zip it harness boy black thr,,doesent need to tell you anything..he is a real important person in our sport ..so relax..and just so you know he contributes too a bunch of things... this board as a courtesy...i think..

What is Laminates and why is it so dangerous?

I agree with the ruler on this one. The operative word in his post is CLASS. I like JJ's show, I think he can be entertaining from time to time, and his job is to give opinions. However, there is a line between opinion giving and stirring the pot irresponsibly. To say that the horse was dead already and no one was being told is a disrespectful gesture to everyone involved with the animal, all the fans who adore him, and the listeners to his show. In short, a complete lack of CLASS. Not in general, not all the time...just in this instance.

Ha : Mr. Black Might very well be an important person in the business but on this board he is just another unidentified poster, Just like myself . As far as attacking JJ,s training . It was In My OPINION that he was a subpar trainer. Thats not attacking thats an opinion . Hooves defend whom or what you like thats what message boards are for to have discussions good or bad or agree or disagree .

I have said 3 times now that the man probably does good things for racing and the show . Or is that invisible in my posts? Anyway's once again it has to be brought up about harness and announcing . Thats great im glad thats what is being focused on.

I like the comments tho and enjoy this thread now more than ever . Oh and for those whom want to know. I am hoping that Barbaro is doing good and by the posts from Tim Wolley it sounds as tho he is fighting on.

I'm leaving for Florida in 9 hours and have to write up the BEL P6 yet and just looked at this thread... I almost don't know where to start..

I'll say to Tao though, unless you've won several thousand races as a trainer, you have not an iota of authority to impinge on where anyone's training career was or is... That comment is such an incredible insult to thousands of hard working people in the sport as to be beyond belief. In other words, according to you, Dale Baird and King Leatherbury are losers too. Well done.. You're "in the game" on the sulky side, so I guess by your above-stated insight that every driver and trainer at Pompano and Maywood and such are all nothings as well.. I guess if you don't win the Little Brown Jug or race at the Meadowlands your life's work is worthless?

I was sick this afternoon and only spent the last 30 min. on the show and have yet to hear the earlier segments and don't have time to do so now... JJ may very well have been adding his opinion to the WIDESPREAD SPECULATION in the racing media that was going on earlier today that Barbaro may have been put down... I can't comment on anything he said until I hear it and know the context.

In the meantime, what I will say is that JJ Graci and Anita St. Clair have spent hundreds of thousands of their own dollars to create a radio show that now reaches all of N. America on Sirius and the world on the Internet. They worked for years and years BUYING airtime in Philly and Florida to keep the show going until John Perrotta helped them get on Sirius with the support of Mike Francesa and Bill Parcells.

The show is a forum for the industry as no where else is 3 hours of horse racing being offered five days a week. The show has done a lot of good for helping new fans learn more about the game, and brings the sport's top personalities into your car, home or office like nothing else available anywhere, including the racing networks. We bring more trainers and industry personalities to the air than ANYONE and have been vocal supporters of the slaughter ban, after career placement of runners, backstretch employee assistance and every other conceivable cause associated with racing.

Say what you want about JJ's style and personna, but NO ONE can question his dedication or commitment to horse racing and its' success after the 40+ years he's given to the sport.

JJ has the right to speculate. It is pretty classless, but he has that right. It doesn't mean he lacks class, but just did in this instance. I hope you guys have the crow ready for him tomorrow. I will be sure to be listening.

Kasept : I will make this reply now so you see it before you leave . My Opinon of JJ is that he was a subpar trainer. I did not attack the man personally say anything about his personal life or his family . I stated imo and thats for me to say . Lets face what he said which was classless. While I respect what you do and are doing for all of racing , I will not condone or play nice with an opinion I have of someone and thats my right to say . I do not curse , I do not say anything that is not formed in the opinion catagory. Im sure you have opinions and maybe you state them to friends or colleague's I dont know because I do not know you personally . Im sure JJ could make a post on this thread and explain what it is he was trying to get across to a National audience? That would take what maybe 2 minutes of his time? If not and they have or do put the horse down then what will he come on tommorw and say I TOLD YOU SO? Either way defend his life's work I certainly do not argue he was good for the sport or the show . What I did say is personally I do not listen to him .

I'll just put out good wishes for Barbaro...cause that's what I thought this thread was about.
No comment on the Tao controversy, other than it takes the focus away from what the intent of this thread seemed.

Ok : TAO DISCLAIMER FROM LAST NIGHTS POST'S

No I am not the saratoga harness announcer . As far as durkin goes I guess I got off to the wrong step on this board . I just hated that call and I had to say something about it on this board . Why this board well because this is the best and most passionate and informative racing board on the web . I know this because I belong to them all. The only reason I do not say what track I announce at is because I can get very argumentative and brash at times about certain opinion's I have (durkin example) and I would not want it to come back and bite me some day . I respect everybody's opinion on this board and hope that I can make good contribution's to the group.

Tao-How can you comment on something that you never listened to? We all know how quotes can be taken out of the framework of a conversation and be taken out of context. That is why you have to listen to the whole conversation before rendering an opinion. Let me ask you. Are you the same track announcer that you were 15-20 years ago? I'm sure you learned a few things along the way. If you were to be critiqued,wouldn't you want to be judged on your present body of work? It's kind of ridiculus to rip JJ from something he did 15-20 years ago. Why not listen to the current show and then formulate an opinion. We are no longer in the 80's. You'll sound more credible if you do that. It's easy to fire away on a message board claiming to be someone influencial in the industry but not reveal who you are. You'll probably say somebody close to you told you that he's still the same guy but that's just secondhand knowledge which doesn't pass the smell test. I'm not trying to attack you, I'm just pointing out that I'd rather listen to an opinion somebody had based on 2006 rather than the late 80's.

That's an easy one. Let's take a look at your very first post on derbytrail.
You said;

"Why Durkin will always be a ***
Durkins call of the suburban was like listening to somebody scratch there nails on a chalkboard.

Did he bet invasor? Is he screwing F. Jara? Sick call

Invasor gallops to the lead.....Jara Looks around for competition......Invasor rolling through the stretch .....Invasor in complete control midstretch.....Invasor much the best here invasor invasor invasor ...

I am a Track announcer I do it for a living as well if I ever give 1 horse 10 calls in the stretch I hope a sniper shoots me from the crow's nest.

Please Tom Step down , Go write a book . Become a retired announcer soon .

Thanks for the eary race call that will be etched in my mind forever.

Oust Durkin"

You state right out of the box that you're an announcer. Then you repeat that claim on almost all of your posts. Now you wonder why someone else makes reference to it.

You call out people by name as being classless but you yourself make what I would call a classless post above, and then say that you must remain anonymous so that it doesn't come back to bite you.

Looks hypocritical to me.

barbaro
 

have kept you in my prayers since day one. and am tonight more then ever that tomorrows news is not tragic.people this board is for debate and info and all but all these attacks at each other will be a mute point if something has or will happen to barb. we will all feel empty inside if something happens. we all care for him in the end no matter who said what and in what forum they say it in. its all a big loss for us. lets talk about him being the true champ he is and one of the greatest derby winners ever. if you ever want to talk about a race horse having heart and the will to win(survive) this guy has already proven to me he isjust as good as a tc champ by his actions in his fight for survival

my two cents
 

I think we are in for some bad news tomorrow. You could easily announce what needs to be said in a press memo if it wasn't bad. You don't go through the trouble and cancel a trip to South Africa to hold a 10 minute conference about what you did last week. I hope I am wrong

Why the hell is Tao bringing up JJ Graci as a trainer? This thread is about Barbaro, correct? I see zero reason why JJ's training record - good, bad, or average - should be brought up out of the blue.

i agree 1rst sat , god bless you barb

I love how everybody is so secretive in here.....What is this?..The Presidency? If you state something then eb a man and stand behind it or don't state it at all...

..I'll probably get a big backlash for this, but I cannot understand the secrecy here...all it does is give the right for soembody to bash someone else without consiquence...if you are just chatting normally, then who cares if you are revealed?

Sending love to Barbaro from over the pond...

Very well said pdrift, my thoughts exactly.