For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

re: For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

$BILL — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:58:37 GMT

as someone who spent over 20 yrs rubbing horses(storm cat, kris s. epitome) just a few i had my hands on. it was truly a work of love, you didnt start out to be a groom, exercise boy or hot walker for the $... however i will say that there should be an AUTOMATIC 1% of that purse that goes to the groom and it wouldnt kill them to give the exercise rider & hotwalker a 1/2%

either AUTOMATICALLY..... in spite of whatever happened mr. jacobson did try to organize/unionize the backside for the benefit of the grooms, but it didnt work out & now with the influx of the illegal aliens it will never be a place to work that has rightful wages or benefits, thats just the way the cookie crumbles................

re: For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

Bellwether — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 22:46:17 GMT

Oh yea...took 400 years to figure out turn right on red...

re: For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

Lee — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:02:47 GMT

Enjoyed the article.

When my grandfather died he was a groom at one of the trotting tracks in New York. Sadly before I was born. I have been told by all that knew him that he loved horses.

re: For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

that horse massage guy — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:45:19 GMT

Great article! I work on a lot of racehorses and lots of times the grooms know way more about the horses than do the trainers, and yes I find that the vast majority of grooms love their horses.

re: For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

jmewill — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 12:30:16 GMT

Yeah, How true this is, the grooms do all the work and get very little if any of the praise, after sitting with horses for hours in turbulators and tubs of ice water(back in the old days)and it takes more then the ability to slap some mud on a leg and roll bandages to be a good groom. What the groom really need is a union , decent pay,mandatory stakes and better then what they have now health care for their families. The crappy pay is what drove me out of grooming, it wasn't the hard work, that I actually miss. If they got paid better maybe you would be able to eliminate the grooms who hit their horses, throw rocks at them while their on the hotwalker, and are never around after 10 am...What horse needs or deserves this?? But there out there now and have jobs...Poor horses...

re: For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

DONNA — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 19:45:09 GMT

As in many walks in life only the people at the top get the accolades. Thanks to all the people involved on the back stretch who are also responsible for what the horses become. For all their work and dedication. I'm sure it would not be possible if not for the love of the horse.

re: For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

MRO — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:23:54 GMT

I enjoyed the article. I've heard many a story about the bond between groom & horse. I certainly appreciate the work they do.

re: For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

Nancy — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:19:37 GMT

Finally someone told the story. In my humble opinion, grooms are the most important person in a horses' life. That is the person they spend the day with. The person who keeps his legs cold and tight, make sure he eats up, tacks him up for me and brings him out on his toes happy to be going to the track. Notice how big time trainers have the same groom with their big horse, year after year.

re: For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

OldGrayMare — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 03:09:04 GMT

Without THEM rubbing and wrapping, iceing and walking this sport woud be nowhere.

My hat's off to you, the Harbut's and Sweat's

a living wage and benefits,you deserve it. Take a piece out of the purses for those make it all happen.

OGM....who has SEEN the not very pretty backside.

re: For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

rocknchef — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:05:59 GMT

I spent ten years on the track as a groom , assistant trainer and exercise rider. Not a day goes by that I dont miss those days. I did it because I loved horses, and boy did I ever get excited when the two year olds arrived in our barn in the middle of winter. I rubbed some great ones, I rubbed some good ones, and I rubbed some downright rogues, but I loved them all. I wouldnt trade my time on the track for anything!

re: For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

needler in Virginia — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:02:16 GMT

Lovely commentary on the unsung heroes of the backside. Without them racing doesn't happen, and we should thank them long and loudly for the work they have done and continue to do. Of course thanks do not put food on the table.......maybe humanity and kindness for all should be an aim for 2009.......just a thought this cold winter day.

May ALL on the backside ...the grooms AND their charges..... have a safe holiday.

re: For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

Jamie — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:54:30 GMT

I loved this article. I'm often moved when I tell people about the relationship between Will Harbut and Man o' War. I have a framed picture of the two on my living room wall. There is no better sign of telltale friendship, in my humble opinion.

I will also never forget the image of Eddie Sweat sitting on a fence at Claiborne Farm, his head in his hands, as he has led Secretariat to his new life at stud. I have not read the book you mentioned, but now it sounds like a good time to pick it up.

Thanks!

re: For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

Wanda — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:25:20 GMT

There are many programs for grooms as well as exercise riders,jockeys available now. I wish I'd had a school to go to way back when, instead I learned while I earned. In Alberta,Canada we have a program in place thru Olds College run by my friend Theresa. It is a racetrack groom course. There is as well an exercise rider and jockey course.These courses are funded thru Horse Racing Alberta and have been a success over the years for many trainers looking for help.

re: For Love of the Horse - by Morton Cathro

NEVERKICKYOURDOG — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:12:16 GMT

NO TRAINER, AT ANY LEVEL, COULD HANDLE/MANAGE MORE THAN A SIX HORSE STABLE IF HE OR SHE DIDN'T HAVE GOOD GROOMS!

UNFORTUNATELY, TOO MANY OF THE "NAME" OWNERS, TRAINERS & JOCKEYS DON'T STAKE THE GROOMS--THE CLASSY ONES DO!