Quote:
Originally Posted by castaway01
If I was trying to write a parody of an excuse, I'd write something like your attempt at a legitimate explanation. But your type of logic is why racing is in the state it's in.
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I'm not saying it's a good thing. I wish it was a parody of an excuse that wasn't possible. My type of "logic" is based on what I've seen with my own eyes.
During my time as an owner (late 90's-early 00's) I've been in backside tack rooms that were absolutely pristine where that kind of thing could not happen, and those where things were jammed in all over the place. (I've even seen a can of coffee that was on a shelf wind up knocked over with some grounds spilled into a feed tub - granted, THAT tub was dumped out and started over.)
I've seen both excellent workers and those who were on their second or third "last chance" - still there because they were generally good with the horses (or were willing to work with the nasty ones). And watched a couple of those - not with my trainers - confronted with evidence of something they'd done that they hadn't been up front about. Nothing nefarious - more on the order of sloppy. (Some neighboring trainers can shout pretty loud.)
I probably shouldn't even say "not with my trainers" with total confidence, since there were a few times where a groom wouldn't be around for a day or so, I'd ask "Where's so-and-so?", and get the "He's not working for me anymore".
Does racing need to do better? Yes. Am I ready to lump Villafranco in with the Servises and Navarros? No. If there was another positive or set of positives with "explanations" for him in the next couple of years (like we see happening with Baffert repeatedly) would I be as willing to play devil's advocate? No.
There's a current case involving a "nobbled" horse over in Ireland who had 100 times the legal limit of a sedative. Trainer suspended for not "securing" the horse while at the track - they ship in day of race over there. One of the elements discussed was lack of CCTV cameras on stalls. More of those in the barn area of racetracks (something I believe I've seen being put in place at some tracks) will be a benefit. Of course you'd need them in tack rooms/feed rooms too to be most helpful.
