First, let me say that I would have benefitted greatly if Medina Spirit was off the board. But before bashing any trainer for an alleged positive, I explore possible ways a human prescribed drug may get transmitted. In addition to equine version “BetaVet”, for example, many people are prescribed betamethasone in the form of gels, ointments, lotions, foams, sprays and more, for many common disorders. I am not a doctor. I am not a veterinarian. But I am someone who has been around racehorses for many decades.

Let’s think of all the people that are in contact with the horse. Every handler in the barn. Transportation personnel. The jockey and their valet. The horse identifier in the paddock. The assistants who help saddle the horse. The personnel that put the tongue tie on the horse. How about the people that pat the horse after a win and before it gets sent to the test barn?  

If anyone looks at important instructions and cautions for the ointments or gels for skin conditions that dermatologists prescribe, one will see that it can easily be transmitted to others. This drug, I believe, may have a half-life of 6 hours in humans. So half is still in you 6 hours later ( total 12 hours). It is excreted in urine. I have known many people who have pissed in horses’ stalls. Imagine if they were prescribed this med, didn’t wash their hands and continued to touch the horse’s nostrils, mouth, hooves, etc.

I try not to judge too quickly.

Based on current sentiment about persons and families connected to slavery, the winner of today\'s Schuylerville might the last to win this historic event.

It\'s on Brisnet Past Performances or Daily Racing Forms.

If you look at tomorrow’s (Friday)  Pimlico Race 1

#2 Holiday Time  does not have sales price ..But because “Breeder” is Peter Blum and “Owner” is Peter Blum, we can assume filly is a homebred.

# 3 Timeless Curls shows a Keeneland Yearling  Sale in Sept 2016 and was bought for “only” $35K. I say “only” because the Sire is Curlin who stands for $150K . He serviced a Dam, who in her last recorded race, gets beat in a $30K claimer at Will Rogers Downs. So why does the breeder take the $35K at a Yearling auction after it paid $150K for Curlin’s services plus expenses of pregnant Dam, etc. Was it confirmation?  A Vet issue?

In the claiming business you will not have access to exact vet history nor any idea of what trainers used to treat that horse prior to a race. However, there is the \"talk\" on the backstretch that may give one a clue, if you wish to place credibility to that kind of talk. Such info may come from the horses\' former trainers, past and current grooms and hot walkers, exercise riders, merchants who sell \"over-the-counter\" products, jockey agents, the track Clocker and even former owners. In an ethical world none of these people should ever be talking about any horse while under their care or watch. But unfortunately some do.  Competent trainers and experienced horse people \"should\" know from just watching the prospective horse while it’s on the track during workouts, races and walk overs to see if there are visible red flags.  Bottom line is to have faith in your trainer, fill out the claim slip and once it\'s in the claim box start singing...\"luck be a lady tonight\" .

Hard to believe it was as innocent as newspapers describe, i.e. employee thought the race was run on main turf. I have many questions? Why was he on the turf course alone? If he was checking for divots there is usually a handful of employees doing this .  So  why was he on his knees when they were turning for home? Also why didn’t  the track announcer see this and warn them in advance

8-6-11-4

Disclosure...First, let me say that I have been a small time "licensed" (important word for this post) horse owner for 30 years. Secondly, I had Flintshire in my Pick 6 and Pick 4.
I have no problem with the art of strategizing with jockeys in the paddock in order to help the athlete (horse) achieve a goal to perform well and make some money. Trainers are the experts with knowledge of the athletes' health and psychological challenges.  What I do not like, is to strategize with the intent of not caring if you hit the board or superfecta, but just to ride defensively in order to help the stablemate get the prize.  This is a why I asked the "ethics" question in my post yesterday about Rabbits. I am a licensed professional that is closely monitored by two State Boards. I am required to take many hours of continuing ethics courses and each year "attest" that I completed these workshops.  As a licensed horse owner, I would be willing to do the same in order to bring a higher degree of integrity to the business and for the protection of the betting public. The arrangement between Chad Brown and his two jockeys appears to be collusive and somewhat unethical.  In addition, it would be more of an injustice if the jockeys equally split the $53,500 first place jock mount and fifth place $2000.00. Maybe the Racing Commission needs to let us know if, in fact, that happened.

Thanks for the response. I fully understand the reality of ethics. But would it not be less of an ethical dilemma if the Racing Commissions made the two horses an entry like in non-stakes races?  Then the betting public would be less likely to feel "robbed". I have been going to Saratoga yearly since 2 year old Secretariat won his first allowance race with his new rider Ron Turcotte.  Each summer, I find many more new track goers at Saratoga than anywhere else. They come with innocent and fresh minds and bet real dollars on numbers, names, looks, etc. They are unaware of "Rabbit" strategy, but sadly bet on a horse that in all likelihood will not hit the board.  Unfortunately, a trainer, owner, jockey and even the Racing Commission have no problem taking money from these patrons/bettors who are making all kind of straight and exotic bets using this Rabbit. How much money did NYRA/Travers take in on Inordinate who was destined to not hit the board?

So Juddmonte Farms/Chad Brown enters 2 horses , Flintshire and Inordinate,  in the Sword Dancer and spend approx $16K EACH in nomination and entry fees for a Million Dollar race. Winner gets $535K and 5th place "Rabbit" gets $40K. That's almost $600K. Winning Jockey  get 10% of the $535K ($53,500) and 5th place "Rabbit" jock gets 5% of the $40K ($ 2000) Or, do the jockeys split the combined $55,500 for their predetermined \"collusive\" riding? Maker's horse, Roman Approval, ends up getting slammed by rabbit and comes in 6th when maybe he finishes 4th for an extra $35K to his owners.  The "acceptable" rabbit strategy seem unethical to me, especially if jocks share the 2 mount fees. Does anyone know if that's what happens?

Belmont Gold Cup-Belmont Stakes double will pays
Here are the $2 will pays for the Belmont Gold Cup-Belmont Stakes double wager. There was $450,294 in the pool, exceeding the guarantee of $300,000.
#5 Da Big Boss with
1 Governor Malibu $157.50
2 Destin $78
3 Cherry Wine $120
4 Suddenbreakingnews $55
5 Stradivari $47.80
6 Gettysburg $754
7 Seeking the Soul $761
8 Forever d\'Oro $818
9 Trojan Nation $1,067
10 Lani $125.50
11 Exaggerator $22.80
12 Brody\'s Cause $161
13 Creator $111

True North-Met Mile double will pays; kinda, sorta
Here are the will-pays for the True North-Met Mile daily double. The thing is, El Kabeir and Sloane Avenue are expected to scratch (they haven\'t officially been scratched so wagering was allowed on them). Thus, the will pays will be negatively impacted when those two horses officially scratch as there will be consolation payoffs on both.
NYRA did not achieve its $150,000 guarantee on this wager. There was only $113,129 in the pool so NYRA had to supplement the difference.
So, with #2 Joking, the $2 will pays are:
1 El Kabeir $1,213
2 Blofeld $249
3 Donworth $730
4 Noble Bird  $255
5 Frosted $174.50
6 Upstart $278.50
7 Stanford $198.50
8 Ami\'s Flatter $457
9 Sloane Avenue $1,307
10 Tamarkuz $707
11 Calculator $203
12 Anchor Down $325.50
13 Marking $370.50

Saratoga Changes lists   American Pharoah with  1 ALUMINUM PAD . Has he ever run with one before?

Does anyone know who the Stallion is that \" serviced\" Waltzing Matilda in race 10 (Diana-G1). Changes list she is racing in foal.

Thanks. I hope these \"average\" horses come back in good shape.

I'm confused. Today's Belmont Races 4 and 7 on the turf were called by Larry Collmus as course records. Race 4 on the inner turf was 1 mile and a 1/16th and finished 141.27. The 7th race also on the inner turf finished in 1:08.15. Equibase charts show that both were track records today. But on NYRA web site under track records for the Inner Turf Course it says the records are Roman Envoy in 1:39.38 and Gantry in 1:06.87. Those 1992 and 2011 records look faster to me. Am I missing something? Thanks.