lightly raced, well bred, well conformed that she thinks she can turn around.

Shortly before the meet began a former colleague contacted me to provide an opinion regarding a couple of horses that their trainer had requested to drop into claimers. One is an allowance-level runner who is a consistent check getter and the second had finished mid-pack in its lone MSW start where 3 runners in the race went on to be stakes-level performers. My quick answer–your trainer is wanting to vie for the trainer’s title and is trying to pick up cheap wins even if it costs you the horse at the claim box.

Linda Rice no doubt had a solid meet, but before we start talking HoF let’s be real about a good portion of her wins at Saratoga this year. At least half a dozen wins came when a winning horse was more or less given away at the claim box. Amundson is a good example–a statebred stakes level performer, he was claimed for $62,500 (open allowance/optional claimer) on June 9. This is a solid horse who had won 10 races at that point in his career. Where does he run back off the claim?..He goes in for a $45,000 tag as one of two claimers in a statebred nw2$x/45k allowance optional claimer. Wins the race but was given away at the claim box.

Perfect Munnings is another good example on the same day–competitive in statebred stakes races, he wins for a $25,000 tag but is more or less given away at the claim box to Assmussen. There are other examples of this practice during the Saratoga meet.

Though not illegal or unethical, I would question the sporting aspect of this practice.

[saratoga]

Her MO seems to be playing games/shuffling horses and using them as quick pawns to win the trainers title, which is not that admirable in my book. Not that Chad Brown or any of the other ones have my admiration either lol

[Mara]

Claiming is the basis of her operation, as it is for most all but the elite tier of trainers. And most of those big name trainers started that way. She does it well (well, aside from that little incident with inside information from the racing office staff).

There’s plenty to criticize about the claiming model, but dismissing Rice as somehow not deserving of the title because she doesn’t have the backing of the blue bloods of ownership doesn’t really have sound reasoning behind it.

I understand the argument that Rice isn’t really the trainer responsible for her horses’ form, since she hasn’t had them in her barn from day one. But the mega trainers with horses all over the country rely heavily on their assistants, to whom they are quick to credit for wins.

[LaurieB]

@Mara

Claiming is the basis of her operation, as it is for most all but the elite tier of trainers. And most of those big name trainers started that way. She does it well (well, aside from that little incident with inside information from the racing office staff).

There’s plenty to criticize about the claiming model, but dismissing Rice as somehow not deserving of the title because she doesn’t have the backing of the blue bloods of ownership doesn’t really have sound reasoning behind it.

I understand the argument that Rice isn’t really the trainer responsible for her horses’ form, since she hasn’t had them in her barn from day one. But the mega trainers with horses all over the country rely heavily on their assistants, to whom they are quick to credit for wins.

The point being made is not that Linda Rice trains claiming horses (as do most trainers) but that it’s much easier to rack up wins when you claim a horse for a high tag and then race him back for a much lower one (as @On_the_Farm illustrated.)

It’s not a financially viable business model for owners, but for trainers–especially those looking to win titles or improve their stats–it’s a tried-and-true path to success.

[Mara]

Beholder’s 2yo daughter Tamara just dominated the G1 Del Mar Debutante by eight lengths!

[Maythehorsebewithme]

Tamara looked awesome! Pricking her ears at the finish.

[2tempe]

That was an impressive race. Hoping she stays sound and competitive and has a long career for us to follow, like her dam.

[mommy_peanut]

Didn’t want to start a whole new thread, so just adding this here.

Can Breeding Play a Part in Horse Racing Injuries?

[Maythehorsebewithme]

Don’t know where else to put this story about Nobody Listens who won the Turf Monster at Parx this past weekend. What a nightmare. Feel so bad for the horse and his people.

Turf Monster Victor Nobody Listens Dies in Accident

[mroades]

That is everyone who has ever hauled a horse’s worst nightmare!! I hate hauling in construction areas for that exact reason. Poor guy, poor folks. Just horrible

[Laurierace]

I can’t even imagine how horrific and helpless that scene was. Godspeed Nobody Listens.

[snaffle1987]

I know that I have been criticized in this thread for my stance on current safety measures, injury reporting, etc.

This article in Bloodhorse regarding New York Thunder and his racing history is rather eye opening.
They walk through the horse’s history of vet list/unsoundness/injury problems and the repeated and numerous scratches by his trainer during his racing career.
New York Thunder was Delgado’s third fatality in a four week span.
Honestly I am a bit surprised Bloodhorse posted such an article. Typically they tend to toe the line on major issues and Paulick is more the publication to stir the pot. Bloodhorse rarely wants to touch the Bob Baffert saga.

A Breakdown That Calls for Further Review - BloodHorse

[mommy_peanut]

Repole Wants to Form New Owners/Trainers Group

Repole Wants to Form New Owners/Trainers Group

Repole aims to create owners, trainers association