09-01-2020 Parx R2

[Jeff P]

09-01-2020 Parx R2

The #1 horse lost the rider on the backstretch.

Watching the head on replay of the horse - did not clip heels, did not appear to bobble or break stride.

Watching the head on replay and focusing on the action of the rider Laureano Fuentes Jr, -- specifically focusing on the movement of his hands and arms:

It looks like a purposeful dismount.

Anyone know why? (Was the horse injured? Did the stirrup come off?, etc.)


-jp

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[cj]

Would be interesting to hear what happened. I have a hard time thinking anyone would jump off a moving horse for nefarious reasons. I'm sure it has happened, but man that can't be fun at all.

[lamboguy]

the only thing i could find out was the horse is ok, and the rider went to the hospital.

as far as i can see, the rider jumped off, i asked a friend who was there watching the races with binoculars and he agreed.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by cj

Would be interesting to hear what happened. I have a hard time thinking anyone would jump off a moving horse for nefarious reasons. I'm sure it has happened, but man that can't be fun at all.

I guess you have never been to Great Barrington Fair

[cj]

Originally Posted by Boomer

I guess you have never been to Great Barrington Fair

I've heard the stories, but I'm not THAT old.

I know they returned for year in the 90s I think but I guess the heyday was before my time.

[Hambletonian]

The Massachusetts Fair Circuit was ripe for chicanery. Very large betting pools compared to purses, and plenty of ways to lose on a bullring without being too obvious.

On a somber note, I was at the GBF when Miguel Figueroa suffered a fatal fall. I had bet his mount, the second favorite, and he was moving up to challenge along the rail coming out of the clubhouse turn, they went behind a tree out of view and when they reappeared the his mount was without a rider. He was an apprentice in his mid 30's so it may have been related to inexperience.

It was a really strange incident and I wasn't even aware he was badly injured until I saw the headlines a few days later.

I was at Northampton the day Green Rolls blew the clubhouse turn in the finale and took out a good portion of the outer fence. Next day in the first race a horse looks like he was going to repeat that trick and the jockey took no chances and jumped off.

[iamt]

You can see int he replay that the saddle has shifted forward quite significantly. It is flapping somewhat and shifts to the side after the jockey hits the eject button.

[Jeff P]

Thank you. (I only focused on that part of the replay up to the point where the rider hopped off.)


-jp

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