From the most recent Del Mar Stewards Minutes: August 26 – “Exercise rider Jelani Grant received the following penalty issued in a ruling. It involved Mr. Grant hitting a morning galloper in the head twice with his hand. He said…
Most of the time, the racing industry deflects, distracts, spins, and deceives. But every once in a while, some raw truth finds its way to the surface. Witness this from Equibase’s account of 2-year-old (a child) Sky Devil’s run at…
Racing’s apologists are fond of pointing to California’s new whip (actually it’s now called a “riding crop”) rule as evidence of an industry trying – progress. But putting aside the fact that the rule’s very existence is an admission that…
From the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s minutes, July 26-August 1: “Jockey JAMES GRAHAM came to the office to review his crop use during two races yesterday. In the seventh, we wanted to review his flagging style to the extent that…
A sport? Finger Lakes, Tuesday: 2nd race – “BROADWAY MUSIC GAL [who won]…was never in jeopardy while never letting up with whip – whipped to wire.” 3rd race – “DOMER…opened up daylight and then was under the whip for the…
From the Los Alamitos Stewards Minutes, June 27: “JOCKEY SANTIAGO MENDEZ IS FINED THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA HORSE RACING BOARD RULE #1688 (USE OF WHIPS – WHIPPING IN POST PARADE) ON FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015. The foregoing…
A few odds and ends: In a weku article (4/29/15) on Lasix, longtime (45 years) equine vet Mark Chaney offers his reason for supporting the raceday medication: “If you and I were in one of those stalls 22 hours a…
While reviewing the Equibase charts for yesterday’s races, I came across this note on the 9th at Finger Lakes: Stop Sign, the winner, “whppd to wire” (actually, both other top finishers endured the same). So I found the replay: …
Steve Haskin, whom I’ve written on before, is a well-known Racing writer and a lifelong fan. But he also possesses, at least from what I can gather through his words, a thoughtfulness that sets him apart from many of his…
The jockey who mercilessly beat American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby has been fined in California for similar abuse. According to Blood-Horse, Victor Espinoza “was fined $300 by the Santa Anita Park stewards May 8 for ‘causing a break in…
Catalyst, an Australian science show, recently ran this segment on the whip. The entire program is worth a look, but one quote in particular stands out. Australian Racing Board chief Peter McGauran: “That [not shifting from pain] would have been…
The following abuses were committed against Standardbreds at Hoosier Park. (The rulings come courtesy of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission.) 7/19/14, Lewayne Miller, “Whip-bleeding/welts” – no fine, 5-day suspension From 5/13 to 7/1, Miller was “disciplined” three times for the…
