3-year-old Puckleberry Finn has been raced 13 times this year – all claiming:
Jan 1st, 5th of 8 (18+ lengths back)
Jan 12th, 6th of 7, (26+ lengths back)
Apr 14th, 4th of 7
May 3rd, 5th of 7
May 9th (six days later), last of 7 (17+ lengths back)
May 31st, 8th of 9, (14+ lengths back)
Jul 25th, 9th of 11
Aug 8th, 8th of 9
Sep 1st, last of 8 (33 lengths back)
Sep 17th, 7th of 9
Sep 24th (seven days later), last of 6 (22+ lengths back)
Oct 31st, 7th of 11
Nov 24th, 7th of 12
On January 1st at Fair Grounds, the price on his head was $12,500. In his most recent race, five days ago at Mahoning, he was worth $3,500. In that span, he has endured four different trainers – Steven Duke, Jim Tracy, David Hunt, John Brown – and three owners (current, Charles Golden). In short, he is a cheap expendable asset about to be expended. This is horseracing.
And expending “cheap assets” is the largest part of this business. The claiming game and it’s ensuing downward spiral of horse abuse is a “genius” tactic for horse disposal. As the horse descends in the ranks he is started more frequently; given inadequate rest; inadequate nutrition in many cases; given drugs and joint injections and everyone from breeders to former owners as well as racing officials look the other way. Claiming is a disposal system and a nightmare for the horse. It is the absolute shame of a shameful industry.
3 pos trainers, just saying!!!
Don’t hay, water or feed!!!
Ya – amazing at times – how many POS trainers you can find in just one barn, let alone every racetrack itself.
Jo-Anne, a racing official told me, about a year and a half ago, that on any given day, given the right set of circumstances, every single owner/trainer would hand their horse off into a bad situation. That statement stands on its own and describes the “cesspool” that I call the racing industry. Of course, the babblers will come out of the woodwork and declare that there are “many” good people in racing. Nope, folks, that is a lie that has perpetuated itself for a long, long time. POS trainers? Yep, they are everywhere. Just open your eyes so that you can seem them.
David Hunt and John Brown are same barn
He’ll show up at a low end auction next – because NO ONE will do the right thing by him… Peddled for the last penny that his flesh will bring…..