Expending Cheap Assets

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.

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7 Comments

  1. 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.

    • 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.

  2. 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…..

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