17 YO entry @ Ellis Park

[shanahan]

you should be ashamed of yourselves - track, trainer,everybody involved.

[basket777]

Franco from the Mets might dissagree

[fkach]

I\'m sorry to hijack this thread, but I\'ve been developing a serious distaste for the use of the whip on horses and it is a somewhat related subject.

Is there any reason we need to continue doing this?

I enjoy a great stretch drive as much as anyone and realize the whip doesn\'t do any serious permanent damage, but maybe we\'d have slightly fewer injuries and the sport would get a better reputation among animal lovers if the races were decided by how much the horse was willing to give on his own and not because of the crack of a whip.

[Dana666]

I remember watching Eddie D ride and he used the whip very sparingly. It was almost funny that he\'d beat these other guys with almost no whipping -- in fact if he went to the stick, you\'d have to think you were in trouble.

[shanahan]

dana and kfach - I could not agree more with both posts...I hate the overuse of the whip...if he/she is good enough, then they are good enough, and quite frankly, I like to see the two horses get after it between themselves...of the jocks who  don\'t need to freak with the whip, who\'s the best?  One of our fellow posters thinks Prado (and I agree - he\'s all class), but I can\'t think of any others since Pat Day.  the worst offenders?  Elvis Perrodin for sure, probably Desormeaux,...others?

[P-Dub]

Ron Hansen used to bang pretty hard with the whip.

[richiebee]

Jorge \"Chop Chop\" Chavez. If it weren\'t for the whip, he would be a landscaper
or maybe parking cars.

Sorry to disagree guys, but if whips or whipping was curtailed or banned,
trainers/jockeys would come up with less humane ways of getting sore and/or lazy
animals to extend themselves.

Shanahan remembers a story I told about the Fair Grounds in the early 1980s. A
full field of 10 was facing the starter before a six furlong dash. Before the
race the starter announced that he had been called by the stewards and told
that the stewards suspected that one of the riders in the race was carrying an
electrical device, and that if the device was dropped in the gate before the
race no disciplinary action would be taken.

After the field broke from the gate, the assistant starters found 7 \"batteries\"
on the ground.

[marcus]

What do you suppose happened to the other 3 batteries ?  Maybe they only had 7 in the gift shop that day ...  IMO - Perhaps use of  \"Proper Discretion\" by all concerned is the way to go - if possible . I appreciate whats being said by everyone on the 17 yo ( and use whips ) , it\'s a case where common sense should prevail   ...

[Mall]

...should, in fairness, be considered along with the original criticism. Below is the complete text of a press release which I received from Ellis this afternoon.

Henderson, KY (July 11, 2007) – After scratching from Wednesday's entries at Ellis Park, track president Ron Geary announced he had privately purchased 17-year-old thoroughbred Alpena Magic from his owner Kenneth Robinette.

"It's time for a new career for Alpena Magic," said Geary. "This horse enjoys being around people and the racetrack. His new role will allow him to be our "equine ambassador" for our new Early at Ellis and backside tour programs."

Retired from racing with over $200,000 in earnings, Alpena Magic was trained by Bill Hicks. Alpena Magic was originally retired at age 15, but retirement didn't suit him, and he became so depressed those around him didn't think he would survive. Hicks brought Alpena Magic back to the races and back to a healthy mentality.

Ron Geary was excited to add a new member to his team at Ellis. "I applaud the owner and trainer of this horse for allowing us to give him a new life here at Ellis Park," said Geary.

Alpena Magic will begin his new career this Saturday as a featured guest at the track's family-focused Early at Ellis program.

Ellis Park, located in Henderson, Kentucky offers Thoroughbred racing and whole card simulcasting. Home of the Gardenia Stakes (GIII), Ellis Park conducts its live race meet from July 4, 2007 through Sept 3, 2007 (Labor Day). Ellis Park is the 2007 host of the Old National Bank Claiming Crown. Simulcasting is offered year round.

[fkach]

Happy and appropriate ending. ;-)

[jma11473]

The owner of Ellis Park seems like a good guy with a clue...how did he sneak into track management? :-)