The Year of the Girl

re: The Year of the Girl

Flieswithoutwings — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:14:39 GMT

After reading so much about the use of whips in the race, and having watched the race myself, I feel that Steve & Karen are quite right. However, I am also compelled to wonder how good a jockey really is if he cannot encourage his mount with hands & voice alone? What are we teaching our people & our horses? Have we lost the heart of the sport? Had no rider raised his crop, would the outcome have been the same? Just thoughts. Personally, I love to see a good hand ride, even in a tough race--these horses have so much heart...

re: The Year of the Girl

anne — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:29:34 GMT

I see I'm not the only fan who was disgusted with Calvin's excessive use of the whip! Then he said later that he didn't Need to hit her - she wouldn't let a horse pass her!! WHY, Oh Why then did he punish her.

Also, congrats to D. Wayne Lukas - he deserve to be back in the spotlight.

re: The Year of the Girl

Lee — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:16:42 GMT

I'm sure Jerry Bailey never said that whips should be banned, it would be a big safety hazard to do so. Whips and crops are used in every equine discipline. They are tools not punishment. Jockeys can be suspended for not whipping enough, they must be trying to win if they have a chance to win. They are hosed either way. If Calvin didn't whip and she didn't win he would have been before the stewards for it and maybe have been jocked off.

re: The Year of the Girl

Karen2 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:22:33 GMT

Amen Steve!!!!!!! When watching the replay I couldn't help but notice Macho again was taking the whip. Like you said...not one word about it. In fact, all the horses were. In every race I watched. Down the stretch. I think a jockey as experienced as Calvin knows better than to abuse his horse. Furthermore I don't think these whips are as bad as they use to be. Softer and more flexible. I'm not sure how you could ban the crop/whip from racing. It is used as a very effective tool for control of a 1200 lb horse. I'm not saying it can't be abused, but most high profile jockeys know how to use it. The hard part is watching a jockey whip a horse over and over when they are fading and have nothing left. At that point, game over. The horse isn't responding and is cooked.

re: The Year of the Girl

Steve — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:40:00 GMT

I watched the Woodward replay a few times. It looked to me like Borel was mostly using his stick on Rachel's saddle cloth and not her skin and he switched sides regularly. If a jockey has to use the stick, that's the best way to do it.

Macho Again was getting it on the skin repeatedly but I haven't heard anybody say a word about that. Double standard for male horses?

re: The Year of the Girl

Freetex — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:15:58 GMT

Didn't Jerry Bailey say he would like to see the crops (whips) banned from racing?

Now that would make the sport more appealing to your more educated common folk.

re: The Year of the Girl

FernieFernFern — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:58:09 GMT

This is way off the subject of the girls but does anyone know where Commentator will be retired?

re: The Year of the Girl

Shawn P — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:34:59 GMT

Wayne is just starting the second half of his career. A happy man, seemed like a man half his age after the win.

Calvin's ride in the Woodward? He couldn't get beat, was already taking the blame if she lost. He HAD to push the filly or he would have lost it.

Congrats to Linda, great job. Ms.Money on the turf for sure.

re: The Year of the Girl

alybar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:51:36 GMT

I, too, do not like Calvin's overuse of the whip in this race or the Haskell which Rachel won easily. I loved Afleet Alex and I am so glad to see one of his progeny win one of the races he won. I hope Dublin will be like his daddy. Another great woman trainer is Helen Pitts Blasi who trains Einstein. The two best horses racing today are females with the other being Zenyatta. I wish her owners would let her race against the boys.

re: The Year of the Girl

lee heagney — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:27:56 GMT

how about a plug for all the female personalities at various tracks like Arlington, Suffolk downs, Chester, Ft Erie etc, esp horse handicappers as women are a growing presence in this area

re: The Year of the Girl

LanceS — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:24:30 GMT

The Goldolphin success at Saratoga points out an interesting irony. Through the years the Maktoum family has spent tens of millions of dollars on yearlings by A.P. Indy, and the best they've gotten is a couple of G3 winners. Meanwhile, they've home-bred 7 G1 winners by him including 2 Eclipse Champions - Tempera, Jilbab, Bernardini, Music Note, Little Belle, Flashing, and Telling, three of whom won G1s at this meet.

re: The Year of the Girl

Abbie Knowles — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:57:07 GMT

Rachel was terrific and so brave. Was not happy with Calvin Borel's vicious use of his whip or the fact he hit her 19 times in the final furlong though. Rachel deserves the rest of the season off. Hope to see her back next year and that Calvin Borel learns to use his whip correctly and sparingly in the meantime! He would have got at least a 5 day ban for that in the UK! i would have given him 10 days! It was disgraceful and horrid to watch!

Am delighted Dublin won for D Wayne Lukas. I love the colt who is a real beauty but am also pleased that D Wayne Lukas has another top class horse and one with Kentucky Derby winning potential. Delighted for Afleet Alex too. A young stallion I like enormously!

Have been really impressed with Linda Rice and Danielle Hodson so thrilled for them that they too won top honours! Nice to see some different names at the top!

As a big fan of Bill Mott and his team was also extremely pleased they had a great Saratoga.

Rajiv Maragh, Kent Desormeaux, Johnny V, Julien Leparoux, Javier Castellano and Alan Garcia (except on Vineyard Haven were his use of the whip was appalling!)impressed me most amongst the jockeys. Ramon Dominguez was using his whip too much for my taste although obviously he is brilliant. However for me the means do not justify the end result and I hate seeing horses whipped a lot!

Seattle Slew's dynasty had a brilliant Saratoga which was fantastic, marvelous and very exciting for the future! Long may the successes continue. Go Music Note, Flashing, Girolamo and Pyro!!!!!!! God Speed to you and all the others!

Thanks for the Diary and to the Bloodhorse for the coverage! Plus all the fascinating blogs to get involved with! All brilliant as ever!

God Bless

Best wishes

Abbie