Quote:
Originally Posted by exactatom
Exactly, his recent sudden dominance asks a huge question. He went almost 15 years without a Derby win and suddenly gets them in bunches. Did he all of a sudden hire a hot shot assistant trainer? No Did he change training methods? No (given his workout patterns) He never has been known as a trainer who gets to the barn early. So, how do you explain it?
Baffert has never once just admitted "hey we messed up". Making an error happens all the time, no matter the industry. The good companies admit the errors, do not hide behind excuses and make legitimate plans to resolve the situation (example Tylenol CEO appearing on 60 Minutes).
Given the large number of drug violations with little attempt (judging by the results) to correct the errors, how would Baffert survive a discovery in a trial? The repeated pattern of violations with no remorse (judging by his ridiculous excuses) makes him a stain on this industry. This gives Churchill the rare opportunity to play the good guy and rid the industry of a problem.
I have often asked a few questions about Baffert:
1. Why does he never produce good trainers the way Wayne Lukas, Charlie Whittingham or Bobby Frankel has?
2. Why has he never moved a string or relocated to Kentucky as Lukas and other trainers have? The sport and breeding is in Kentucky not California.
Another reason Baffert is different than the other mentioned trainers is his horses do not pass the eye test. His horses do not get tired, they get stronger as the race goes on. However, some times later the same "speed" horse returns a "normal" style of fading in the stretch.
This sport is based on public trust. If people stop betting on larger races that he is involved in, then the racetracks suffer, the purses will shrink and the sport will eventually erode away.
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Lukas only had 3 winners in TC races from 1980 to 1988 then had 11 from 1994 on. What happened did he change his training methods? You also have to have good horses and good owners who shell out a lot of money for stock. In the last few years owners who paid a lot for their horses have been giving their horses to him. During those lean years he lost Overbrook and The Thoroughbred Corp as owners. He just didn't have the horses. He was very successful from 1996-2002. Was he doping then and then stopped? If he did stop doping, do you think he would wait 15 years to start again. A guy with his ego wouldn't wait that long. As far as assistants go Barnes has been with Baffert for 22 years. How could he develop any when his top guy doesn't leave? He did have Eoin Hardy. Other than Chad Brown who did Frankel have? He like Baffert had two main assistants for 20 plus years. Baffert also has a smaller stable than most of the other "super" trainers allowing him and his staff to concentrate more on the smaller stable than other trainers who are spread out everywhere With bigger stables relying on assistants more. He ships when he needs to and keeps the rest in California where he likes it.
