Among the many whipping violations in harness racing published last week, there was this one at Lexington (Red Mile) Aug 20: “Graham Lewis is hereby fined $300 and suspended 7 days [for] brutal use of the whip [on] I’m No Pansy. He is placed on probation for the remainder of 2024 and any other whipping violation will result in a longer suspension and higher fine.”
A small fine and short suspension for “brutal use of the whip,” with only a promise of a “longer suspension and higher fine” should it happen again. Reasonable?
Also, the following were busted for “Kicking a Horse”: Walter Hennessy at Saratoga, fined $250, suspended one day; Thomas Jackson at Pocono, fined $200.
Then this at Laurel Saturday, according to the chart: “Miz Sense left her rider in the starting gate when vehemently throwing her head around at the break.” Vehemently. The writer added: “There was a stewards’ inquiry…but no action was taken, as she had created her own problem.” Yes, the three-year-old “created her own problem.” One year ago at Saratoga, this was Miz’s note: “Miz Sense acted up just as the gate opened, became very unruly while thrashing around in the stall then unseated rider and was declared a non-starter.” This, I propose, is what an abused horse’s rebellion looks like.
You’re correct Joe. Kathy Hochal robbed from ny’rs…who DESPERATELY need help…in so many aspects!!!! Instead she flushed taxpayers money down the toilet of a DYING dumbass sick as f**k evil industry.
A quick note for all, not really related to this post, but Mr. Battuello would undoubtedly be interested and may want to look into this, and create a new post.
One of my old racing buddies from New Jersey has has informed me that Governor Phil Murphy has decided to throw $20 million of taxpayer money at the state’s “dying” (in my friend’s words – not the Governor’s) horse racing industry. He said $10 million will go to Monmouth Park, and the rest divided to the Meadowlands and Freehold Raceway. He saw the article in the Record, a North Jersey newspaper. He was not sure if NJ will now institute a first-to-last payoff or not.
NJ Gov Murphy joins NY governor Kathy Hochul in their pathetic attempts to prop up a truly dying industry that gets worse each day. Years ago, I remember going to the Pegasus Restaurant at the old Meadowlands building (it’s since been torn down, making way for a much smaller facility) in my jaunts years ago around the racetracks across the US, and became friendly with many of the workers. It was always jammed, and reservations were a must if you wanted a table.
How things change.
I was told that at one point the race track actually supported the entire NJ Sports Complex
My guess: not any more. Not by a long shot.
-Joe