Here\'s a recent quote from Jeremy Rose:
\"My agent John Breedon has done a great job for me and I\'m also grateful for the support I\'ve received from all the Maryland- and Delaware-based trainers I\'ve ridden for in the past. Guys like Dale Capuano, Mike Gorham, Mike Petro, and Steve Klesaris. I was also hoping to make some new connections down here this winter and that happened when Nick Zito began giving me a good shot earlier in the meet.\"
How about Tim Ritchey who gave him the shot on the best horse Rose will ever ride, Afleet Alex? Rose and Ritchey split when Tim got fed up with Jeremy canceling his ride on Ritchey\'s horses at the last minute to ride Nick Zito\'s horses, to ingratiate himself with the more famous trainer. His actions may just have been a career move, but he could at least acknowledge the man who put him on the map. Shame, Jeremy, shame. May you never ride another winner.
Bob
BP:
You are being a bit tough on a guy who risks paralysis 5- 6 times a day (plus additional risk in AM training) and is out of a career if he gains 7 pounds. He deserves the right to make as much as he can while he can, at all times looking out for numero uno.
If Tim Ritchey looks in the program, he will see the names of other jocks. If Tim Ritchey has fast enough horses, those jockeys will seek him out.
Dont be too hearty in your applause of the trainer\'s loyalty. He realized that Alex and Jeremy got along well and chose not to disrupt that harmony. As he did throughout AA\'s career, Ritchey did what was best for the horse.
For a good view of typical trainer loyalty, read The Big Horse, Joe McGinnis and PG Johnson, about how PG \"flipped\" Chris Antley for A Cordero, Jr.
I am in full appreciation of the risks a jockey takes every time he rides and his need to make the most of the opportunities that come his way. What happened at Gulfstream is that Rose would bail on Ritchey literally at the last minute leaving him with virtually no time to find a replacement. Aside from the ethics, getting a reputation for such antics is not really too smart a career move either. In any case, my point was the ingratitude he showed in thanking everyone that had a hand in his success except for Ritchey.
It\'s true that Ritchey was going to take the mount from Rose and give it Velasquez for the Triple Crown at the owners insistence. He at least had the decency to sit down with Rose, like a man, and explain the situation to him before he did so. When Velasquez decided to go with Bandini, Tim convinced Alex\'s connections to come back to Rose.
Just to show how a person with class handled the split between him and Rose, his comment to the press was that Jeremy is an excellent rider and he wished him success in his career. Very different from Rose\'s snub of the man he screwed.
I think Rose still has a lot to learn from Ritchey - and I\'m not just talking about race riding.
Bob
richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BP:
>
> You are being a bit tough on a guy who risks
> paralysis 5- 6 times a day (plus additional risk
> in AM training) and is out of a career if he gains
> 7 pounds. He deserves the right to make as much as
> he can while he can, at all times looking out for
> numero uno.
>
> If Tim Ritchey looks in the program, he will
> see the names of other jocks. If Tim Ritchey has
> fast enough horses, those jockeys will seek him
> out.
>
> Dont be too hearty in your applause of the
> trainer\'s loyalty. He realized that Alex and
> Jeremy got along well and chose not to disrupt
> that harmony. As he did throughout AA\'s career,
> Ritchey did what was best for the horse.
>
> For a good view of typical trainer loyalty,
> read The Big Horse, Joe McGinnis and PG Johnson,
> about how PG \"flipped\" Chris Antley for A Cordero,
> Jr.
>
Have to agree with Richiebee. This isn\'t a case of a Trainer dumping a hall of fame jock for a reputation jock. A.k.a. Frankel putting Bailey on Megadeath instead of Pincay. This is about the guy that incurs the risks trying to maximize his return for time in the saddle. Ritchey is a great trainer, but he doesnt have Zito\'s clients or stock.
Have to comment on PG Johnson. One of the absoloute best Horseman interviews I ever witnessed was Harvey Pack with Johnson on the N.Y. post race show. (I forget it\'s name.) Johnson discussed the Breeders Cup on it and I\'ve never heard a trainer pick a big card as accurately as he did. I loved him from that moment on. I\'m so pleased he got Volponi.
RIP Horseman
Chuckles,
If you look at my reply to richiebee you will see that my point was the way that Rose did what he did and the disrespect he showed in his comments that shiow him to be classless.
Speaking of class, I agree with you 100% on P.G. Johnson. I had the great pleasure of meeting the man when I was working on the Belmont bacstretch years ago. Truly one of the best and classiest horsemen the sport has ever had.
We all miss you PG.
Bob
well, let\'s just put this to bed then, and have Jeremy replace Ramon on AOT! Like TGJB would say, horses don\'t know their class!
Actually, Ritchey taking over the training AOT would be even better. he definitely wouldn\'t be a \"hat rack\".
Bob
Would noy exactly say Pincay was a \"reputation\" jock as he won about a trillion races. BBB