NYT, 2nd in Series, right on time for Derby Week

[Grits]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/30/us...acks.html?_r=1

Anticipated this was to come this past weekend. When it didn't? . . . knew it was only a matter of hours. Timing's everything.

Maybe after reading this one, the other two stories on the possible investigation of NYRA unfolding, and the Senate hearings being conducted this very moment, we can all ..... well, I ain't sure .........

a. Pray

b. Mumble "screw it"

c. Continue to go over one's advance Derby past performances.

Either way, its hard to feel confident that our sport's not circling the drain.

[Cholly]

If you think the article is bad, wait 'til you read the public's comments.

Racing is up against it, and the wound is self inflicted.

[FantasticDan]

Devastating article. My current personal favorite story of a horse being potentially "run to death" is Say Toba Sandy, a 7yo $340K earner, former stakes quality mare that's been a relative win machine in low level NYRA races for awhile now, despite a host of physical issues.

In less than a year, she's been passed around to Jacobsen, to Imperio, back to Jacobsen, to Contessa, to Schettino, to Matthew Clarke. God knows what cocktails they're pumping into her to keep her going..

[cj]

There is a bunch of stuff in that article that has been said here for a while now. An equine version of "Flip Men" is what I called it.

[Grits]

Originally Posted by cj

There is a bunch of stuff in that article that has been said here for a while now. An equine version of "Flip Men" is what I called it.

"Flip Horses", its profitable, too. And yes, much of it has been said here. Recalling the anger over Gill, its not surprising that he'd get top billing. Maybe he'll sue the NYT. He likes to sue. Good luck with his approaching court date on his most recent lawsuit.

Still, one doesn't want to read remarks such as those of trainer Juan Serey or Linda Rice. Both, holders of Aqueduct training titles. Rice isn't looking half as sharp underneath the photo caption as she has at Saratoga.

Among them was Bojan, a valuable commodity, but a disposable one, too.

Bojan possessed enough good looks and pedigree to fetch $107,000 at a yearling sale in Kentucky in 2008. Now it was April 6, 2012 — Good Friday — and just as Bojan was about to run in the first race at Aqueduct, a trainer named Juan Serey dropped a slip of paper into a box in the racing office, agreeing to pay $10,000 for him on behalf of an owner who employed him. But the horse would not be his until after the race.

Mr. Serey, who has been the leading trainer at Aqueduct, knew the horse had a fragile tendon and puffy ankles. It was why Bojan kept coming up for sale at the bottom of the claiming ladder, why he had changed hands twice in two months.

Even so, Bojan had continued to prove a sound investment. He had earned more than $19,000 for one owner and trainer, Linda Rice, in the span of 16 days, and his current co-owner and trainer, David Jacobson, had owned Bojan for a single race — a victory worth $17,400.

Mr. Serey decided to roll the dice.

“Everybody just wants a horse, and they want him now to race in 10 days,” he said. “I want a horse today and I don’t want it tomorrow. I’m a businessman.”

Turning for home, Bojan led the field and it looked like Mr. Serey had chosen well. Suddenly, however, the horse faltered and his jockey stood up in the saddle. They hobbled home, finishing fourth. Moments later Bojan was boarding a horse ambulance.

“They tried to roll him and win the race and get the money,” Mr. Serey said of Bojan’s owners.

Indeed, the owners walked away with the $1,150 fourth-place check.

Mr. Serey had no regrets. “You’ve got to take the good ones and the bad ones,” he said, adding, “If somebody takes my bad horses, it’s good.”

A comment from one reader on trainer, Linda Rice's, remarks in one of the slideshow's photo captions. The slideshow is tough; reading Rice's comment, pretty bad, as well.

This is shameful. Owner Linda Rice's comment in the accompanying slide show comparing a horse injured on the track to a bad day on the stock market reveals the way owners think about these animals. They are nothing more than commodities. Absolutely despicable.

[cj]

I commented elsewhere that having a known cheat like Serey stupidly comment will make horsemen everywhere cringe, but it was a smart move by Drape. I'm surprised he didn't mention his illustrious past.

[nijinski]

Many of these stories have been circulating the social networks. Earle Mack's
Star Plus was a feature of Paulick Report and discussed on facebook .It was also mentioned here. Nice steal NYT.
There are plenty of folks who are passionate about the horses and the sport
putting in tirelesss efforts to change what's going on with the bottom level claimers. The story misses that , with the exception of Moss and Mack.
There has been no love for Gil and great joy for his farewell for a long time . Now they bring him up .
But in the end , the commissions have sat back and done little to change things , so there is a price to pay. Time to get rid of the dirtbags .

[Grits]

Originally Posted by cj

I commented elsewhere that having a known cheat like Serey stupidly comment will make horsemen everywhere cringe, but it was a smart move by Drape. I'm surprised he didn't mention his illustrious past.

I wouldn't bet on a Serey horse if hell froze over. Right now though, Rice ain't looking any better, or any brighter!

[cj]

Originally Posted by nijinski

Many of these stories have been circulating the social networks. Earle Mack's
Star Plus was a feature of Paulick Report and discussed on facebook .It was also mentiones here. Nice steal NYT.
There are plenty of folks who are passionate about the horses and the sport
putting in tirelesss efforts to change what's going on with the bottom level claimers. The story misses that , with the exception of Moss and Mack.
There has been no love for Gil and great joy for his farewell for a long time . Now they bring him up .
But in the end , the commissions have sat back and done little to change things , so there is a price to pay. Time to get rid of the dirtbags .

Does it matter? The truth is, this being printed in the NYT has infinity times more power than anything floating around Facebook, Twitter, the Paulick Report, and PaceAdvantage. Anybody that cares about the horses should be thrilled this is in the Times.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by cj

Anybody that cares about the horses should be thrilled this is in the Times.

+1000

[FantasticDan]

NYS Racing & Wagering Board announcement:

http://www.racing.ny.gov/pdf/0430121...PriceLasix.pdf

[Grits]

Among the most recent comments this afternoon: This one from a lifelong fan.

This article really broke my heart. I grew up going to the racetrack with my grandparents in So. Calif. It was a family thing for us and from childhood I loved to go. As kids we were allowed to make a $2 bet on our favorite horse. I have always loved horses and enjoyed horse racing. My Great Uncle George owned racehorses. I rode horseback with my friends in Arroyo Seco Canyon growing up. Reading this article has led me to decide that I will never set foot on a racetrack again. This is a crime, and the people who do this should be in jail. Something must be done immediately to save these innocent horses.

Another:

If horeseracing cannot be conducted in a humane and transparent manner, then it may have outlived its social usefulness. Regulate the activity or terminate it.

[samyn on the green]

I agree that racing has a cruel & nasty element. The times is exploiting this for the benefit of its masters. Only jumping in on behalf of the oriental casino owners of Aqueduct to besmirch racing. GIt is no secret that genting wants to get racing out of the picture. When you have the potential to make billions the local paper all of sudden is scrambling to the high moral ground on your behalf.

The exoteric truth is that the times cares about horses. This is the paper of people that want to save the whales and eat organic granola. It is also the paper of those that slaughter 4,000 babies a day. So if they can get behind that holocaust what is wrong with thirty horses over a winter? This article is all about supporting the local oligarchy and oriental casino owners so they can keep all the casino profits themselves. If the Times has to take a posture of moral uprightness all the better. Not only will they get rich but they will do it while supposedly ridding the world of the evil of animal cruelty!

If the Times is so concerned about beings whey doesn't extend the same courtesy to the 30 horses that died this winter to the 4,000 babies that will be murdered in the womb today? The esoteric truth is that the times could careless about the horses as it cares less about the 4,000 babies murdered every day. This is all about cutting horse owners out of the casino trough.

Originally Posted by Grits

Among the most recent comments this afternoon: This one from a lifelong fan.


Another:

[thaskalos]

I have never felt more embarrassed to be a horseplayer...

The thought of patronizing the Juan Sereys and the Linda Rices of this game, absolutely sickens me...

[Grits]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

I have never felt more embarrassed to be a horseplayer...

The thought of patronizing the Juan Sereys and the Linda Rices of this game, absolutely sickens me...

Thask, I'm pretty much with you. Women? We cry easily--children and animals, we just do. I don't think I could feel more shame or disappointment than I feel right now.

As was just told to me. "Everything that is broken usually gets really bad before it gets fixed." I hope so.

This has been quite an afternoon. I don't see how any fan of thoroughbred racing, anyone that loves horses, cannot feel weary, and greatly concerned.