THE LADIES Classic BElongs to Music Note.A FOUR YEAR OLD MOST LIKELY HAS AN EDGE .BET ASAVER ON SEVENTH STREET TO SHOW.

MAYBE STARDOM BOUND at best can get second

I hope she makes it, too. I've always been a big fan of "Baby Z", as Stardom Bound was often called, and I thought she had a good shot in the Derby, talent-wise. For awhile there, it certainly seemed like she was overmatching her peers. Whether she got tired, they finally caught up with her, or both, it's hard to say.

I hope she is doing well and isn't burned out. If she can make it back to the BC and runs well, I will be thrilled. I have not forgotten her, even though it feels like it's been an eternity since she last raced!

Though I still hope Zenyatta goes to the Classic Classic, not the Ladies Classic.

Jason, is her regression just the result of being raced so much as a two-year old?? And why wouldn't the owners have seen this coming-are we to blame them or her past trainer? (forgot who it was sorry).

Thanks. Miss her on the track.

I've been wondering a lot about Stardom Bound recently and saying to myself, "Where is she?" "Baby Zenyatta," I believe Mike Smith called her. I'm so glad to know she's 'ok' and that she may return to the races.

Yes, horses do need time off. When I look at Rachel's supermodel legs, I cringe when I think of the weight pounding into them. It surprises me still that Man O' War raced so many times before he retired to stud at four. He must have been made of iron, as was Seabiscuit, though he recovered from a serious injury to a tendon and came back to win the Santa Anita Derby at seven!

Thanks for the update on Stardom Bound. I'm not fond of her trainer, but he is a good one, nonetheless, and he has the horse's best interests at heart.

She may make it to the lady classic but she would be non-factor!!!

     Miss this filly!, She sure was all the buzz last year/beginning of this year. I remember the talk of her going in the Derby! I also hope she makes it back, Sounds like there is a little doubt, It sure would be a great field if she makes it(I think Zenyatta will be in the Classic, though).  Good write up, Jason...

A little out-of-racing drug testing on Stardom Bound right now would be worth conducting.  Until the sport bans cheaters, it will remain where its at.  Silly me,I'm sorry; give him an eclipse award.

WHAT?!!! Dutrow is going to send her out after that long layoff to face that field? What you got in the syringe this time? I say send her to Frankel's barn in Ca. if you want to have her ready in 6 weeks.

Stardom Bound is my favorite filly. The filly and Dutrow are not on the same page. If she makes it to any race it will be because of her class. Dutrow gets nice made horses and then they start to decline. I have my fingers crossed but a stall at Aqeduct, Dutrow and Stardom Bound sounds  like a big wishful maybe.

It would be a pleasure to see Stardom Bound return.

Her previous campaign of Grade 1’s was quite impressive.

My Father and I were both following her races with great expectation.

She had to be tired - racing at such a high level at that frequency.

Then (as you alluded to) I saw the MWashington.  I remember telling my Father ‘holy cow, you’ve got to see this other filly’ (RA, of course).

Good luck to SB and Dutrow.

Sounds a bit ambitious given the remaining time, but would add more depth and intrigue to the Ladies Classic.  

Even if she doesn’t make it in time for the BC, sure glad to have her back on the grid.

Peace

Stardom Bound was great under Chris's care. He knew the horse. When they sold her I knew she wouldn't improve. Now she got the much needed rest. The BC might be a little soon for her. She is a joy to watch run.

jshandler you are right,no one is to blame...yet. yes, she had not been hurt...yet. My point is that she has not raced in 7 months, is not working well right now and the Breeder's cup is only 6 weeks out. He wants to keep her on the east coast until then. I love this filly. I don't want to watch her and the track melt under the Ca. sun. Get her out there now or never!

IF Dutrow has her in race she not there to run around track but Godolphin dont play around either

I wish she would go to a different trainer, not a fan of Dutrow at all. I wonder what will be in the syringe this time?

Jason, thank you for the update on Stardom Bound.  She's such a beautiful horse and was so full of talent, it's a shame that talent hasn't been handled properly.  Chris had a way with her and hadn't even touched the tip of the iceberg as to how she could have preformed.  We all understand (maybe) why she was sold (with her owner so sick).  However, it would have been so much better if Chris would have remaided her trainer.  I believe she would have been great competition for Rachael, it would have been fun to watch them challange each other.  I honestly don't believe you will ever see her fulfill her destiny.  Great horses need trainer that are capable of understanding each individual horse (talent).  Nothing would make me happier than to see her race again, only under a trainer that can help her reach her full potential.

Stardom Bound is bound to reach Stardom.  Love her.  :)

Seems like a pretty ambitious spot for her comeback to say the least.There's no doubting her class,but Dutrow's comments had a tinge of trepidation to them.I'm sure she'll need more than "a couple of sharp works to be ready",if she's to run in the BC against those sharp,in form opponents. Then add to the fact it'll be her 1st attempt at 1 1/8,..I think they're setting themselves up for a big let-down.Especially if they decide to ship her the week of the BC,instead of giving her more time to acclimate to the surface.I know she's very familiar with Santa Anita,but she's been based back East since her lay-off. Bring her back at an easier spot,get her confidence level to where it was before the Ashland and go from there.This Champion is top-notch and I would think she might be better on dirt.Keep her back East and get her ready for her possible show-downs vs. RA.

Just mention the name Dutrow and everyone assumes he is at fault for her absence from the track and poor showing in the Ashland.

I don't care for Mr Dutrow in particular, but I hardly blame him, or her other trainers for Stardom Bound's absence.  Horses peak and decline at different points.  Stardom Bound only ran 5 times at 2.  Hardly a tough schedule.  But it was clear in her first 2 starts this year that she was not quite the same horse.  This was before she even went to Dutrow.

There are lots and lots of racehorses that show incredible early talent and never become the superstars we thought they would be as 3 and 4 year olds.  

The BC is certainly and ambitious and unlikely place to point her for a return.  But wouldn't we have thought that about Midnight Lute and DaHoss too?  Only a trainer can tell where their horse is at, and if returning in such a race would be prudent.  I personally don't think its to her advantage to ship across country for a return in a race of this caliber.

But count me in as one who will be excited to see her run again.  And be keeping my fingers crossed that she can return to the form that made her a champion at 2.

Man O' War only raced 21 times.  Not nearly as much as some of the great champions of the past Century....

is this the sort of crap that needs to be stopped.  why does the BC lack training/racing standards for entry.  these people are "using" the horse or considering doing so for their own self-agrandizement at the expense of the horse and the sport.  what happens if SB goes down because she has been inadequately prepared?

IT is no surprise what happened to Stardom Bound.  Fillies are known more than colts for not improving from their 2 year old seasons.  Some just don't make the jump up in their 3 year old careers as the colts do.  She sure does love the fake stuff out West though.....

I haven't forgotten her and only hope she returns to her true form and runs next year!

"Dutrow had been very pleased with Stardom Bound's works up until the last few weeks. He said she had a "setback," earlier in the month which caused him to back off a bit. But on Sept. 23, Dutrow liked what he saw when she breezed for the first time in nearly three weeks, a three-furlong move at Aqueduct. He said the next month of works will determine whether or not they go to California."

Jason, I assume you meant that he "hadn't" been very pleased with her work up until her last work? I say that just based on the articles I've read up on her since the layoff. That she had not seemed to perk up since getting back into his barn. Here's a question. If Dutrow wanted her to be ready for a race like the Breeders Cup (conditioning wise), why wouldn't he just race her? Doesn't a race usually add up to 8 workouts (give or take)? I mean, if he's that worried about her fitness, wouldn't that make the most sense to get her ready? Just my 2 cents.

I LOVED Stardom Bound. Then when IEAH bought her at the auction they seemed to start messing around with her, giving her 'time off' because she needed to put on weight. Ever see her in person? When Chris had her she was healthy, big and beautiful.

Unfortunately Mr Cono knew he was ill and probably didn't have long and was planning on getting out of racing, he passed away in April this year.

As we all know Chris loved this filly so much he gave her the name that he had reserved 5 years before for just that very special horse.

He also knew he was getting out of the game in the near future. He did so last month to run his ranch for troubled kids.

What happened to SB is what happened to I Want Revenge and what finally caught up to Big Brown. Funny how a group that is 'so' anti-drug has/had their horses with two of the worst?

Let's also hope if Dirty Dutrow runs her she doesn't end up like the infamous non-Belmont or worse.

I have been following racing since the 1970s, but if they continue to call this race the "Ladies Classic" I might have to find a new sport to follow.  Am I the only one who despises this name with a fierce passion usually reserved for the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Keith Olberman and Ann Coulter?  Who do you like in the Boy's Juvenile?  Or the Men's Classic?  

What a very tough week for us true fans of this sport losing so many greats....I just found out of another...

R.I.P. "Kona Gold"....

No, Ted, you aren't the only one who despises the name "Ladies Classic".  It's just plain silly and offensive as well.  The Distaff is the name for that race as it was from the beginning of the BC.

Mr Ted from L.A.,

Since the Classic is open to both sexes it's now called

'The Non-gender Biased Classic'

They WERE going to call it the Transgender Classic but that was too controversial.

At least it's still Juvenile Fillies and not the Giggly Girls Juvenile.

Time to call out the Feminists to get the 'girls' back on the same day as the 'boys rule day'.

I'm a guy and even I think it's an insult, especially in this, the year of the Filly and Mare.

It would be great to see her come roaring back.  It just shows us how hard it is to keep form for an entire year.  Makes Rachel Alexandra look even more spectacular.

Shawn P:

Why are you comparing SB to IWR & BB?..IWR had an injury,while BB had bad feet.The filly was simply tired,(allegedly),and needed a break.No comparisons there.

To be honest I don't think we will see Stardom Bound return to the races. I don't think that they will truly want to face Zenyatta or as a four year old go up against Rachel, it's not that Stardom Bound has lost her greatness it's just that there are two other females that are simply greater. It's a shame as I think that Stardom would add a lot to the excitement of racing and a possible faceoff with Rachel but Dutrow does not want that. IEAH Stables admitted that they bought her to breed to Big Brown and that I believe is what is going to happen next year. I don't think she has lost her enthusiasm to race but that Dutrow cannot train her to her full potential. Perhaps she could give Rachel a true run for her money but I don't think we will ever get that chance to witness such a race.

Ted: I doubt Rush Limbaugh, Keith Olbermann and Ann Coulter have ever been in the same group before in the history of the world. lol.

And ratherrapid: Could happen. She could win off, too. She could break down in perfect condition. Part of the game.

Things went downhill for Stardom Bound when she was sold and then  reached bottom being transferred to Dutrow. I have no respect and fact, I dispise Rick Dutrow. How the industry puts their head in the sand for trainers like him is beyond me. He's not alone though, plenty of company with the likes of Asmussen.

Appreciate and love a closer, having seen some of the greatest but Goldikova's turn of foot in the BC Mile was breath taking and to think Zarkava beat her twice is unbelievable! Whew

I also loved Stardom Bound and was sick when she went to IEAH. Apparently they outbid Stonach for her and that's too bad as she would have gone to Richard Mandella and that's a good thing. Christopher Paasch is a great trainer and Mr.Cono told me last summer that he was getting out of racing because he hated polytrack

She definitely had earned a rest.  She was the product of a two-year-old sale, so was most likely 'backed' in August of 2007, started breezing January of 2008.  Her sale ($375,000) took place in March of 2008 and then on into her racing career that proceeded through April of 2009.  Nineteen months without a vacation is a long time for an older horse let alone a juvenile.  I wish her all the best for her return!!

I also appreciated the update on Stardom Bound.  There was talk last winter of her trying the Santa Anita Derby as a possible prelude to running in the Ky. Derby.  What I read at the time was that she would not have a race between the Las Virgenes and SA Derby.

Then (I read), Frankel persuaded IEAH to try the SA Oaks. Her win in the Oaks was such a close one, they decided they had best keep SB with fillies.  She went on to the Ashland.

IMO, either the SA Oaks or the Ashland should have been skipped.  Then maybe she wouldn't have needed such a long rest.  As it is, I have to agree with Cowboy Bob that her current status makes a run in the BC look like wishful thinking on someone's part.  It seems to me like a prep race would be in order and if she isn't having one, that sounds more negative than positive.

Here's hoping "Zenyatta Jr." makes it back to competition at some point, if not the BC.

My mother and St. Theresa were great Ladies...Stardom Bound, Zen, RA, et al are great fillies and mares, girls, females, distaff...

Rachel A. (for real)

Love this girl. She is far prettier in person too than any photo I have seen of her. According to Godolphin tho Seventh Street isn't going for Ladies Classic-she is going for Filly & Mare Sprint unless they changed their mind in last couple of days. Really like her as well.

Hope Stardom comes back to her best form or even better.

Everyone seems to continue to criticize Rick Dutrow, when in reality he really was the only trainer out there honest enough to admit to doing what most trainers were doing, using what was legal steroids. Haven't all the top trainers been suspended over the years for various drug infractions? The suspensions speak for them selves, but we never hear honest answers to questions, except Rick Dutrow. Believe me, up until last year, many racehorses, retiring from the racetrack, did so still on steroids. My own ex racehorse retired last May '08 & came to my farm within a week of his last race. He was still under the effects of steroids & it took several weeks for the steroids to work their way out of his system.  I help find homes for quite a few retiring racehorses & it was really common for them to leave the track with steroids still in their system. So, R. Dutrow was doing nothing more than most other trainers. He was just more honest about it.

I appreciate Rick. D. for his honesty. I'd also rather watch one interview of his than a dozen others who really say nothing when interviewed, except a few platitudes that could apply to any one of dozens of horses.  Maybe Rick's "flaw" is being too honest since people hold it against him forever. I find his exuberance & his honesty refreshing. He completely loves his horses & brags about them like they were his children. He has often been heard to say that he is happiest when with his horses. He has a conversation with each & every one of them every day. He has been said by others to be meticulous in his care of his horses & is very hands on. He may not be the best businessman & that has led to many infractions due to missing filing dates, etc. But, that takes nothing away from Rick Dutrow, the horseman.

I have no doubt that Stardom Bound is with one of the best trainers in the country. Rick will absolutely not run her if he feels she is not ready. He cares about her too much,like all his horses, to take a risk with her.

I hate steroids as much as everyone here. But, I refuse to find fault with one trainer, the only one honest enough to admit to doing, what most of the industry was also doing.

ColetteMarie

I'm sure that if the Lady's Classic was changed to something else, our friends from the Red Hat Society wold have something to say about it.....I see nothing wrong with calling it what it is.....I still even open a door for the ladies.

By the way.....do you think they'll ever come up with a ridling classic?

Any of you ever see a Trifecta pay less than an Exacta? Just saw it in the first race at Fairplex. $1 EXA paid $2.60. $1TRI 2.40. Yikes. Also, BAR JF HOT TICKET won her 21st race in a row. 33rd out of 38th lifetime. Forget Zenyatta & Rachel, here's the real queen of racing! lol

When I was at Santa Anita back i March for Stardom Bound's Oaks - I saw her walking in the paddock and thought wow, shes a really slight filly...beautiful but on the small side. I was so happy she won because she was one of the main reasons i went to the track that day. I didnt put money on her for the Las Virgenes bc I thought she looked tired after the oaks so when she was laid off it didnt surprise me. With all the Rachel excitment Stardom Bound kind of got lost. Im glad to hear she's working and want to see her run again... but only if shes ready to run well. I really hope that Dutrow wont rush the filly just to get to the BC

Carlos, same thing Dona said.

Same owners, same TYPE of trainer for IWR, BB and SB (after Mr. Frankel turned her over to Dutrow).

Iavarone said when he bought her "She’s a big beautiful filly, and we know she can run. I think Rick is going to help her out." yes, I just bet Rick was GOING to help her out.

Do you not remember she HAD a layoff right after they bought her?

Like Jason said she then  came back under Frankel and won her debut in Feb and the SA Oaks, then under Dutrow finished 3rd in the Ashland and needed ANOTHER break after 3 races? Coming off a 3 month layoff after her sale? Now almost 6 months off?

THAT is the connection.

Also who knows what the deal is with Mr. Lanzman and his 25% interest in SB as part of the IWR deal. Now that's a mess.

Also what happened to all the 'celebrity' involvement in ownership of SB?

Only part of my comment was printed and I just think I and others have a lot of questions about IEAH.

Collette, THAT isn't why there is criticism of Rick.

He's going to serve a suspension for a drug positive. What a fiasco theat is, doesn't have to transfer his horses? Please.

Rock thats cool! Also how bout when there's a minus show pool, the fav runs out, and the show prices are 10 X higher than place....

Lady Ruffian:

The Las Virgenes was run Feb. 7, 2009, and Santa Anita Oaks March 7.  Did you mean you didn't bet on her in the Ashland (April)?  

I saw her Feb. 7 and thought she looked pretty good.  Sounds like the Oaks is the race that maybe should have been skipped, if you read my previous comment.

Love this beautiful filly!  I wish he would ease he into the 4 yo races at Santa Anita rather than rushing to the BC.   RIP to another great closer,  Cryptoclearance.

It's apparent that the time has come to bash Rick Dutrow again. I concur that he deserves most of it, however it's refreshing to see that this time the horse in question is also not being raked over the coals. If Big Brown had kept better company perhaps he would have received some of the credit he rightly deserved.

ColeteMarie,

 Rick Dutrow is too honest. Are you kidding me? How many times has he been caught giving his horses illegal drugs? How many times has he done it and not been caught? I'm not talking about steroids. I'm talking about drugs that mask pain, drugs that provide more oxygen to a horses lungs, drugs that do nothing more than make a horse run faster than it should while all at the horses expense. Rick Dutrow truly cares for his horses? I don't think so.

If a horse is going to "lose it"...that is not be what he/she was the previous season it historically happens more between the age of 2 to 3. We'll see if Stardom Bound is another example.

Stardom Bound was a spectacular 2 year old, but unfortunately did not progress as a 3 year old. Happens all the time. If she does run in the Breeders Cup, she will be a non factor. Nice horse, but she hit her peak last year.

ColletteMarie,

You talk like Dutrow's use of drugs is a thing of the past. I'm guessing he uses everything he can get away with, including steroids.  How far away from testing can you use some of this junk and still be at levels undetectable?  I'm sure plasma and urine levels fall off a lot faster than the anabolic or other effects of these medications.  Here's to out-of-racing testing and banning from racing the cheaters.  Executives of public companies have to sign affidavits on their disclosures that carry criminal liability if they lie.  Why not demand as a condition of licensing that trainers and owners sign legal documents as part of the licensing process that they will not cheat; and then hold really accountable the ones who are caught.  Racing could be cleaned up really easy.  Unfortunately, the powers that be don't have any interest and have their heads in the sand on purpose. (that's cause drug use has been going on since before we were born)

I'm a SB fan, who wouldn't be?, but when I read comments extolling the virtues of her original trainer, CP, and implying that the new trainer, RD, is a lesser trainer, I have to wonder where people get their ideas?

It's laughable to suggest that CP is a better trainer than RD. I cut my teeth in NoCal as a horseplayer, so I have a good understanding of CP's abilities. He's a 12 or 13 percent trainer - at his very best. He's had many years that were in the single digit territory. While he's hardly a household name, he's done well with limited stakes performers, not from a win percentage point of view, particularly, but overall in his handling, he has not interfered with the growth potential of some well bred youngsters who found their way into his care. Clearly, he benefitted from SB's brilliance. That's all good.

RD, though, is quite honestly at a different level, he's proven his mettle with the best stock in the world, for the most demanding owners, a real pressure cooker, and he hasn't lost an important client or supporter yet. We're talking about hundreds of millions of dollars worth of horse stock providing high percentage results to their demanding owners. He belongs with the Bobby Frankels and Charlie Whittinghams and that ilk, and if you don't believe me, ask them. I'm not making anything up here, these are just simple facts, I'm not particularly a big fan of his, btw, but things are what they are. He's proven in ways that CP isn't and, frankly, never will be, no disrespect intended.

As far as SB goes, it's rather silly to infer that what happened with her was anything other than the case of a horse going sour, which happens more frequently than people might think. Because horses are retired so early these days, they seldom get to that point, anymore, but a few will still sour before their 4yo seasons, that's the nature of things, it happened to Kitten's Joy (Frankel from Romans), but I didn't hear anyone saying Frankel was shite and Romans is a god.

As for SB, I'll be surprised if she makes it back, myself, because it's hard to get them back. If anyone could do it, however, it's RD.

Just my opinion, of course.

Would be great to see her make the breeders cup. It would be a bit of a stretch to say she wins , but what a story it would be if she can pull it off.

Personally I like what i saw from Music note last time out , and Zenyatta is Zenyatta, But what a story it would be if Stardom Bound can make it and win it

Stardom Bound ran some dynamite races as a juvenile, but it might have been a case of too much, too soon.

Agree with Greg about the loss of some terrific horses this week. RIP Summer Squall, Cryptoclearance and Kona Gold, three good ones. . .

"Stardom Bound only ran 5 times at 2.  Hardly a tough schedule."

ONLY? Considering two year olds are just babies, I'd say 5 races is a tough schedule especially on their immature bodies and bones. There is such a thing as peaking too early, it's like child prodigies who are leaps and bounds above their peers, but once they reach adult they don't stand out much, if at all.

I think it's crazy Dutrow is aiming for the LC, I think it's too much and somewhat cruel to ask horse even of SB's talent to run against that level of competition off such a long layoff. Then again, Da Hoss won the BC Mile off just one race in 2 years.

In olden times horses raced more, just not as fast.  Many raced every 2 - 3 weeks,but if you looked at the times they were not nearly as fast.  Many "races" were equal to a good work today.  They were also shipped less due to the fact that planes were not readily available.  Generally, horses were considered sounder too.  Maybe because there were no drugs other than aspirin, complicated surgeries, etc were not available, only the strongest lived to pass on their genes.  Now we take a well bred colt or filly, race them a few times till they get hurt, and retire them to pass on their genes.  I am devastated by the loss of Cryptoclearance today because he was one of the really tough guys.  He raced, raced hard, and passed on his toughness.

The main reason trainers use anabolic steroids is to keep weight on their horses. Anabolic steroids increase the appetite. As for Stardom Bound, she is a small, lightly-built filly. Who knows if she raced on steroids as a 2-year-old but not as a 3-year-old.

I think Rick Dutrow has nothing but the best interests of his horses at heart. I saw the sale on TV when Stardom Bound was bought by IEAH. I remember Rick Dutrow saying that he had "met" her, and how sweet she was. I'm interested to see how he does with Court Vision. His first comment about the horse was that he seemed unhappy. How about checking on him, Jason, and see how he's coming along.

You don't want to overace any horse, especially babies.  But I believe studies have shown that horses that raced as 2 year olds tend to race more often and for longer than horses that didn't run as 2 year olds.

As 2 year olds Affirmed ran 9 races, Ruffian ran 5 races, Alydar ran 10 races, and John Henry ran 11 races.  Their careers didn't seem to suffer much from racing that many times as 2 year olds.  Sea Biscuit ran an incredible 35 races as a two-year-old and yet raced beyond his 3-year-old season.

I expect to see Careless Jewel pull off the upset, or maybe Cocoa Beach or Music Note.  I honestly expect that Zenyatta's racing style has been figured out to the point now that she can (and will) be beaten.  As much as I like Zenyatta, I don't like the way she's been campaigned this season, having been placed into races which she was all but guaranteed to win.  That's just sad.  She is a talented enough mare, she should have been put up against tougher competition and on different track surfaces.  There is no reason she shouldn't have shipped to NY for the Beldame.  Belmont was not going to use the detention barn for that race, since that was one of the Mosses reasons for not shipping any horse of theirs to Belmont.  They upped the purse if both Rachel & Zenyatta would've raced in the Beldame.  There was no good reason that they ducked that race, other than the fact that it was not a guaranteed win.

Back to Stardom Bound, I expect we'll see her at the Breeders Cup but I don't expect a win from her, not without a prep race first.  I have missed Stardom Bound, she is one of my favorite fillies and on top form, I think she could challenge Rachel.  I really hope that she is brought back as a 4yo in a much more reasonable campaign.  Proud Spell had a similar season last year and they ruined her with it.  Trainers & owners need to think about what is best for the horse and not for their bank account.  8 races in 8 or 8.5 months is too much for any horse.  I know back in the day, that was nothing, but horses aren't as strong or durable as they were in Secretariat's day.  Too much inbreeding & crossbreeding has made them incredibly fragile.  

Careless Jewel is going to win the Distaff, bank on it.

Simplymajestic, you are Simply WRONG.

First I don't particularly want to

'ask' Charlie Whittingham, duh.

Second, you have NO idea what this guys reputation is around the track if you make that statement you just made.

This guy will NEVER be in the HOF, I'll take any bet you want to place on that.

Some of the bashing of certain trainers is just jealousy. The bashing of this guy is well justified and he really should be OUT of racing. It's his type that makes all of us in the game suspect to the public.

Like I said his latest suspension to be served  11/15-12/15 (wow the height of the season LOL) is punishment how again?

A vacation with his horses still earning the %  and the day rate for him?

A guy with so many violations and so much flaunting authority that he gets a sideways glance whenever he wins a race from RACETRACKERS, even if it may be legit?

THAT is the difference between Chris Paasch and Rick Dutrow.

Chris had pretty good success with a very limited roster and NEVER got the kind of horses that Dutrow has gotten.

Kitten's Joy? Ran at 4 in the Firecracker and the Million both under Romans. So??????? Where does Frankel fit in with him??

But at any rate for Frankel? He's turned around more horses than he EVER messed up and HE actually won two stakes with SB.

Street Sense ran in 5 races as a 2 year old and then won the Derby.

If they're handled right, they usually can succeed, barring the unexpected which no one can control.

I have to grin at all the people talking about how SB "tailed off" this year.  If "tailing off" means winning two Grade 1 stakes, I suspect most owners would be happy to have it happen!  :-)

I,m on the side of the fans who dislike the name ''Ladies Classic''

A name like that is okay for a tennis match but this is a race for fillies and mares so they got it right the first time''The Distaff''

  Good to see Stardom Bound back

again and a long layoff is not impossible to overcome as Da Hoss proved in the Breeders Cup Mile.

Seeing Stardom bound in the BC would be nice but if she not fit enough now how do they expect her to be 100% for the BC? Shes a bet against. JMO

I don't think she was over worked @ 2, she just needed sometime off and perhaps they gave her to much time off if they wanted to run in the BC.  I say bring her back this winter and dodge Rachel as much as possible next year. Or retire her now because with Rachel around she won't win another Eclipse.

How can people think that either Zenyatta or stardom bound could challenge rachel when shes run almost as many times this year as Zenyatta has in her life and shes done ten times as much.Zenyatta could never catch rachel she can barely catch stakes class horses.

Didnt Dutrow get suspended for using drugs? Wouldnt tbis keep him from participating in the Breeders Cup?

hardlyhatful,

     Let me get this straight, As you said, "Or retire her now because with Rachel around she won't win another Eclipse."  Seriously?, You would retire Stardom Bound due to that reason?  Going by your rationale, I guess Rachel will be running by herself next year...

Yes, Rick Dutrow medicated his horses, but so did the majority of trainers in the business, for years. No, I don't approve of medicating horses for any reason other than treating an illness. But to rake him over the coals for the same violation that has been perpetrated for years by just about everyone else in the business is just rubbish. It is clear to me he loves his horses. He doesn't still train for IEAH because he's incompetent or cruel to his animals. When I read these diatribes about Rick Dutrow, all I can think of is "Here we go again." It's relentless and because of that, the argument against him becomes weaker every time I hear it. In my opinion if you are actually in the business and posting these comments, it is unprofessional. I would NEVER post comments of this nature about my professional peers on a blog. It makes me think that some people have axes to grind and it's not just about Rick Dutrow medicating his horses. I will assume that Dutrow is obeying the rules and has his horse's best interests at heart until there is further evidence to the contrary.

Meadow

"Like I said his latest suspension to be served  11/15-12/15 (wow the height of the season LOL) is punishment how again?"

This^

The BC will be over before he starts the suspension that he

'agreed to'.

As far as Rachel and SB? Not sure either will be running next year.

Could be the right horse but wrong trainer. I hope they don't run her in the BC it would be better to wait until she is 4 even if she has to run for Dutrow and IEAH. Look at the stats they have had with top runners, BB and the Belmont debacle, IWR and the scratch the day of The Derby and then SB needing rest. It happens every time groups like IEAH purchase horses they are just things to be used for glory and profit with little care to the horses well being until it jumps up and bites them in the proverbial backside and they look like fools.

The only thing wrong with this magnificent filly is her trainer. Let Frankel have her then we will really see a superstar.

WETHER SHE EVER RUNS AGAIN R NOT...THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FILLY ON THE PLANET...

Goodbye Kona Gold.

He was one of my absolute favorite horses.  I saw him win his second race (his 3rd overall start) in August of 98', and then, in my last year living in California, was treated to his duels with Big Jag.  After not attending the Breeders Cup when it was held in California in 93' and 97', I attended my first Breeders Cup in 2000 at Churchill Downs, and Kona Gold's win in the Sprint was a highlight of what was a special day for me personally(favorites from my Cali days like Kona, War Chant, Spain, and Tiznow all winning, and getting to meet Cecelia Straub Rubens in the paddock after the Classic a few days before she passed).  

If I had to pick the top sprinter of the Breeders Cup era, at the very least I would put Kona in the top 6 with Precisionist, Groovy, Housebuster, Artax, and Midnight Lute.  Placing Precisionist to the side, given he ran more races at a mile or longer than at sprint distances, Kona Gold was alot more durable and consistent than Artax and Midnight Lute, and he actually won a Breeders Cup Sprint(as well as running 2nd, 3rd, and 4th) while Housebuster and Grovvy(twice) faltered famously at odds-on.  

Kona Gold was not only fast(Beyers of 123, 119, 119, 118, 117) but he was remarkably consistent, at one point running 19 straight races with a Beyer of 106 or higher. Within those 19 races, he ran a Beyer of 112 or higher in 15 of those races, and of those 15 races ran a Beyer of 115 or higher on 10 occassions.  I know Groovy ran 2 Beyers over 130, and I have partial figs for Housebuster, but I can think of no other sprinter since Beyers have been published(first in 91' with the Racing Times and the next year in the DRF), that has figs which can compare to the sustained, consistent, high figs of Kona Gold.  

Lastly, I want to credit Bruce Headley for keeping Kona Gold sound and winning graded stakes races until the age of 8.  Bruce stuck to his guns and never tried Kona over 7 furlongs; physically, Kona couldn't have looked more like a proto-type sprinter, short but extremely thick and muscular.  I know Bruce had a special relationship with Kona, riding him personally quite often, and then keeping Kona around the barn after Kona retired.  If I am not mistaken, I believe Bruce Headley was one of the key consultants to Chris Cooper and Toby Maguire on the movie "Seabiscuit", and that the horse Bruce used most often was Kona Gold.  In fact, when Maguire, Cooper, and Gary Stevens were on "Charlie Rose", Cooper made reference to working with Bruce and some "Kona" horse. Stevens' eyes brightened up and chimed in "Kona Gold", and then told Cooper and Maguire just how great of a horse they had been around(even though Alex Solis rode Kona in all but 2 of his 30 races).  As an aside, I'm just watching the "Jockeys" episode in which The Pamplemouse was diagnosed with his injury; Alex Solis has had some trying moments this year, and I am sure he is mourning Kona's loss too.

Rest in peace Kona.

Nice to hear about Stardom Bound again, but I agree that sending her to the Distaff ...oops Ladies Classic (my bad..hate it too) is a tall order after her long lay off.  Dutrow would be better off starting her around January of her 4 yo season, but I have a sneaky feeling by mid November there will be a headline stating that Stardom Bound is retired from racing.  Just a sneaky gut feeling.  I had that feeling after she went on vacation following the Ashland. Beautiful filly, just her looks alone caught my eye last year.  If she does return in BC I wish her luck cuz that girl is gonna need it.  

RIP Kona Gold and Cryptoclearance.

We have lost quite a few recently and it always tugs at my heart to hear of these passings.

"It surprises me still that Man O' War raced so many times before he retired to stud at four."

Man o' War was a brilliant streak in the sky and then he was gone, raced 21 times, during which he dodged Exterminator several times. Exterminator raced til 9, under about a dozen different trainers on dry tracks and slop all over North America with weights nearly up to 140 lbs. He raced 100 times and won 34 stakes races out of his 50 total wins, which may be something of a record. He beat stayers in distances and sprinters in sprints.

He WAS durability.

If anyone thinks five races is a lot for a two-year-old, what about Alsab, who raced 22 times at two in 1941, Carry Back, who ran 21 times at two, including a race in January, in 1960, Susan's Girl, 13 races at two in 1971, Equipoise, who ran 16 times at two, and probably many other examples who all had long two-year-old campaigns and afterwards had long, successful careers. I hope horses aren't that fragile now to where 5 races is too much and ruins them.

Yes Meadow, just like Steve A,SA has  more violations than Dutrow, At three tracks this yr he had med violations and Pletcher has them to& a host of other trainers. You think Curlin wasn't beefed up? SB was thin when I saw her and Frankel said she was tired.Some of you hate Dutrow& that's ok, But he produces& he cares about his charges,I've seen it with my own eyes.Just because BB didn't win the Belmont alot of you just assume it was drugs.people need to quit with the drug stuff especially since half of you don't even know what Drugs us Vets use& what their used for.By the way IEAH takes very good care of their horses,Mott, Frankel,& a few others are trainers for them & I assume you like them, some of you are so stuck on one man.Thats really sad. I hope SB keeps working good and beats them all.Evidently the old owner of her was thinking more about how much he could get for her than well being,they always use the retiring excuse or something lame to justify selling, look at RA,she was sold right after oaks,said he was retiring then I see he still has horses he's training.I don't see Jess Jackson putting the screws to Steve A because of violations.Half the time its bull crap violations. I don't hear anyone saying anything about the trainer who gave his horse oxymorphine,3 times his horses came up with it.lets just face it, the Europeans are loaded to this yr.if SB runs it will be because shes ready, there isn't anyone conspiring.

I mourned for Stardom Bound when I read she had been transferred to Dutrow.  Staying with Paasch would have so much better for the horse.  After so many convictions for drug use, I don't understand why any owners would use Dutrow.

Rechelle if Zenyatta were owned by Jess Jackson, she surely would've been campaigned differently!....Is THAT what made Rachel great??...When I saw that filly, head down, wet, in the Woodward Winners Circle....and Jess alongside, buffonishly pumping both fists  upwards as if HE did it---is THAT what it has come down to? MAKING a filly PROVE IT vs males, or else they CANNOT be considered great? Wasn't Rachel great BEFORE Jess bought her and made her prove it???

I never said that Rick Dutrow was innocent of wrongdoing. What I am saying is, IMO, many trainers are also no more innocent that he is. The difference is he is honest about it. No one can believe he is the only one doing anything wrong. If he were, why are so many other trainers suspended. If, as some say, he should be thrown out of racing, why not every other trainer who has been suspended for the use of drugs? When I say he is honest I mean that he admits that he used drugs, himself in the past & with his horses. We all know he is not the only one in racing to have personally used drugs, either. So why would he be so constantly critisized for it if you are not also going to constantly critisize everyone else who has done so.  

The drugs he used with his horses are not drugs that he personally invented & solely used.  One could even say that his honesty, in admitting to using various drugs, has helped bring a dark secret in racing out to the forefront.  Isn't Steve Asmusson facing suspension for the use of an illegal drug? Why is nobody saying, "OMG, Rachel Alexandra isn't safe in his barn"?

So, since R. Dutrow is hardly the one & only trainer guilty of using drugs with his horses, yet he is so openly vilified, it must be because of his personality. I enjoy his exuberance & his boasting about his horses. It's better than inane comments so many other trainers give when asked questions about their horses. Just last week, on TVG,one of the hosts said something like, (after a trainer was interviewed)"I don't know why we ask trainers these questions. We know they are going to lie to us, anyway". Is that better than an interview with R. Dutrow? Would you rather hear a blanket toned down statement that really says nothing or would you rather hear an excited , exuberant comment?

I am also wondering if anyone watched the video, here on Bloodhorse, about Big Brown at his retirement home. The host of the video said that Rick visits BB often & when BB hears his voice, he runs to greet him & is always very happy to see him. Animals are very honest & have no pretense. If BB did not have a close relationship, and a good one, with Rick, he would not react as he does when he sees Rick. I believe his reaction to Rick speaks volumes about how close a relationship Rick has with his horses. No horse will run to greet someone who treated him poorly or didn't spend a whole lot of good quality time with him.  

So, why is Rick Dutrow so actively disliked? It can't be because of the drugs since he is not in a world onto himself in that arena. It can't be because he has a great relationship with his horses & takes great care of them. It can't be because he has one of the lowest percentages of his horses breaking down. So, why then, is it not a good thing that Stardom Bound is in his barn? Isn't she entitled to great care & to have a great relationship with her trainer? Isn't she entitled to one day be so happy to see her trainer that she will run to greet him when he visits like BB? Does she know or care about what Rick boasts about or says in interviews?

ColetteMarie

Kona Gold was a crowd favorite with those white silks and that battling, bobbing head--up close he had  beautiful, kind  eyes...Hats off to Bruce Headley for always being kind to him and it's a loss for the fans of the Kentucky Park where he resided.

Stardom Bound is just plain tired of having to win the hard way-losing so much much  much ground when she races

Do the right thing  and retire her

Shawn, your comment about whittingham pretty much sums up your weaknesses. This isn't grade school. You don't get points for that kind of sorry comeback. Like I don't know Whittingham is dead?

You hate Dutrow. Fine.

Hate usually colors one's ability to be rational. I have better things to do than fight that fight.

But good luck with your notions.

Colette, obviously you don't read the comments regularly. A LOT of people have discussed Asmussen as well and in fact it went on and on in one blog comment section.

We're all wondering when that latest will be acted on and if this time around he'll have to transfer his horses to barns where he'll receive NO financial gain. However, he can appeal, but the drug is zero tolerance so....

He's had a few more drug violations than Dutrow, he'd probably say because he has 5 times as many horses. They BOTH have equal #'s of total violations which is everything from the wrong shoes, no foal papers, late to the paddock etc.

To a lot of people those repeated violations start to show a lack of respect for authority, but aren't that rare because those kind of mistakes can happen to anyone at least once.

Dutrow's honesty? His claim is "I don't know what it does, but I like it." up to the latest: "To me, it is just not as big a deal as everyone is trying to make it out to be,” he said. “The last time I got a clenbuterol positive on some filly, nobody cared, nobody asked me. It’s not a big deal for a horse to come up with an overage for clenbuterol.”

If you think that's honest and admitting an unintentional error?

He even referred to it in the wrong measurement, named one that doesn't even exist. If he can't even tell HOW it's measured, thinks it "isn't a big deal". I don't know how anyone can defend that. Sure maybe his own issues from the past have affected his thought process but the rule he broke IS a rule at every track he runs at.

Others with personal abuse and suspensions for that? Not TOO many trainers that anyone I know can recall.

Why do people dislike him? Try remembering how he insulted other horse, other trainers. How whenever he's nailed for a drug violation (this is #19) he immediately says another guy does it more than me, another guy can't be winning at this rate without a drug violation to do so. He's made these accusations and excuses not just once but multiple times . Accusations against guys who have had maybe 1 or 2 incidentals, or nothing at all,nothing even remotely close to Dutrow's record.

THAT is why people have issues with him. He doesn't seem to think he's doing anything wrong. When THAT happens, ANY horse in his barn could be subjected to this.

Michelle did more for BB than Rick EVER did.

Some are just friendly guys. Did you read the article about Storm Cat? How Mr Waldman, who has been the caretaker and manager of this horse since he came to Overbrook as a stud, couldn't get him to come when he called?

He loves the old guy and is super kind to him always. Maybe SC was pouting cause Mr.Waldman cut him off from his favorite occupation?

No more weak than you telling us to ASK someone who is deceased. Trying to impress that you have insight that others don't? Also, do you know that Frankel has tried to counsel Rick and get him to change his ways in the past?

I don't hate anyone.

I just don't admire cheaters who flaunt it.

Fortunately for us, we can choose not to use those guys to manage our horses.

I also don't get people who DO admire those people and try to trash the decent guys like Chris.

Paula, that statement isn't really accurate. A lot of trainers have had a few drug positvies in the past, a lot have had none. That's a pretty sweeping condemnation of a lot of guys who don't deserve it.

ruffian 518 "Evidently the old owner of her was thinking more about how much he could get for her than well being,they always use the retiring excuse or something lame to justify selling"

Considering that Charles Cono DIED from complications of lupus and pulmonary fibrosis a few months after he sold Stardom Bound, I'm going to give him a pass. Or do you still consider that a lame excuse for selling her?

sym... Man O War ducked who ? Lol...  you have to be kidding.  No really .. you MUST be kidding.

SB was a great filly there for awile but I dont think that she's even going to come close to Zenyatta or RA. She'll be exusted trying to keep up and win the BCC if she races in it. I'd wait for next year, if she gets better.

COLLETTEMarie: I got an Email from Stardom Bound the other day and she doesn't understand why she has been sent to Purgatory. She tried real hard last year but winds up with IEAH, Dutrow and a scuzzy stall a Aqueduct. Nice home in California overlooking the mountains to a cold bunker with the AA train running past every 3 minutes. If the IEAH/Dutrow connection needs to be defined then you need to rent a stall at Aqueduct. It will probably take you 3 years to get over the culture shock.

Matthew, we would never have known how great Rachel is if Jess Jackson hadn't purchased her.  Her old owner/trainer would never have put her up against the boys, much less against older colts.  I liked her old trainer, but he was old fashioned and Rachel deserves better and has proven that she is better.  Zenyatta's owners have no reason to not have campaigned her better this season, other than they didn't want to risk her winning streak.  Why else, in 10 months, would ANY horse only have run 3 times when they are sound??  Why else would they have NEVER faced any real competition??  

Citation-

Thanks for bringing that up.  They ran horses in those days.  I think horses aren't as sound as they used to be, so in some sense they can't run them that often anymore.  But unless the five races were run within a ten week span, it is difficult to think what was so taxing about it.

Sym-

Saying Man o War "dodged" Exterminator might not be the most accurate statement.  That they didn't race against each other would be the way I put it.  I doubt that Man o War's connections were afraid to run against anybody.  And if you think of the weight concession Man o War would have gotten, I would think that if it fit in their plans they would have loved their horses chances against him.  Exterminator was all guts and class and a wonderful , great thoroughbred.  I love those eras when horses sprinted and ran long during each season they raced, where there were still handicaps and horses had to prove their greatness by being able to give away more and more weight and still win.  

Brilliant ride Mr. Gomez.  Thank you.

You know Shawn, the fact that Rick Dutrow makes a mistatement about a drug dosage is a silly thing to get upset about. As for his statements about other horses and/or trainers, they are pretty mild in the scheme of things. He is totally into his horses and he gets emotionally involved in hyping them. Colette Marie is so right about this. I find him pretty refreshing in many respects. He may not be warm and fuzzy to all the other horses and some of their trainers but he is wholly invested in his own horses and I like that about him. I believe he takes great care of them.

RIP, Kona Gold.  Such a sad loss.  He should have had many more years of greeting his admirers and posing for photos at the Horse Park.

As long as the sport's top trainers are allowed to saddle medicated horses, racing has suffered. Allowing Bute and Lasix, etc., was the beginning of this end. Dutrow is no different than Asmussen, Biancone, Mullins, Pletcher, et al. But all of them are a hell  of a lot different than John Nerud, Woody Stephens and Charlie Whittingham. Can anyone remember one of those conditioners with their tit in a wringer?

There is too much money at the end of the rainbow--in the breding shed and the sales ring--and the current climate allows these conditioners way too much leeway. Give 'em 90 days  first offense, one year second offense and troubles are solved.

Jason: New to Tempe since you left is Freddie's Frozen Custard. Run, don't walk.

Anyone see "Jockeys" last night?  Stardom Bound was one of the storylines.

I think it was after her Ashland loss, "The Hat" said something like...."after their two year old season (or in their third season-don't remember exactly what he said), fillies get a maternal instinct/their hormones kick in and they want to have babies".

Never heard that one before?!  Any validity to that?

Paula, I've seen on here a bunch people who are in the game, know Dutrow trying to tell people how it really is. Keep believing whatever.

My comment to you is you just included a bunch of people who DON'T deserve to be classified with Dutrow.

Tell me, do you think someone who drugs his horses enough to be in as much trouble as Rick has been, ISN'T even totally aware of WHAT he gives the drug FOR or WHAT it accomplishes or harms is actually GOOD to his horses?

All these 'anti-drug' people repping him? All these 'anti-drug' owners using REPEAT violators like Dutrow, Asmussen and Mullins?

If people are anti-drug, then they should be condemning these guys who have SO many violations. We're talking about guys with DOZENS of them not just a few over long careers. Those very can more easily be forgiven as true errors, contamination, tampering. NOT 18-25 of them can be.

Sorry, can't sell that to me or anyone reputable in the game.

Being a nurse you know what drugs do to people, Dad being a Dr knows that. Us being in the game know what it does to the horses and I would have rather she stayed with Mr. Frankel who really DOES love and care for HIS horses.

I think the industry needs to determine or define what is clearly

a serious drug violation. When someone crosses that line and commits an offense they should receive a punishment that means something. After the Black Sox threw the world series, baseball brought in Judge Landis . He scared baseball players straight in regards to gambling. Baseball players know that if they gamble they are thrown out of the game. The punishment is so severe that most players dont even think about it. I believe that if the industry is serious about stopping the use of drugs they will have to do something like baseball did.

P.S. Paula, tell me how MINOR you would have thought it was if he'd have said what he did about them, about YOU or someone that you like and admire? He p.o'd plenty of people including some classy guys, like ONE trainer that Jason and almost everyone in racing thinks highly of. David Carroll, who a lot thought would beat the cr** out of RD, if he didn't odds were on Dallas doing it. RD didn't stop there either.

Tiz, you're right. See how people don't read? A couple of us mentioned both Mr Cono and his health issues and subsequent passing due to the illness and Chris had his own health problems in past. He also said that Mr. Cono was much more ill than anyone knew.

The Gallant Bloom was a heckuva race.  It was good to see Indian Blessing back at her best, and she needed to be.  Sara Louise is showing that her form at Churchill last November, when she split 2 meetings with Rachel, was absolutely legit, running a 2nd strong race following a 9 month hiatus.  Right now, it appears Godolphin is going to keep her at one turn races, but given time she should be a serious factor at 9 furlongs. It certainly is no disgrace that in her last 2 losses she has been beaten by Rachel and Indian Blessing.

As good as Sara Louise ran in the Gallant Bloom, and as great as her potential is, it was Indian Blessing that took the glory.  Already a 2-time Eclipse winner, the Gallant Bloom shaped up as a crossroads race for Indian Blessing, with her odds as 2nd choice reflecting the thought of some that she was a filly on the decline.  However, Indian Blessing brought her "A" game to the Gallant Bloom.  A normal horse probably would have been used up after breaking slowly and then being rushed up to join the leaders within the first quarter of mile.  Yet not only did Indian Blessing have something left in her tank down the stretch, she was able to hold off a powerful stretch runner in Sara Louise while conceding that rival 6 lbs.  

Indian Blessing has now run 1st or 2nd in 15 of her 16 career starts, with 10 of those 15 being wins.  Her graded stakes tally was pushed to 9, with 5 grade 1 wins, 3 grade 2s, and a grade 3.  She faces a daunting task if she runs back in the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint; first, it is abundantly clear she is superior on dirt than synthetics, and second, she is likely to face defending champ and recent Woodbine Mile winner, Ventura, which would be no easy feat no matter what the surface.  Yet, for the moment, I will just savor the Gallant Bloom, happy that a multiple Eclipse champion was able to deliver a classy and courageous performance.

Pam S. - yes you are right. sorry for the mix up of races. i seem to know what i want to type but it never gets through on the message board! thanx for the correction :)

Indian Blessing showed the heart of a champion in fending of the talented Sara Louise, in her fist win of the season. I've been rooting for this filly for along time and it was fantastic to see her get back to the winners circle.

Rechelle maybe their plan has been to face off with the best horses in the world in the Classic and they wanted a fresh horse???...

Rechelle I disagree with you---Rachel's old trainer is old fashioned, yes, but I disagree she deserved better---I thing she's a great horse, period, and she shouldn't have to prove that to me!

sym, "Old Bones" was a gelding...of course they ran him as long as he could run. (OB aka Exterminator one of my top 5 favorites)

MOW retired because of the weights the handicappers were going to put on him if he ran at 4. His owner said he would not allow the handicappers to put weight on MOW until they broke him.

At TWO yrs old he carried 130 lbs 6 times, at 3 he carried as much as 138 pounds, 32 pounds more than some of his competitors, so the weights were going to start well upwards of 138 lbs.

How many OLDER horses ever carried 138 lbs, never mind a 3 year-old colt.

"The Distaff" is the proper name for the race, and I think "The Ladies Classic" is a ridiculous name. There was no reason to change it. But they need to change it back.

Shawn P,

I can read quite well, thank you. I know there has been discussions about Steve Ausmussen & his drug infractions. But, the tone of those discussions is much less vicious. Some act like any horse in Dutrow's care will be dead in 5 minutes and that is just not true. I could never understand, last year, why so many disliked Big Brown because of his trainer. I fully agree that all trainers, R. Dutrow included, should know everything there is to know about a drug they are using. Unfortunately, most people have no idea how the medications they are taking, themselves, work. They know that this pill is for their blood pressure & that one is for their heart & oh yes, my doctor told me I need to take them. That is about the extent of most people's knowledge of their meds. So, I would imagine, trainers being people, too, they ask no more questions than the average person. If a doctor tells them to take a certain pill & it will, for example, help their breathing, they take it.  If a vet tells a trainer that  such & such drug will help the horse's breathing, they probably would give it, esp. if they trust the vet. Believe me, I have given thousands & thousands of meds. to patients thruout my career & not one patient has ever asked me exactly how a medication works.

A few weeks ago, I responded to another blog here on Bloodhorse. It was a blog started by Graeme on  "The Final Turn" . There was a discussion about the use of Lasix with race horses. I posted a very detailed description on exactly how Lasix works. Lasix is definitely not an "enhancement drug" unless one considers the very basic act of breathing an enhancement. When horses bleed into their lungs, it is similar to us trying to breath when we have water in our lungs from drowning. Since I posted on that blog about Lasix, I have had several people, connected with horse racing, get in touch with me asking more questions about Lasix. They don't know how Lasix works but assume the vet, being the medical professional, must know. Since the vets do not seems to educate about the various drugs, I would love to write a full explanation of all possible drugs used in racing & find a way to get it into the hands of all trainers.

Cowboy Bob,

I am really glad to hear you have heard from Stardom Bound!!LOL!!

Believe me, NYC isn't so bad. I spent the first 25 yrs. of my life living in NYC in a 2 bedroom (one was really a dining room), one bathroom, 4th floor walk up without an elevator, along with my 5 brothers & sisters & 2 parents right next to the A train. Sure, the windows rattled when the train past by, but that was only every 7 minutes or so. Not so bad considering we had 6 whole minutes of quiet in between. We all had very happy childhoods & how we lived just was the way it was. Somehow, we all survived "Purgatory". Maybe I should consider it "Divine Intervention" that we all managed to graduate from college & have successful careers. What do you think??!!

Stardom Bound will be just fine. Unless that every 3 minute AA train you refer to comes right into her stall, she will pay no attention to it at all & it won't faze her in the slightest. The key to her happiness will be how much the people around her care about her. She has that.  

Culture shock for me was the first night I lived in the country & I walked right into a tree trunk, as I went out to my car, because I couldn't see the darn tree. Then, there was the horses, when the largest animal I had ever had before that was a large dog. It didn't take me, though, 3 years to be as comfortable in the country as I was in the city.

ColetteMarie

To keep the facts straight Man O' War never ducked Exterminator and in fact the great gelding was invited to run against Sir Barton and Man O' War in Canada but declined when conditions could not be met for Exterminator so be sure to keep things on track when saying one horse ducked another.

RECHELLE

Sometimes I think you make it your only goal to slam Zenyatta and her connections. Here's a newsflash,they probably don't give neg. blogs a seconds thought!

STEVE S

Regarding your remark that some are "crying" over Lava Man's return to racing,some like GREG and myself care far more about a horse than just cashing a ticket. That's something you probably don't have a clue about,showing some understanding for animals. BTW,if you have problems about what I said about Bob Baffert,then deal with it! So,you picked Music Note to win Breeders'. I'll make certain I remind you of that when she loses,you can bet on it!

It seems like Kona Gold just arrived at the Kentucky Horse Park. I was very sorry to hear about this. What an awful morning that was for the devoted staff at the Hall of Champions. A visitor noticed that Kona Gold was in distress in his paddock about 8:30 a.m. and reported it.

I am so glad that I got to see Kona Gold in May 2008 at the Hall of Champions. RIP.

Let's point out the obvious,Godolphin wins the Beldame-go to window with confidence

With Zenyatta, Ventura, and Indian Blessing, where does Stardom Bound go?  Seems like wherever she may go she gets beat.  She's got the synthetic "kick" but without a race over the track prior to the Breeder's Cup I'm really not too sure.

If the man in the Black Hat wants to run Lava Man-There nothing you can do about it.

O'Neil wears his Black Hat Proudly-he likes being the bad guy

It would be great to see her come roaring back.  It just shows us how hard it is to keep form for an entire year.  Makes Rachel Alexandra look even more spectacular.

Draynay 25 Sep 2009 3:27 PM

nay nay,

Last time I checked a year was 12 months long. Less than a year ago RA was getting whipped by Sara Louise and putting up a meager 84 Beyer in the process. Still less than a year ago RA was winning a nw2L allw. and scoring only an 82 Beyer. Neither of those races was spectacular. Quit lying and get your facts straight.

Collette, think whatever you want.

Nothing those IN the game can apparently do about the odd perception people have of the various issues in the game or the people who contribute in the negative.

I would have sincerely believed that someone who went through what YOU did to get your kid to see MTB, had contact with a decent guy in the game would have been insulted by the things Rick Dutrow has said about various colleagues of his. MOST of whom are just as nice and willing to reach out to the fans as Chip is. THOSE are the same guys who couldn't/can't believe what RD does and says.

Most of RD's colleagues took the high road until he just kept gouging time after time.

His admission of using steroids on BB, his ingenuous ACT of not understanding the various drugs, helped sweep up Larry Jones into the maelstrom of hatred when Eight Belles INEXPLICABLY broke down.

Leading the esteemed Dr Bramlage to say he had NEVER seen anything like that and doubted he ever would again.

At the VERY least I would have thought his sexist comments on NATIONAL television, played over and over again would have INSULTED any female and definitely did those in racing as well as those males who have been credited with embracing the excellence of females in the game. Traditionalists like Wayne Lukas up to and including the current greats like Kiaran, Todd etc.

Sad, a story line like THAT and the IEAH conspiracy theory took up valuable air time when we don't get much time to begin with.

How many casual fans do you think THAT alienated?

Those saying RA has had enough for the year, don't bring back LM etc. Supporting a guy who has been known to run a horse back within a couple days in THIS day and age. Or bring back from retirement or injury horses who SHOULD NOT be running. (BB's hoof issues,etc)

But you seem to be armed with all the information available in a very CLOSED society of racing without being a PART OF that world, so again whatever.

A skewed idea of people in the game by people outside the game.

More of the same, by people like steve s who labels Doug as a bad guy when he's one of the nicest there is. When the owners see fit to bring LM back, who better than the man who has been his caretaker when he rose to the top?

Collette, also on the Lasix? If people have a brain in their head they know exactly how it works. I would NEVER want ANYONE messing with our horses if he/she didn't know that.

What an insult to MOST in racing. I'd say almost to a person every trainer and owner has read the latest study published on Lasix, by the experts who did a long term study on it.

If they have questions? My bet is a REPUTABLE member of the RACING community would be asking their vet if they don't understand it, certainly not an anonymous commentor on a blog comment section.

Frankly, those in the industry have been saying for YEARS that Lasix is beneficial, DOES NOT mask or enhance anything. Some who are actually IN the industry have spoken about it on these blogs.

You're talking to someone whose Dad is a Dr, other family members are RN's, veterinarians and pharmacists you don't have to 'explain' anything about it to me either. Also considering that my family has been involved in racing for generations, the same applies.

Householder,

    She has had prior experience over the track, when she won last years BCJ fillies. She loves that track which will only add to the possibility of her doing well.

Shawn P,

I have to agree with your comments when it comes to Rick Dutrow. The bottom line is THERE IS NO HONESTY IN A CHEATER no matter who he or she is.  He knows the rules, yet trys to mask what he did wrong with half hearted "I didn't know" or "he said she said" comments.  Plus his demeaning of other horses and trainers is another distasteful error of someone in his line of work.  

But one of the most discusting things about the man (and I'm glad you didn't fail to mention it) is the way he disrespects women in the horseracing industry. And on NATIONAL TV no less.  I, being a women myself, remember that quite clear.  Therefore it does suprise me that Collette and Paula seem to be defending him so much.

As for medication, when it comes to me or my horses, I ask exactly what the drug is for, how it works, what are the side effects, what are the effects if used with other medication, and what the long term effects on the body could be if used for a period of time. Now, I'm not saying that everyone asks these questions nor am I condeming those that don't but most everyone that I know, when receiving medication from a Dr. for themselves or loved ones or from a DVM for their horses or other animals, does ask these kind of questions.

I am sorry I upset you, Shawn P. That was not my intention. I would never compare R. Dutrow to Chip Woolley. To me,Chip stands head & shoulders above him and all other trainers. Rick D. kind of reminds me of other figures in sports who are very controversal in what they say, publicly. They can say what they say & it really has no bearing on me. I don't have to live with any of them.  I just don't see R. Dutrow as any worse than many others when it comes to drugs. He is not the smartest of persons & doesn't understand how any of the drugs work. I suspect that he is not alone in that area, either. I have been a Critical Care and Emergency Room nurse for 30 years. It has been my experience that most people know no more about the meds they put into their own bodies other than it is for their B/P, their diabetes, their heart, etc. They don't know if their B/P med. is a beta blocker, a calcium channel blocker, etc. or how one type works versus another. They don't participate in deciding, with their doctor, which they take. They take Lasix. But, they don't know the physiology on how it works other than it prevents them from going into congestive heart failure or that it decreases the swelling in their legs. Many who are on Potassium don't know that they are on it because of the loss of Potassium from taking Lasix. How many people on Lipator & the like know that it is very taxing on the liver & can cause a degree of liver failure? How many know Motrin can do the same?  To me, it would stand to reason that if most don't really know about the meds. they are putting into their own bodies, it is unlikely they would know any more about the meds they give any animals under their care.

My own sister is a vet, with small animals. I asked her the other night if people ask her questions about the meds. she prescribes for their animals. She said they only ask the very basic questions, like is it for their animal's heart or for their arthritis, etc.

The emails sent to me after I posted about Lasix were mostly comments/ questions about knowing what the Potassium level is before the Lasix is give & replacing it prior to racing. One emailer, an owner, had no idea that a low Potassium level can cause the rhythm of the heart to malfunction. His own father is on Lasix & he didn't know the ramifications of a low Potassium level in terms of his father heart, either. He was curious why his father's doctor & his horse's vets have never passed on that particular piece of information.

I really believe that most people believe that the doctor, whether it be their own doctor or their vet, are the experts. They expect that the doctor will manage the meds. I wouldn't imagine a trainer refusing a dose of Potassium for their horse given Lasix, if it is offered & the reason why was explained to them. I am sure your own dad would never give a patient Lasix without first knowing that the patient's Potassium level was in a normal range and also prescribe Potassium to be taken when taking the Lasix.

Please don't think I am condoning race horses being given meds. I just don't believe all information about the meds. is common knowledge in the racing world. But, then again, it isn't in the human world either. I have to say the vets should, IMO, have knowledge of what each specific horse's blood values are, before administering that Lasix & following it up with a dose of Potassium before going on to the next horse. They should also know if the horse's level of hydration,that morning,has room to safely drop with Lasix. That to me, would be practicing responsible medicine. As long as Lasix remains legal in this country, that should be standard operating procedure.The vets are the medical professionals & it is up to them to practice in the best interest of the horses.

ColetteMrie

LDP,

Where do you run her come BC day? The filly/mare division is strong. I think she needs to get a recent run over the track first...perhaps the Lady's Secret.  

Just ask the people who claim ahorse off of Doug O Neil what kind of guy he is.

Yes you did upset the kid and a few others.

Rick and two or three others are in a class of their own when it comes to positives/violations. It's not correct to classify others with him. Very counterproductive and hurtful.

The big difference between pet owners and race horse owners and trainers? Race horses are NOT pets in the big picture. We may love them, but they are very costly and to a trainer? That is their livelihood. Don't most of us take care of business when we depend on it to survive?

Many of my patients now ask about meds, have their own PDR's etc. However, the big difference in humans is they KNOW that we are well-educated in the whole process and have been brought up to trust us. Still that doesn't stop most from double-checking on what is prescibed with their pharmacist, does it?

I Dont like dutrow and his owners betting huge huge huge money on their own horses-makes race unplayable

Also Collette, I get calls all the time from 'people' in the industry who may want further explanation or opinion on certain meds for the horses (and themselves), my family members who are pharmacists do too (lots of owners).

Frankly a lot of the trainers I know are very astute about the meds, that's why Dutrows whining falls short with me.

I've listened to some race trackers as well as some rodeo people discuss the benefits/contraindications of certain meds and I feel like I'm at a conference or listening to a pharmaceutical rep, it's amazing the knowledge most have.

to Footlick, it's not the horses. Back when Lucas was a QH trainer, I noticed an alarming rise in the body count, I stopped counting after 100. Then people stopped taking their horses to him, and suddenly he became a TB trainer. And the body count started rising. I said, he's doing something to those horses! After a 100, I got so depressed I stopped getting the BloodHorse for about 10 years. Strangely enought, after Lucas stopped training QH, they seemed to get better. I think if they stopped the steroids, they'd stop the dying.

Sage? That's inaccurate.

Nobody stopped taking their horses to LuKas in QH. He had just done nearly everything there was to do and it was far more lucrative in the TB business. Same reason Bob Baffert left the QH's, same reason LOTS left it. As a matter of fact, Wayne had QH's up until last year and the ones he sold at auction were bringing top dollar.

The BH doesn't report on QH so what is your point?

He was the leading QH trainer when he transitioned.

You do NOT have your facts straight.

Steroids ARE banned in most TB venues. LOOK at his and a few others violations over the past 40 years. Some of these younger guys like Dutrow have had MORE than some of the old time trainers in their careers which are 2 or 3 times as long as Ricks or Steves.

It always gets me when someone who has NEVER posted gets on one of these comment sections and states something so negative, inane and incorrect, then disappears back into the woodwork.

Sage- I can't even find my post that you are commenting on!  Senility I guess.  But taking in the content of your post I probably said something like horses aren't as sound as they used to be.  I would stand by that statement.  With the advent of lasix and bute allowed on raceday, the medicated thoroughbred could live up to their talent.  That means that they got the chance to stand stud.  That means that they pass on their weaknesses.  In consequence, that weakens the breed.  I'm hoping for an influx of euro bloodlines to put some needed stamina into our breed.  Horses that excelled w/o meds can still pass on bad traits, I'm not saying that.  Buckpasser is a perfect example.  Golden as a broodmare sire, he also passed on bad legs throughout his stud career.  Northern Dancer is well known for passing on brilliance as well as flaws.  But we have to strt strengthening the breed so we can start breeding animals that want to go 10-12 furlongs again- not trying to stretch 8-9 furlong horses to get those distances.

And Tim is right- Mr Lukas left QH at the top of his game.  So did Mr Baffert.  I think that is why they still feel speed and conformation are the greatest assets in their thoroughbreds.

My heart dropped as soon as I heard Stardom Bound was headed to "Duh"tro's barn. It figures nothing good has come of it...

Some horses are just like some people. They don't adjust to changes well. A happy horse is the best one. Maybe there was a dog,cat or something she was used too and the change is confusing. We just have to see how is goes.

Yes, I miss Stardom Bound. While I am here and in the frame of thought of missing horses or lack of news as such, Where is The Pamplemousse?

Hey, Don't Mess with DeWayne!

To: Tim G, Shawn P,& anyone else I hurt with the words I posted,

I am so sorry. My role in life is normally the peace maker. I go out of my way to NOT be controversial. That is why it doesn't sit well with me to know I have hurt others. I wanted to come back to this blog & post my apology. I may feel like I am a part of the racing community since racing is in my home, via television, every day & I daily read the news of the racing world. But, in reality, I am not. I should not have stuck my nose into what I do not have first hand knowledge. There are many here who obviously do have  first hand knowledge of the various trainers and other connections since they do live within the racing world.  I have never met R. Dutrow or even seen him in person. I suppose my tendency of thinking of a glass as half full rather than half empty colored my very limited knowledge of R. Dutrow. My position in good standing (I hope), within the racing world (in a very limited way),means a lot to me. In the few years I have been a racing fan, racing has been very good to me. A chance meeting of a racehorse owner, as my patient in the ER, led to me meeting a lot of very nice people within the racing world as I searched for his favorite horse, in retirement, for him. That led to a trainer giving me a retiring racehorse & shipping him across country to me. While he laid over in Kentucky for a few days, enroute to NY, the connections of other racehorses he traveled with took him in & gave him the rest he needed before putting him in a van for the last leg of his trip to NY. They couldn't have been nicer and treated me as though I was the owner of a multi million dollar horse, with daily phone calls & updates. The whole story led to an article being written about me in the Blood Horse magazine in June of 2008 and it also led to my then 12 yr. old son & I presenting the award, in the Winner's Circle, to the winner of the 2008 Man O' War at Belmont. Then, this year, we were so incredibly fortunate to be lucky enough to meet & spend time with Chip Woolley & Mine That Bird at Saratoga.

There are so many incredible people   in the racing world. I have been very fortunate to have been welcomed into their world to the degree I have been. I would never knowingly do or say anything to hurt anyone. Posting about someone I really know nothing about was not  the smartest thing I have ever done & that lack of information has led to me hurting some people. I am truly sorry for that.

ColetteMarie

PS: By the way, I was able to find my patient's horse. His name is 'Influent' & he is living a very happy life in retirement in NJ. My plan had been to bring Mike (my patient & Influent's owner) to visit him. But, it was not to be. Mike passed away, without ever leaving the hospital, at the very young age of 50 in May 2008.

Colette

Collette Marie- There have been many worse posts than yours and I'm sorry you feel you have to apologize, because you don't.  The unfortunate thing in my mind is that the very trainers who get these violations also get very high profile horses.  In my opinion, there should be no medication allowed on raceday-period.  Any trainer who says they have no knowledge of what the drugs do should not be training.  And thank you for telling us about your horse and your patient and your experiences with the thoroughbred community.  I'm happy that you have had great experiences and have been able to do the things you do.  Please do not be afraid to post on here ever!

Hey Collette, you don't have to apologize. It's your opinion and that's what these blogs are designed for.

I enjoy your posts. Loved hearing the story about the retiree and what Kim and Chip did for you and your son.

Just know that almost all of us IN racing love it with a passion, even greater than that of the fans.

It gets tougher by the day too.

Part of the reason your comments may have stung is YOU and your son are obviously huge fans, love the game. You are obviously a caring and GOOD person. (Anyone who could put up with us Docs and deal with CCU every day is an angel).

Just be assured that my comments were not meant to be hurtful to YOU and I'm sure Shawn's weren't either.

Not too sure comments hurt coming from some, just kind of fight with those and tell them off LOL.

However, it seems like we have to justify, clarify and show support to those who DON'T deserve to be bashed, more than we ever have.

Collette,

Just as others have stated, there is no need to apologize. Just because everyone may not agree with you does not mean that your comments and opinions here are not valued just as much as the next person.  We all learn something here.  And hopefully you have learned what a nasty person Rick Dutrow can be, if not to the horse racing industry to the many women that work with and love these animals.  There is just no room in this great sport for a person of such poor integrity.  And that, too, is just my opinion.

I, for one, hold you in high esteem because I think that you have a great BIG heart and a wonderful personal story to share. I wish you nothing but the best in life. So, keep on blogging!!!

HORSWLD

I agree,I can't stand Dutrow!

Hmm, you seem to have misunderstood everything I said. So, I'll try again. I bought a retired 3yo Racing QH who wouldn't run. I trained him for western & english pleasure, 3 gaited and trotting races. As a member of the AQHA I got at reduced rates the Quarter Racing Journal. In it I would read about my horses relatives. I started noticing that this one trainer was losing horses on the race track. Other trainers would lose them in barn fires, collitis X, freeway accidents. Not Lukas. If what you say is true, that he was highly thought of when he left, I can only say, I was guilty of wishful thinking. But as for him running out of QH, there are millions of them, only a few 100,000 TB. When I lost Buddy, I got an Arab, and didn't get the Journal any more. But I had a subscription to the BloodHorse since I was 13. I noticed Lukas turning up and his horses dying right away. When my arab died, I let my subscription lapse. 10 years later, I got Sage, and started looking on the internet and found a lot of QH, TB, and standardbred sites. I also started getting the BH again. Now, a lot more horses were dying, not just DWL's. I've only seen Lukas once on Los Alamitos as trainer and owner, last year. His horse didn't win. He is never listed on the top 10 trainers or owners, either national or at Los Al.

As for the assertion that TB racing bans steroid use, I have the Sept 12th BH with the lovely Rachel on the front, on the last page is Graeme Beaton's "Let's Move Forward", (it's also a blog here), on it he states that 'The rejection of a ban on race-day furosemide (Salix) in this country is but one example. We are the only major racing jurisdiction in the world to allow it... Why is that?' And Salix "..that it dilutes urine so that it becomes more difficult to detect other legal and illegal medications".  1 month ago, in out of competition testing, 2 standardbred trainers were given 10 YEARS SUSPENSION for use of  steroids. How's that for a vacation?

Sagerider2

Wayne didn't train his own QH's since he got into TB racing full time. His ex trained them even after the divorce and the last year he was in it Chris O'Dell trained for him.

He's 74 and has said he isn't nearly as driven as he used to be. He's definitely a lot more mellow and a lot funnier. His two major owners passed away and he just wasn't getting the good horses any more. I'm not so sure that he lost that many QH's when he was training them. Almost ALL of his QH owners followed him right into TB racing and stayed loyal.

TB's, he trained thousands of them and relatively speaking the higher the number you HAVE the higher the number you're likely to have suffer an injury.

Comparing QH, Standarbred and TB racing is like apples and oranges. The med rules are different. I think the new study on Salix is going to force the Europeans to rethink. The percentage of horses who had bleeding seems to be cruel to just let them bleed.

Colette, yes, no need to apologize as long as you now agree to be a RD-hater, we'd appreciate it if you would write 500 words on how much you hate dutrow to complete your apolegetic mission.

Don't apologize to these people. Goodness gracious, they have no sense of honor, to go blogging about how much they hate so and so, about all of their "inside" knowledge, about who is "good" and who is "bad" and if you don't agree with them.......we'll hate on you, too.

Pathetic.

Shawn P, I agree with you when it comes to Lasix. As you & I both know, it is NOT an enhancement drug whether a human or a horse or any animal takes it. There is nothing worse than not being able to get air when one's lungs are full of liquid. The panic I have seen in patients faces, when they come into the ER with congestive heart failure (fluid in the lungs) is heartbreaking. Their fight for air  prevents them from even speaking. It always disturbs me when I see, in print, that with race horses, Lasix is thought of as an enhancement drug. That is what prompted me to post about Lasix on the 'The Final Turn' blog started by Graeme B, here on Bloodhorse. Too many people do believe Lasix is an enhancement drug.

When a horse bleeds, they don't understand what is happening to them & I believe as do you, that it is very cruel to let it happen to them when there is a medication, Lasix, that can prevent it. European tracks should allow it to be given, but with some parameters. My problem with how it is used in the racing world, here in the US, is that it is not used as carefully as it is in the human world. I could be wrong, since I am not in the racing community, but I don't believe a horse's blood work is drawn before they race to make sure their potassium level is within a normal range or that they are not too dehydrated after being given Lasix on the morning of race day. That is my problem with Lasix being given to race horses. I feel that replacing electrolytes after a race is like closing the barn door after the horse is out. Someone, by the name of Scott, responded to my post about Lasix, on the 'Final Turn' blog. He, apparently, is involved in racing. He said that electrolytes are replaced after the horse races. That is what I don't understand. I am happy that, as you say, most trainers know everything about Lasix. I am truly not trying to be controversial, but why, if they know that potassium is lost, to a large degree, when giving Lasix & that Potassium regulates the rhythm of the heart, wouldn't they give Potassium replacement before the strenuous act of racing?

Why can't vets give a Potassium replacement as the same time they give the Lasix? I don't know how closely tracks work with blood labs, but why can't vets draw a horse's blood on race day morning, before giving the Lasix, so they know what the horse's levels are. That would give them some idea if the Lasix will put a horse in a dangerous level. As I am sure you know, Shawn, there is a range of normal in electrolyte levels. As with humans, if the horse's potassium level is on the high end of normal, then the vet could comfortably know that the drop in level, after the Lasix, will not put the horse into a dangerous level. But, if the Potassium level is on the low end of normal, then it is a given that after Lasix they will have too low a potassium level.

The hospital where I work is the closest hospital, with a level 1 cardiac department, to West Point. We have, over the years, had more than a few cadets brought in, after strenuous workouts/ physical training, with prolonged runs of ventricular tachycardia(V. Tach.) There is little that separates V. Tach. from V. fibrillation (cardiac arrest). Every single cadet, brought in with prolonged runs of V. Tach., have had too low Potassium levels. They lose their Potassium thru perspiring & have not replaced it via Gatorade, etc.

Shawn, not knowing the exact potassium level at the exact time the Lasix is given is my only issue with Lasix on the racetrack. Would it be feasible for a lab. technician to draw the horse's blood at, say, 3 or 4am, get the result back before the vet comes to give the Lasix & for the vet to check the results & give the Lasix & potassium according to what the horse's values are that day? If this is already how it is done, then, I am wrong & I apologize. If it is not, it should be. It would be an expense to actually have a blood lab at every racetrack. But, its value would be worth the expense. The lab would really only need one or 2 basic machines, for immediately needed results. Other bloodwork, when the results can wait a while, could be sent out to other larger labs, as they are already being done now.A means to get quick results (within an hour) should be something all tracks have. Then, I would say, that Lasix is being given responsibly.

ColetteMarie

Simplymajestic

I really don't think one person on here said they HATE Ricky.

The inside knowledge merely points out that those who ARE insiders, those who were targets of Ricky's own HATE, have serious issues with him. They don't like the way he thinks he can say whatever demaning, mean thing he wants and just blithely dismiss it.

If you think people not appreciating that is wrong? Then YOU are the pathetic one. Get real here. If you had a competitor or a colleague badmouthing you PUBLICALLY, on TV and in print would you sit down and just take it? PUHLEEEZE.

Collette, I didn't need you to apologize at all. Just that Ricky isn't what some people think he is.

On the Lasix? I think it's fairly well monitored and some trainers, train with it, some just use it when hard works or on race day. But I think all in all the vets who administer it check all that out.

Collette  I know most give electrolytes routinely in training AND pre race just as a precautionary measure, think that would avoid hypokalemia.  I've been taught and I quote, unlike human sweat, equine sweat is hypertonic; it contains a higher level of electrolytes and water than the blood plasma. That means horses require attention to their water and electrolyte intake to maintain optimum fitness during intensive work. The conditions that we add electrolytes to the horse's daily diet are:

Intense training schedule

Travel

Increased temperature or humidity

Shows, racing, endurance rides, or other competition

Increased sweating for other reasons

Also fresh water accessible at all times and electrolytes given when necessary.  They come in lots of forms like paste, gel, powder, and nuggets.We can easily add them to food or mix with water. The horses' like them because they're flavored as apple, alfalfa, molasses, and orange

water. Dad talks about when Gatorade first came out they'd put that in the water down in Texas when acclimating the horses to the humid heat. They didn't have the equine electrolytes like they have now way back then.

The worry too I would guess is giving electrolytes and causing hyperkalemia right?

I know that Mr. Frankel suggested that Ricky reduce Big Brown's regimen of Electrolytes before the Belmont and he did that. But all his tests came out fine so I don't think that was a problem.

i think careless jewel will win easily....she won the grade 1 Alabama by 11 lengths and had the worst trip out of all the horse...she wins the distaff easily only Zen can b a threat

Simplymajestic,

It seems that you are the only REAL HATER here. Who here said that they hated Rick? Not one person. DISLIKE? Yes.  HATE? No.  

Who are YOU to judge the HONOR of anyone? I don't think that you know anyone here well enough to be a judge of a person's honor.  Your best bet is to check your own.

As a woman that works with horses as a career, I have voiced my opinions about Rick Dutrow and I stand FIRMLY by them.  Why?  Because I have a right to and I have a right to mention to other women that might not know, how Rick Dutrow feels about women in the horse industry, which he voiced on National TV. And I will speak OUT about what I feel is his poor integrity to anyone. That's just the way it is.

Any person calling another person's opinion pathetic is, well, SIMPLYPATHECIC in of themselves.