JC / Railbird

Jessica,

Thanks for informing of the link.

This situation with LIFE AT TEN is disturbing for racing from so many angles, first and foremost because all the humans involved in her care that day ignored the fact she wasn’t right. From Pletcher who noted she was flat when saddling her, to Velazquez who sensed she didn’t want to run, to the stewards…

There’s protocol that gets horses scratched at the gate every day. For Velazquez to ignore the proper course of action and ask to have her examined, in an apparent gesture to protect his main source of mounts (Pletcher) at the expense of the mare, is unconscionable.

In addition, what are the stewards doing anyway??? Aren’t they supposed to be watching all the goings-on, not just the race itself??? For Jerry Bailey to see what was transpiriing, then have Velazquez confirm what he was seeing, have the information be put out there on national TV, Bailey asked Velazquez a second time and got confirmation “she hadn’t warmed up out of it,” then have her “start” anyway is definitely a black eye. Thanks goodness there was no catastrophe.

All involved in that travesty should be thanking Day 2 winners, especially brilliant UNCLE MO and hickory GOLDIKOVA, along with the epic Classic finish between BLAME and ZENYATTA for taking attention away from a serious breach of protocol.

Posted by Amateurcapper on November 12, 2010 @ 1:45 pm