tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post1015028870321839993..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Random PicksAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-43583403719642540152008-01-22T13:36:00.000-05:002008-01-22T13:36:00.000-05:00Anon, Track and backstretch are not equal. The tra...Anon, <BR/>Track and backstretch are not equal. The track is a fairly controlled environment, and for the most part, it's the same thing every where, every time. Most horses, when they get there, know what the hell they're doing and what is expected of them. <BR/><BR/>The backstretch, on the other hand, is constantly changing. With cars, barriers, different people and different horses all the time. Additionally, it is fairly open...there are opportunities to get into hazardous situations at every turn. <BR/><BR/>A loose horse on the track is a bad, but manageable situation. A loose horse on the backstretch is pretty scary, and can end in a wide variety of ways. It's morbidly fascinating. <BR/><BR/>Lastly, chalk, I was googling Goji juice just the other day. Miracle claims are suspect, but if Randy Romero is feeling good (after having seen him on the HBO special and what he's gone through), I'm a believer. Heading to whole foods to pick up a bottle in the next few days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-12810481974639655492008-01-21T23:03:00.000-05:002008-01-21T23:03:00.000-05:00As for stepping in front of a charging horse I wou...As for stepping in front of a charging horse I wouldn't call that brave - the consesqunces of man v. horse can be horrible. Just ask Jeff Lukas who was hit by the runaway Tabasco Cat.<BR/><BR/>As we'll recall Tabasco Cat had gotten loose one morning at 2-yrs old and Lukas tried to stop him. Jeff planted himself in the path of the runaway colt, who slammed into him. Lukas suffered a fractured skull and brain damage.<BR/><BR/>TV viewers almost got to see the impact of horse vs man in 1999 when that idiot fan at Pimlico during the Maryland Breeders' Cup tried to punch Artax in the final stretch. Luckily he missed any contact.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-8032835132273271732008-01-21T20:27:00.000-05:002008-01-21T20:27:00.000-05:00Thanks Steve.Something interesting for everyone. ...Thanks Steve.<BR/><BR/>Something interesting for everyone. A few months back I was at few Aqueduct barns and saw the use of <A HREF="http://thechalk.blogspot.com/2007/12/dietary-machines.html" REL="nofollow">Goji juice</A>. Found it interesting.<BR/><BR/>It appears more than horses are getting their use of the juice, take note of the <A HREF="http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/horseracing/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1200810130239510.xml&coll=1&thispage=1" REL="nofollow">Randy Romero</A> story.the chalkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03497801907993726095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-76005360000915616542008-01-21T20:08:00.000-05:002008-01-21T20:08:00.000-05:00Chalk and steve d - thanks for the responses and l...Chalk and steve d - thanks for the responses and links. <BR/><BR/>I have a greater appreciation of the outriders at a live race meet - many times I have seen them collect a loose horse on a track and make it look easy.<BR/><BR/>Maybe I was given a false impression after watching many horses that have thrown their rider at the start of a race. The horses all seem to instinctively know what to do, and proceed to keep running at or near the rest of the pack with no one on their back.<BR/><BR/>Probably because the outriders make it look easy, I didn't fully realize the dangers involved. The loose horses almost always appeared to just tire out and slow down, allowing the outriders to catch up and grab the reins, and that was that. <BR/><BR/>To just stand on foot and put your body in front of any loose and frightened horse like that groom did with Hesanoldsalt is a VERY brave act.<BR/><BR/>Sunny JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-35774432361166228432008-01-21T18:31:00.000-05:002008-01-21T18:31:00.000-05:00Whoa...definitely gonna spend some time at "The Ch...Whoa...definitely gonna spend some time at "The Chalk's" blog. First couple of posts look very promising!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-63158929780860791812008-01-21T18:29:00.000-05:002008-01-21T18:29:00.000-05:00Great explanation, "Chalk." Thank you. Horses are ...Great explanation, "Chalk." Thank you. Horses are "flight" animals, and when the flee on asphalt or gravel, they aren't able to consider that the lack of traction will have on their "moves." Personally, I think that impact is a huge factor in making them look "stupid." Kind of like if we were running on ice and didn't realize it until we tried to turn. <BR/><BR/>Of course, there are horses that manage to run right through a fence when they are bolting in a green pasture, too...but for the Hesanoldsalt example, traction probably had a lot to do with it. (wasn't there...just speculating on typical backstretch conditions)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-68288287074689067852008-01-21T16:37:00.000-05:002008-01-21T16:37:00.000-05:00Alan figured I would jump in here with some insigh...Alan figured I would jump in here with some insight. The <A HREF="http://www.drf.com/news/article/91696.html" REL="nofollow">DRF</A> had a blurb on this story.<BR/><BR/>Hesandoldsalt broke free from his groom sprinted away then ran into a tree after "ducking" to avoid a handler trying to stop him, ducking being an abrupt veer to the left or right. When a horse ducks like this they are not looking both ways to cross traffic. Nor are they slowing down, I would speculate the horse was doing at least 25mphs given the average speed is 38-40. He most likely was on gravel during this. Thus you have a reckless event in the making with no time to react by the horse.<BR/><BR/>Now I can only speculate given I wasn’t there but the person attempting to stop him used proper protocol. I would imagine they bravely stood there with their arms spread out waving. Basically it’s a divergence tactic used to bring a horse to a halt. (Note this happens more often than not on the backstretch in the mornings)<BR/><BR/>If you remember prominent NY stallion Gold Token died in a similar (tree) <A HREF="http://breeding.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=33324" REL="nofollow">accident </A> 2 years ago. Unfortunately the speed and force of the thoroughbred is not forgiving. Paddock and backstretch accidents are more common than you would suspect as well. All that holds this animal and its groom together is a 6 to 8ft leather shank. After that they are gone.the chalkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03497801907993726095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-30045257188211159532008-01-21T14:08:00.000-05:002008-01-21T14:08:00.000-05:00Hi Alan - Last week I was reading a brief account ...Hi Alan -<BR/> <BR/>Last week I was reading a brief account somewhere about Hesanoldsalt, a five-year-old trainee of Nick Zito's, who got out of his barn, ran down a dirt road, and ran smack into a tree. He had to be put down after breaking a couple of bones - a shoulder bone, I think and something else. Maybe when you get a chance you (or someone who spends a lot of time around horses) could find out more about this, or give some sort of further explanation. <BR/><BR/>In general, are horses that stupid, to run smack into a tree? Was it that something must have spooked the horse, for it to do something like that? Do they lose all their good senses when they get scared like that? <BR/><BR/>I have never spent much time around horses, and the paddock at Monmouth Park is about the closest I ever got to a horse. I know that 'green' horses, two-year-old maidens and the like, can get scared, rear up, or lose their balance. But to run straight into a tree?? You never hear of a dog or cat or a deer running into such a large object at full speed, right? I thought horses were up there on the scale of smarter animals?<BR/><BR/>Cheers.<BR/><BR/>Sunny JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-34721640611434624612008-01-21T12:24:00.000-05:002008-01-21T12:24:00.000-05:00Ignore The Village Vicar in Big A R7, fresh and fi...Ignore The Village Vicar in Big A <BR/>R7, fresh and first off the claim for D Dutrow, at your own risk;o)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com