According to the chart for the 6th at Ellis Aug 26, River Mischief “was reluctant to load, then hit the outer stall door while breaking slow, trailed in the four path, was eased through the final furlong and was taken off of the track in an equine ambulance.” (The stewards added, “the filly returned lame.”)
So, best guess: River was injured before being shoved in the gate and saying just that in the only way she knows how (“reluctant to load”), or she was injured when “hitting the door.” In any event, she was still raced. And why not? Ellis Park, flush with unearned income (slot-machine revenue), pays first-last, and well. In crossing the wire, albeit some 55 lengths back, the injured River “won” $576 for her exploiters (Rusty Roberts, Chris Hartman, Rafael Bejarano, et al.). And, by the way, this was the poor girl’s very first time under the whip.
Staying in Kentucky, here is a clip of 3-year-old Movin’ On Up prior to a race at Kentucky Downs Sep 8. It speaks for itself.
