Some notes from the Delaware Park stewards thus far this month. Note: Not including the ones below, there have been 31 vet scratches for injury or sickness in Oct.
Oct 1: The claims for This Run’s for You, Mystical Merlin, and Slay Sadie Slay were voided for “unsoundness.”
Oct 7: Sharon’s Prince was scratched for being “lame in the post parade.” Which means his trainer had every intention of running him, lame, that day.
After a “pulled up, DNF” for Regalpains, “Stewards contacted the Commission Vet to do a wellness exam on the horse in the morning after a complaint by the trainer against the rider.” What’s that about?
The claim for Twelve Nelson was voided for “unsoundness.”
Oct 8: The claim for (2-year-old) Belmont C. C. was voided for “unsoundness.”
Oct 9: Troublemeister “bled” (pulmonary hemorrhage). The chart said nothing of this.
Stevewilldoit “lost his tongue tie, had trouble breathing, and was eased.” Although the 3-year-old “had trouble breathing,” his jockey, Julio Hernandez, made sure he finished the race – 88 lengths back – to earn a piece ($500) of the taxpayer-subsidized purse. By the way, for those who may not know “tongue ties” are cruel.
Molly the Cat “collapsed past the finish,” but did, they cheerfully report, “walk off.” The chart said nothing of the 3-year-old’s collapse.
Oct 10: The claims for Risk Factor and Curlins Cruzin were voided – in Risk’s case for “bleeding,” in Curlins’ case for “unsoundness.”
Oct 15: Bertie’s Cause was scratched for being “lame in the post parade.” Which, again, means her trainer had every intention of running her, lame, that day. Bertie’s is seven.
