re: Hard Way Back - by John Gilmore

Needler in Virginia — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:19:23 GMT

First and foremost, thank you Mr Gilmore for this story; it has made my entire week!

Isn't it amazing that this lovely horse came back from a truly bizarre injury, and that his recovery was centered on rest, relax, feel better, regain strength and just be a horse? What a creative and innovative idea! No drugs, except to treat the injury, no stressors, no push to return to the track.......... forgive my snarky comment. I TOTALLY agree with Tropical Downs about drug free racing, and only wish to add that the rush to get very young bloodstock to the track far too early, the US obsession with speed ONLY, and the US trainers' (NOT ALL US trainers, but we know who they are) dependence on drugs is still puzzling to me. Why are US horses different from those in the rest of the world, or is it possible that the US drug policies MIGHT, JUST MIGHT, be the wrong??????

Cheers and many safe trips to Hard Way; cheers and safe trips to his connections, and cheers and safe trips to all those who care for the horses first.

re: Hard Way Back - by John Gilmore

Tropical Downs — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:05:29 GMT

Hard Way's comeback is also a tribute to drug-free racing. Madame Rarick, the only American trainer in France, manages to keep a stable running, as all other French trainers do, with no race-day medications, no steroids, and no pain killers.