This particular horse breaking down is disturbing. I dont like the eulogies, but this horse certainly deserved better than being brought back to race just to be put down. It adds a little to the disappointment because he had done so much. 4 months ago the horse was where he belonged. Retired and enjoying life.

Every person is different... it breaks my hurt every time I read about another one too.

Well, the poster who started this thread seems to hurt for every horse that gets injured, or worse, and while she is certainly entitled to that sentiment, it is hardly surprising that others have picked up on the repetitive series of posts of this ilk.

Honestly, I posted about a racetrack friend of mine who passed away and some nitwit chose to turn the thread into something else entirely. His thoughts didn't diminish my sorrow. You post on the internet and you get what you get.

For the most part the eulogies are confined to the Angels thread.

I think your comment of finding it disturbing hit the nail on the head.....and has generated a lot of chatter on many forums.
It goes back to connections, surfaces, among other issues, breeding shed, retirements, etc, but mainly controversy surrounding the trainer.

And while yes I absolutely agree he was not one of the "top level" horses, he was a horse that many people knew about due to his competition record. I liked him and I'm sorry to see him gone.

I think the fact she honors each horse with a thread keeps the ugly side of the sport in the forefront, which I assume is why you get a diverse reaction. I personally think it is good, to keep a memory of those that have suffered, but I can see why there are people who would rather not see this side of the sport on a daily basis.

Personally, I place a horse like Super Frolic above early-retired 3 yo's in terms of earning my admiration. There is surely something to be said for running a small number of brilliant races and going off to stud. There is also something to be said for a solid G2/G3 horse that runs at 3,4,5 and 6. I do not consider Bernardini a great horse, not at all. He won a couple G 1's and got beat pretty good in the BC. Birdstone got a couple G1's and was gone.

It's not as if the "top class" horses you mention make one forget about Forego.

He earned black type at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7... very unusual these days. $933,000... almost a millionaire.

Much as i look warily on Asmussen's training, is the Tapeta surface any factor in yet another breakdown? or is it happening at the same rate as dirt tracks?

What a shame.

I beleive this is the first Tapeta track. I hope there is a reason that can be identified for the injury. The chart indicates the injury happened very early in the race.

Is it wrong to be saddened by the death of every racehorse that has tried, that has done their job whether they wanted to or not. Is it wrong to become emotionally attached to horses that you see at the track and for some reason they stick out from the others?

If it wasn't for the horses, where would be be? Afterall, it's called HORSEracing, or did a number of you forget that?

The horses are the backbone to this sport, but what thanks do they get? None, zip, zlich, nil point.

If you don't become emotionally attached and simply look at racehorses as betting potential, then that's fine, but don't take it out on the people that DO care.

i can relate to that part....

not a strong attachment to every individual i would think, but i certainly have a strong attachment to horses in general, and it's dammed depressing to see one lose his life while trying to make his humans happy. it's also depressing to have people only worry about whether they hit the ex or not in that race. i think it's a shame super frolic was lost, especially considering he was retired to supposed greener pastures--but they weren't quite GREEEN enough for his owners...
but, we all know that this is part of the sport we choose to follow. and certainly i would expect it to touch the owners and trainer, groom, etc than the general public.
then again, for anyone to presume to know what someone else is feeling, or the depths of that feeling....well, i don't see how you can. to each his own i suppose. altho the cold, complete lack of empathy is something i will never understand.

it can be maudlin, but then again, it ought to be obvious what this thread would contain, so easy to skip it....

You think everyone knew that Super Frolic broke down at some irrelevant outpost late on a Saturday evening?

Very well put, Danzig :)

Might be a new track but not going to stay "irrelevant" when they give out almost 1 million in purse money on one day. Also it was televised on TVG, and the masters 2 races later was on ESPN, hard to miss what happened. So yes, most knew Super Frolic had been pulled up.

By seeing the amount of chatter on the forums, he had a lot of fans that are going to miss him.
Like the others said, if you don't like the thread don't read it.

Horses do not run to make humans happy, they run because they are genetically engineered to. Today, 2007, horses are faster than they have ever been. Feed programs, training, and breeding for speed have all lead to faster animals and drugs, illegal or not, have put a great strain on the thoroughbred.

I feel sorry whenever one goes down and Super Frolic breaking both sesamoids makes no one happy. Treating a horse as the individual it is, can lead to sadness, as breakdowns will always occur. Using terms such as nag, glue, etc. irritate me, but I take great satisfaction that I often "tax" those people at the window. Super Frolic was not a great horse, but he was an individual, and he will be missed. Condolences to his connections. BBB

Sumitas, do you walk around with a shoe in your mouth daily?

Note my location. Sorry Super Frolic wasn't headline news here. Dinner, perhaps, but not news, so excuse me if I missed it.

As I said, I hate to see horses break down. I do like animals and love horses. I am just well aware of the realities of the sport.

The drive by "I'm a winner" post. You are the master.