COMEBACK! Herbie McCauley at 50..
 

Terrific story of Herbie McCauley's comeback at 50 in the Asbury Park Press..

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...0399/1022/NEWS

Three more mounts today at the Swamp as "Hollywood" returns to the saddle after 9 years away. For those new to the game, Herbie McCauley was a great jock. Will be a fun story to follow...

He is young enough to be Earlie Fires son.

Wish him well. But we see to much of this stuff. A true Riches to Rags here. When you are broke, you tend to go back to what you use to do best. He is lucky to still have some friends left in this game, who believe in him. He has a tough road ahead, more now than ever.

I remember those days in the late 80's at Monmouth and Meadowlands. It was all Herb McCauley, Chris Antley and Julie Krone. I don't think Bravo was on the scene yet, and those 3 won 80 percent of the races it seemed.

We're supposed to be happy to see a rider, who was questionable even in his prime, come back after being off for nearly a decade and ride in races where hundreds of thousands of dollars are wagered?

No thanks.

Speaking of remarkable comebacks...

Otto Thorwarth is back in the saddle.

The only thing remarkable about Herb coming back is that anyone is giving him mounts.

Yeah...the guy threw away his life for booze and gambling....a real inspiration. I'll be shocked if he is still riding by the end of the meadowlands meet.

Wow.. interesting set of reactions about Herb.

Do I have this right? Jerry Bailey and Pat Day overcoming their addictions and saving their careers is 'inspirational' or worthy of our admiration, but guys like Herb McCauley, or say Tony Black, doing so isn't... because they were lesser-lights to begin with?

If Alan Goldberg is willing to ride him, that says he's in form to win.

Nah....I cant stand Bailey or Day either. I am an equal opportunity jockey basher.

there was a rider last night at Mountaineer in the first race named Rivera. This guy was I guess an exercise rider who gets a couple of live mounts per year as a favor. The horse should have won, it was 2/5 on the board but the guy rode indecisively finally taking the horse down to to the rail to try to rally in the stretch, not a good move at the Mountain. he also at one point got the whip somehow stuck in the horses tail. i had to chuckle after seeing that at the people who bet on that one as he could only manage second place.

I got to this part...

..and simply had enough.

I guess mere alcohol didn't move him at all...

Excellent point. How about Garrett Gomez? He struggled for many years before finally cleaning up his act and getting his life back together.

As a racing fan I am glad Herb McCauley got his life back together also and is now able to ride again. I don't think anyone needs to say that he was a great rider or will return and do great things, but the simple fact that he made a comeback is admirable, at least in my opinion.

NT

That's a great point and a sad reflection on culture in general. When we see someone who garners headlines come back from demons or trouble, we are all more likely to cheer and heap praise on them. But, for the lesser or unknowns, there is no such recognition or just plain resentment.

Like it or not, I hope people understand most everyone faces an addiction or a troubled period of time where they lose something or lose face in the eyes of some. Or they will face something they will need help getting back from whether it be the fault of their own doing or someone/something else.

Whatever the problem these people get over, and regardless of how you feel towards them, human decency would dictate (most would think) that you can appreciate overcoming a major problem or addiction, because maybe you too have done so. It's kind of unfortunate to see that people don't really care about that, but instead because of what this guy does for a living or because of whom he IS NOT, people just brush it off.

My concern is for bettors, and I am extremely dubious about what benefit the return of this mediocre ( at best ) rider will have for horseplayers. If the other riders are comfortable riding with him that is not my problem. As a bettor I see his return as a negative.

What personal issues he had, or has, are of no concern to me whatsoever. Should they be?

Seems like a lot of morality lecturing going on here instead of the real issue being debated. The real issue is a jockey that was professionally washed up a virtual decade ago is now returning to affect the outcome of races where hundreds of thousands of dollars are wagered. Oh well, so much for any concern for the welfare of the bettors. I'm sure all his poor rides or lack of effort will be figments of disgruntled bettors' minds. God forbid there is any onus of responsibility on these brave men who risk their lives for our enjoyment.

Hopefully the more stories are published about him and the more his overall exposure grows, the more uninformed money will be bet on horses he's riding.
I suppose that's a possibility even despite the size of the following of the Big M.

NT

Meadowlands handled something like $1.8 Million on opening night, or $1.5 Million less than Calder the same day. At worst, he'll just be another poor jockey at a fairly low handle track. Come to think of it, any track that sees Jermaine Bridgmohan riding live mounts has room for most anyone.

one of the great posts of all time! what does overcoming adversity have anything to do with his ability in riding horses?

How bad was he? He rode 20 years and won 3,000+ races. He was mediocre enough to once win five races on a card from five mounts.

So he basically lost it all at the tables two years ago and now he's returning, at age 50, to a sport that exists primarily due to gambling.

Yeah this "heartwarming" story isn't over just yet and Herbie hasn't had too many happy endings in his life...err wait, he probably has...

Heck, I'm 52 and trying to make a come back. No addiction or anything like that, just trying to get to that level of life I had 25 years ago before a red headed wife and 20 year old son that thinks he knows more than me and the rest of civilization. The good news is no one has to bet on me.

As for any of these jocks, let's see what they'll do. They won't get my money until they prove themselves just like any other jock or horse that gets my bet. Whether they are 20 years old or 60 years old I don't really care about the details of their life as long as they can ride home winners.

Otheriwise the form would have the jockey's name and a comment like they do the horse, something like....." Was out late last night and had 8 beers before coming home and finding his wife had left him" or "Had eyes checked recently and found to be blind, first time glasses"

Really all these details don't manner cause there's no way you can know everything going on in somone's head.

Spyder

Spyder

Otherwise the form would have the jockey's name and a comment like they do the horse, something like....." Was out late last night and had 8 beers before coming home

That reminds me of the night of The Blue Grass at Keeneland. A jockey who shall remain nameless was in the drinking establishment that we were in, and was in Happy mode. Needless to say, I didn't play any of his mounts on the West Coast the next day. :rolleyes:

So he had/has a gambling problem? Is that a good thing for a rider?

Andy makes a compelling counterpoint here.. I'll only say that it's the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority's decision to let a Herb McCauley ride, just as the NYRA stewards had to make a similar call to grant David Jacobson a trainers' license after being away from the game for 25 years.

Simply put, McCauley's current riding ability will determine the outcome of this story.. I think bettor's should give him the same chance that Goldberg or other trainers' are giving him..

How does him riding affect the bettors any more than any jockey you might perceive is less than capable? You could say a sophisticated bettor would benefit from him riding just as easily. I guess I can see the point but it's unlikely he's going to put other riders in danger or greatly affect the outcome of a race other than the horse he's riding (like some other not so capable riders do). He does know his way around the track.

How many mounts can this guy get anyway. They have the best jocks riding the best horses, so most trainers will not change that anyway. He is the Chop Chop of NJ shore now. He most likely will sit in the jocks room waitng for a sudden call to post.

In this game, 50 is retirement age.

Best statement in this entire thread.....know how you feel Spyder ;)