JC / Railbird

Racing Archive

The Cornerstone

Bill Finley on who should follow RCI’s call for a medication ban:

… the Breeders’ Cup is exactly the organization that should lead the way. Just announce that starting next year no horse will be allowed to race in the Breeders’ Cup on any medications. A grandfather clause is fine. You can allow any horse that raced on Lasix in 2011 to continue to run on the drug, but no one else. The Breeders’ Cup has nothing to lose. There’s not a trainer in America who would decline a spot in the Breeders’ Cup because they’d have to run drug free. And if they do, too bad.

Such a move by the Breeders’ Cup would not only help clean up American racing, it would be a significant signal to the international scene.

Maybe Europe would call off the boycott? (Note the posted date.)

Posted in Racing on April 3, 2011 / Tagged Breeders' Cup, Building Momentum, Drugs, International, Lasix, Medications, RCI

You Say Safe, I Say Deadly

Bob Baffert on the verge of his ninth Santa Anita training title:

“Getting back to the dirt was a big plus, and I have a pretty strong barn now which we were able to build up again. I’ve got no complaints, and it’s been a very safe meet.”

For Baffert’s barn, perhaps, aside from Always a Princess’ career-ending injury in the Santa Margarita. But it’s hardly been a safe meet for the overall horse population; on-track injury and fatality rates at Santa Anita have returned to the ugly level that helped spur the installation of synthetics in California.

Posted in Racing on April 2, 2011 / Tagged California, Equine Safety, Fatalities, Injuries, Santa Anita, Track Surfaces

An Homage, For Now

Zenyatta’s Hollywood stall stands empty, a shrine to the mare:

There are photos of Zenyatta on the walls of the stall. There are drawings and paintings that Sherriffs has received from Zenyatta’s fans.

I’d like to see a photo, before the racing secretary insists on a new inhabitant.

Posted in Racing on March 31, 2011 / Tagged Zenyatta