What's Going On Here - All Comments

re: Less Than Classic - By Dan Liebman

katethegreat — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:09:28 GMT

He's been doing the same with cutting horses for the last few years. Buying high dollar proven mares and studs, and then advertising elaborate lease/partnership schemes. I smelled something fishy right out of the box.

re: Less Than Classic - By Dan Liebman

blah033 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:22:14 GMT

As someone who spent some time on the farm during the Classic Star hey day, we all were making bets on when this would all come crashing down. It was ran like a pyramid scheme would be setup and it crashed like one too. It's a sad state of affairs for the plummers and their co-conspirators but don't do the crime unless you plan on doing the time.

re: A Great Guy - By Dan Liebman

Doug C — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:36:45 GMT

Dan,

You hit the nail on the head! Bruce was a horseman and a sportsman, and a great storyteller and host. He made you feel special, and he provided special events at his home and at the Saxony "cookhouse" for many people, including me and my family. What a gift Bruce and Broussard shared with so many of us at Saxony events! Bruce will be missed, but always remembered. And you are right, Broussard will carry on the Hundley traditions well.

re: Chilling Spills - By Dan Liebman

Megan Gammon — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:03:57 GMT

Thank You for your story on the jockeys getting hurt and what is happening in our world, I have rode 12 years. Under Megan Ludlow yesterday was my three yr anniv..being married and we are a trainer jockey team we train off the farm mostly and I was Leading Rider this summer my 2nd time in KS..and I was so happy to see what you wrote and I ride all over from Churchill to Chicago all over the country with the Big time and the small but we all are brave souls to risk our lives to win and I am currently at home sick been out 10 days and it is hard but reading what you wrote gave me some peace knowing you as a writter can relate to jocks like us. I am working on my own book right now and it is amazing and exiting how it will come out it is called Miracle On A Horse..Thanks Again-Megan Gammon

re: Keep Up the Heat - By Eric Mitchell

Shan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:47:18 GMT

Megan is so very right about race horses being scanned, pre-race. The scan is non-invasive, inexpensive, and can show soft tissue problems that are not yet apparent, therby saving these horses from incredible pain as they are pushed to race when they shouldn't be. As a former race trainer and current equine thermographer, this diagnostic alone would save so many wonderful horses that give their ALL to us in so many ways.

Eight Belles and Barbero would not have been allowed to run had they been scanned pre-race and evaluated. We will loose this sport due to inhumanity of ALL sport horses if this LACK of caring, conditioning, and pre-diagnostics continues to be allowed.

The scanning process takes little time and the results are immediately available for review. Why not, then, make this a mandatory pre-race evaluation along with drug testing, including the elimination of Lasik?

re: Econ 101 - By Dan Liebman

Penny — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:00:30 GMT

Does anyone know details of spills at Woodbine over the last few days? Is Todd Kabel ok?? Thanks for any info.

re: A Great Guy - By Dan Liebman

Robin Bush — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:53:21 GMT

Dan,

I work with a gentleman who worked at Saxony for about 25 years. He has not a few great stories about Mr. Hundley. Though I was not very familiar with him, I know that he was very important in the industry and seemed like, as you say, a great guy. I was very sad to hear of his passing, but am thrilled that his son will continue the tradition. That doesn't happen enough anymore in the industry.

re: Chilling Spills - By Dan Liebman

Karen — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:43:17 GMT

Your last comment says it all if you're an owner or trainer. The few times Tom and I have been blessed to be at the races with a horse we had a small piece of ownership in, I didn't ask the jockey to win or set a record - my comment was "just come back safely". Something for all owners and trainers to remember!

re: Chilling Spills - By Dan Liebman

Rachel/NH — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:08:08 GMT

wista, he grew up with my parents...I was a flower girl at his wedding...to me, a little girl who had paper horses to play with instead of paper dolls (I traced them out of my books) he was my race horse hero.

I'm always happy to remember him to others. ;-)

re: Chilling Spills - By Dan Liebman

pNewmarket — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:15:26 GMT

The same week that Mark Pace tragically died, a young French jockey, Guillaume Javoy, was also killed in a fall at Le Pin-au-Haras.

From Racing Post:

"The French racing community was in shock on Monday following the news that highly promising jump jockey Guillaume Javoy had died after a horrific fall at Le Pin-au-Haras on Sunday.

The 24-year-old had replaced another jockey on chance ride Kahyasia in the opening race of the meeting at the Normandy track, near the town of Argentan.

Another horse tried to run out Just before a hurdle about five furlongs into the race, forcing Kahyasia to put on the brakes in a violent manner.

After being thrown on to the running rail, Javoy was taken by helicopter to a hospital at Alencon after the racecourse medical team realised the serious nature of his injuries. He was then transferred to a hospital in Caen.

Javoy, who is attached to the powerful Francois Cottin stable, had 16 winners to his name this season.

"Guillaume was a very pleasant young man and a true professional," said Cottin. "He had been with me since the beginning of his career, which was far too short.I am devastated."

And just yesterday 19 year old Campbell Gillies was injured in an horrific incident at Aintree Racecourse which left him with a punctured lung, bruising to his liver and kidneys, broken ribs and several cracked vertebra

www.racingpost.com/.../top

Jockey - the only job where an ambulance follows you around as you do your work.

re: Chilling Spills - By Dan Liebman

wista — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:42:34 GMT

RACHEL N/H:

Henry Wajda was a great rider and a class individual. h

He was injured on July 28, 1973 and died the next day.Thanks for mentioning him.

re: Chilling Spills - By Dan Liebman

gammyp6 — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:24:59 GMT

thank you TripleCrownKaren for that rebuttal. You are absolutely correct.

re: Chilling Spills - By Dan Liebman

Whatever — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:34:29 GMT

One of the reasons why I never went for an exercise riders license when I was living in NY. Whipping a horse to make it go as fast as it can, is a recipe for disaster. As much as I love the exhiliration of being on top of a thoroughbred running 35mph plus, I couldn't help but wonder what I would do if I got seriously hurt or paralyzed-- Would I be able to go on with my life if something like that ever happened, probably not.

re: Chilling Spills - By Dan Liebman

Judie W — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:35:28 GMT

To fbo252

How many jockeys do you know that can afford disability policies? Only a few elite riders don't need the same protection that is offered to most employees! And please don't hide behind the "independent contractor" theme. Every owner/trainer should be mandated to provide workmans comp to all employees, and there should be an industry supported fund for jockeys who sustain crippling injuries. To compare jockeys to other professional athletes who have strong unions and contracts is ludicrous.

re: Chilling Spills - By Dan Liebman

been there — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:00:26 GMT

for every jockey who makes a great living there are 50 who just manage to survive. jock mount is based on the size of purses. for a losing jock mount (depending on size of purse) can be anywhere from 30 dollars to 100 dollars. there isnt another athelete who riskes thier lives for so little. plus the jockey has to pay his agent--valet-- and put food on the table with that 30 bucks. GREAT pay isnt it! yet there are those owners and trainers who think they are paid to much. they have never sat in a sweatbox to lose weight or purged to try and maintain thier weight. as 1 very well know trainer once said if 1 wont do i can find someone who will(D.Wayne Lucas). wish he had to try and live on what so many riders take home!