If there was no history I wouldn't have put it up. But, there is.

All I was saying is that a horse can duck from the starter and it is not a leap to say that. It does happen.
Don't know the race and never saw it. And if Bob got caught saying that I would need to follow up on why he is telling the jock what happened. It's the other way around right?

I agree that we are only speculating BUT there are a lot of people out here in Ca. who won't say anything on the record but are very suspicious of the slam.

And I am biased. I've had a long running feud with B.B.

"But maybe a jockey is supposed to be prepared for that possibility."


Of course the rider is.

That goes without saying.

Twitter Poll a little different. With 95 votes

38%Yes, he's done it before.

26%No, wasn't his fault

36%Not sure but suspicious

Since they passed the whip rule Steward out here have a lot more control over jockeys. They get called in for things they would have never been called in for 5 years ago.

When riders are allowed a freedom like the gate stuff , it's only a matter of time before it either gets abused or somebody really gets hurt.

Darrel knows this as well as anybody.

Darrel rode without the luxury of any first step stuff when he was in Maryland. He knows full well about all this.

cj, there was a 3 horse speed duel. Maybe I am an idiot, but I absolutely expected him to be that far back. The other main closer (think his name was Big John B) was that far back too.

Can someone with a database run a query on when Baffert runs an uncoupled entry. I'm curious how often the longer priced horse wins and what the ROI is.

He's been very disappointing since they put him in charge. Politics rule.

It's not so much being far back as it is getting slammed at the start, no? Doesn't that hurt a horses chances?

It could. But if the incident puts the horse back where he was going to be anyway, that's a lot less significant trouble than it would be for a front runner being denied position (e.g., Arrogate in Dubai).

(A piece of trivia. 1949 Derby winner Ponder had a bad start every race. He was a deep closer. The chart comments used to say "Ponder, slow to begin as usual...")

That's a shame.

He was a great guy back when I knew him.

Great rider too.

He rode and won on the 1st horse I ever saddled.

Laurel.
November 8th, 1975.

It could? :lol:

Trouble is trouble. If you clobber a horse at the start their chances are hurt. Yes it would hurt a front runner more but it still hurts.

There is no way he is that far back without the trouble. Hrs been in fast paced races like that before and is generally about 5 lengths back.