Anyone have any comments on the incident last week in which Baze was riding a horse who broke down yards before the wire and he appeared to keep whipping him? It was strange and it I didn\'t know what to make of it. The trainer stands by Baze (I think it is Art Sherman). I was speechless to tell the truth. Was Baze acting out of reflex? That would be his only defense in my mind; otherwise, he\'s moving into Michael Vick territory. Note the horse originally survived and walked off and then had to be put down which makes the incident worse in my mind. You know there were gamblers who bet on that horse (an odds-on favorite) who wanted him to keeping whipping, too. I remember when a great horse broke down (it was one of the first races that Cigar won when he went on his streak) at Gulfstream and people were cheering because Cigar won and the heavy favorite that day broke down. People are strange. If I ever need money that badly, then shoot me.
I believe it was Holy bull that broke down that day..
I saw the video..I just don\'t think Baze knew the horse broke down, he probably thought the horse took a bad step, was shortening stride and needed encouragement to get him home.
If I was watching that race I probably would have been yelling for the whip also since it seemed like the horse righted itself after the initial bad step..
Russell Baze is one of the finest human beings in this sport. He would never intentionally abuse an animal. He simply thought the horse gathered himself after taking a bad step...
I remember a spill Russell took about 10 years ago on a horribly muddy and sloppy track. After he stopped tumbling, he bolted to his feet, ran to the horse (whose head was face down in the slop) and held the horse\'s head upright so the animal could breath properly.
Baze is clear on this. It was simply a case of him feeling the horse had gathered himself back up
DRF article has Baze taking full responsibilty, but basically saying the same thing, that he knew the horse took a bad step, but in the excitement of the moment didn\'t think he was broke down in the race. He said the suspension was fair and he was very sorry. Still, it looks terrible- very unfortunate for the poor horse.
>People are strange. If I ever need money that badly, then shoot me.<
I\'m totally with you on this, but I suspect that if we implemented this policy nationally the tracks would be a lot emptier than they are now. ;-)
I think Cigar broke down both Holy Bull and Thunder Gulch. Sometimes a horse\'s greatness can be measured by the horses that broke down trying to stay with him.
It worked out pretty well for the bettors when Barbaro pulled up in the Preakness too and have to admit when Durkin called out \"Barbaro is being pulled up\" a joyous \"Yessssss!\" escaped my lips.
Injuries really are part of the fabric of the sport and those injuries have many implications and I doubt Baze knew his horse was in mortal jeopardy. But the reality is they are in jeopardy ever single time they step onto the track for our entertainment and the enrichment of those associated with them.
Dana666 Wrote:
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> Anyone have any comments on the incident last week
> in which Baze was riding a horse who broke down
> yards before the wire and he appeared to keep
> whipping him? It was strange and it I didn\'t know
> what to make of it. The trainer stands by Baze (I
> think it is Art Sherman). I was speechless to tell
> the truth. Was Baze acting out of reflex? That
> would be his only defense in my mind; otherwise,
> he\'s moving into Michael Vick territory. Note the
> horse originally survived and walked off and then
> had to be put down which makes the incident worse
> in my mind. You know there were gamblers who bet
> on that horse (an odds-on favorite) who wanted him
> to keeping whipping, too. I remember when a great
> horse broke down (it was one of the first races
> that Cigar won when he went on his streak) at
> Gulfstream and people were cheering because Cigar
> won and the heavy favorite that day broke down.
> People are strange. If I ever need money that
> badly, then shoot me.