Some miscellaneous notes:
Wednesday at Belterra, in addition to a two-horse race and a three-horse race (a good sign for our side), there was this for the 5th race: “Authoritarian reared when the gates opened and struck the side of the gate…was galloped around well behind the field and walked off after the finish.” The 8-year-old Authoritarian finished 50 lengths back, but Belterra, being a taxpayer-subsidized track, pays first-last, so his exploiters – primarily Richard Estvanko, Christina Estvanko, and Guillermo Rodriguez – still cashed in. As a postscript, a stewards inquiry “determined that Authoritarian caused his own problems.”
This note from the stewards at Delaware, Aug 13: “Trainer [Michael Simone] of #6 Shipman asked to blindfold the horse in the post parade to the gate. Stewards declined that request for safety reasons. Horse refused to warm up and had to be walked by the groom to the gate. Stewards will speak to the trainer to find a more productive way for this horse to be warmed up.” “Blindfolding” a prey animal – vile. But wait, there’s more.
Shipman, who turned 8 this year, has suffered the following just since last December:
Prior to a race Dec 10, Shipman was sold by Epona Racing Stable and Toga Party Racing Stable to Moshe Mark. Old trainer, Joe Sharp; new trainer, Kieron Magee.
In his next race, Jan 9, he had another new trainer: Charles Frock.
In his next race, Feb 3, he had another new trainer: Michael Pino. He was also sold before this race to Mayra Martinez. So, on the trainer front, Pino out, Jorge Diaz in.
Prior to his next race, Feb 11 (yes, just eight days later), Martinez sold him to Jagger Inc. Diaz out, Jamie Ness in.
Prior to his next race, Apr 21, Jagger sold him back to Moshe Mark, with Ness out and Michael Pino back in.
Four races later was the blindfold one at Delaware with Pino out (again) and Michael Simone in. But not done yet.
Shipman was to be raced at Charles Town Thursday – which would have been a mere seven days after his last – but was scratched. While Mark continues to own him, Kieron Magee is apparently back as trainer. This poor boy is Exhibit A in giving the lie to “we love them like our children.”
And finally, this from Delaware Aug 14: “Lost in Thought was fractious in the paddock, injured the rider, got a replacement rider, threw [that] jockey behind the gate, jockey refused to ride, horse was then scratched by the stewards.” Translation: The 6-year-old mare was rebelling in the only way she could. Brava.
Sharon, in addition, as OUTRAGEOUS as this is, it seems logical that, since the Racing Stewards refused to allow the trainer to blindfold the horse, SHIPMAN, in the post parade and the groom was allowed to walk the horse to the gate, everyone that is anyone in a position of responsibility will refuse to take responsibility! They’ll just basically say that “well, we didn’t allow it and therefore the problem doesn’t exist” (more or less). That’s what they’ll say in a nutshell. This is the kind of sleazy and spineless responses they resort to in a pinch. If the horse resorts to a fight or flight response when overwhelmed and overcome with fear, and the horse flips or something that causes injury to the horse, they will take the sleazy and spineless way out and say “the horse caused his own problems” which is another reason these people should be tied to a post and whipped as punishment for being dishonest.
I think that Horse Racing Wrongs followers should sign a petition to the Governor of Delaware requesting an answer from Delaware Park officials to fully supply an explanation as to why Shipman requires a “Blindfold” to be led to the paddock. Experienced horse people know that horses properly schooled go to the gate (sometimes with anxiety), but needing a blindfold on a walk to the gate? No way. This is an outrage. Shipman has years of racing in his history….this horse has been a victim of a barbarian human. When cooperative horses suddenly become unruly they are in fear and somebody is responsible for Shipman’s actions. Trainer(s), Owner, Jock, Groom, or assistant starter? Shipman deserved public indignation that he has been under the care of different trainers and Delaware is the track that needs to be held accountable for why this poor horse is so terrified and why are the owners entering him in races when a turnout should be the first consideration. You don’t have to be a Nero Wolfe to figure out why this horse is gate shy. Shipman has been criminally abused and somebody needs to be held accountable for his gate anxiety. This is a horribly abused race horse and somebody in the state of Delaware has to be responsible for his rescue. All local news outlets might also be informed that there is something drastically wrong in the state of Delaware when horses can be mentally and physically abused to the point they are terrified to walk to the gate without a blindfold! It is the same as if a cooperative child suddenly becomes terrified of going to school. Something is rotten in the entire state of Delaware if this horse doesn’t get public sympathy and action.
It’s a no-brainer that this doomed horse, SHIPMAN, has ulcers from the heinous cruelty that these pseudo-horsemen are subjecting him to and especially in such a relatively short period of time. This is an example of the lie that “horses love to run” under the weight of a rider with a whip and most likely an illegal electric shocking device (and God knows what kind of drugs) as well as the fact that these despicable horse-exploiting people do not have genuine compassion for the horse.
I wish I could rescue poor Shipman.