The 2nd at Laurel yesterday: “Secret Prize was under pressure trying to keep pace past the three eighths, began a retreat…was pulled up when sustaining an injury to her left front in deep stretch then was euthanized on the track.” And that’s that. Secret had just turned four; this was her seventh time under the whip.
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Horseracing Wrongs 
Who was the jockey?
Arnaldo Bocachica.
Why? Did you notice the good, hard whack he gave her as she was “falling back” (breaking down)?
I have to stop reading your texts because they are so upsetting and I can’t fix this.
Sent from my iPhone
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The ever-vigilant racing press offered their usual “coverage” of this Death Race at Laurel.
DRF’s Dan Illman noted not a peep about the killing of Secret Prize. His focus, as per the official Horse Racing Media Death Spin Guidelines handbook, was on the REAL controversy — the lack of a head-on replay of the infinitely more meaningful event of that race: a DQ for impeding. He actually bemoaned Laurel’s unwillingness to show that view, even though it would have exposed poor Secret Prize’s hideous breakdown to the world.
Because, you know, priorities: BETTING MONEY was at stake. So it required all the Journalistic Integrity he could manage to muster.
Well said, Kelly.
God forbid they earn money by actually working
“Under pressure TRYING to keep pace” is a very telling statement if you know how to read between the word play, as we all do. I’m willing to bet this poor filly “began a retreat” from this disgusting horror show long before it actually snuffed her life out in the dirt.
Kelly’s entry says it EXACTLY how it went down.Beating her to get back to the front before the finish. And where did this jockey come from anyway???
Where do most of them come from?
Nancy, Arnaldo Bocachica is a native of Puerto Rico. I never heard of him before but according to the racing press article (Paulick Report, December 2021) he is one of the “top” riders at Charles Town. Vomit-worthy is the best thing I can say about that.
I was being rude but ok top rider who I never heard of before. OK more power to you. Keep riding those horses to death pal.
He evidently fits right in there at vomit-worthy Charles Town. I can’t wait until this crap is not funded by government subsidies of any and all kinds anymore.