Beyer pens post script after sit-down with Wolfson

[Kasept]

Andy Beyer and Marty Wolfson met and talked for an hour last weekend at Gulfstream. Beyer has written a new 'post-script' column to his 'supertrainer' piece of 3 weeks ago. It simultaneously acknowledges Wolfson's horsemanship and clean record while hinting that elements of his personal background would lead one to believe he is fully capable of 'engineering' performances. I found it to be a complex piece of writing with an unclear purpose.


Triumphs of horsemanship or chemistry?
By Andrew Beyer

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - When I wrote a recent column about "supertrainers" whose feats are so amazing that they raise suspicions about the use of illegal substances, horsemen at Gulfstream Park protested vehemently. A committee of trainers declared that these allegations brought "discredit to the game."

Some of these very trainers have records of drug violations that should make them hesitant to accuse anyone of discrediting the game. But at least one trainer cited in the column does have the standing to voice his objections. Marty Wolfson is, in some ways, the quintessential supertrainer. He wins races at a phenomenal rate; when he acquires horses, they frequently improve by many lengths over the best previous form of their lives. Yet Wolfson has never received a significant suspension for a drug infraction. His record of consistent success has earned him respect as a skilled horseman. He possesses a unique background that prepared him for his chosen career.

Wolfson was born into a life of affluence on Miami Beach. His father, Louis Wolfson, was a fabulously successful conglomerate builder and wheeler-dealer until he went to prison for securities fraud. He was also a force in the Thoroughbred business as the owner of Harbor View Farm and the 1977 Triple Crown winner, Affirmed. His son was enthralled by the racing game; as a teenager Marty watched the nation's best horses and knew many of its greatest trainers. He loved not just the glamour of the sport but the gritty world of the backstretch and the day-to-day routine of the business. Despite his father's objections, he obtained a license as a horse trainer in 1970, when he was 18.

"My father thought it was a tough life," he said, "but I knew that it would make me happy."

Around the same time, the young Wolfson developed another passion: weightlifting and bodybuilding. His exertions got enough results that he was featured in a Playgirl pictorial in the 1970s. Like almost all bodybuilders, he is obsessed with vitamins, supplements, and training regimens, and he said, "I apply a lot of those same things to the horses." (Asked about steroids, Wolfson said he never took them but administered them selectively to certain horses until the substances were banned.)

He said the greatest lesson he learned from weightlifting is that training lightly gets better results than overdoing it. "Less is more," Wolfson said. "I never overtrain."

For much of his career, based at Miami's Calder Race Course, Wolfson has won races at approximately a 20 percent clip, an excellent batting average. Now the skeptics might suggest that he has become almost too good. In 2008 he won with 30 percent of his starters, and in recent years he has performed some extraordinary training feats. One of them put him into the national spotlight and sent his career into an upward trajectory.

Wolfson took over the training of Miesque's Approval from Hall of Famer Bill Mott shortly before the horse turned 7. The old campaigner's best days appeared to be behind him; he had most recently finished out of the money in a $50,000 claiming race. Yet after less than three months in Wolfson's care, Miesque's Approval was rejuvenated, and at the end of the 2006 season he unleashed an explosive rally to win the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile.

How did the trainer do it? "There were a lot of things involved," Wolfson replied. "But the main thing I did was to switch shoes, going from a size 3 to size 6."

When I expressed incredulity that a new pair of shoes could account for such a dramatic change, Wolfson said: "I disagree with you on that. Miesque's Approval had always been a very sulky horse. He didn't like to train."

The shoes and some other changes improved his attitude, Wolfson said, and the improvement in his form followed.

Ikigai had failed to finish in the money in two starts for champion trainer Todd Pletcher when he moved to Wolfson's barn and became an impressive stakes winner.

"He was foot-sore and sore all over," Wolfson said. "I use a magnetic blanket that I put on him every day. He practically lives in hot water with Epsom salts."

Mending Fences was a $25,000 claimer until Wolfson got him and turned him into a stakes winner. Rockefeller had won only a maiden race in 15 career starts before he entered Wolfson's barn and improved to win a stakes race. Motovato's best Beyer Speed Figure was a 74 while he was in the Pletcher barn, but in his first start for Wolfson he exploded to win by 15 lengths and earn a figure of 111. In all of these cases, Wolfson credited basic horsemanship - shoeing, nutrition, treating soreness, etc. - for the turnarounds.

Sensing my skepticism, Wolfson recalled his younger days when he observed legendary horsemen such as Laz Barrera and Allen Jerkens, who possessed skills that set them far apart from their contemporaries. "What did you think," Wolfson asked me, "when Onion beat Secretariat at Saratoga?"

That victory for Jerkens was one of the great training miracles of all time - a supertrainer feat if there ever was one. In 1973 I accepted Jerkens's achievement at face value; I regarded him as one of the greatest horse trainers on the face of the Earth, and still do. But 1973 was a more innocent era. Had Onion won in 2009, doubters would suspect Jerkens of possessing some high-octane rocket fuel.

It might seem unfair or inconsistent that much of the racing world reveres Jerkens while distrusting the contemporary supertrainers, but there is a sound basis for today's cynicism. Jerkens was a unique figure in 1973, but today there are countless trainers with the power to improve horses suddenly and dramatically. Some rapidly emerge from obscurity and compile achievements that the greatest horsemen of all time would envy. It is difficult to believe that these trainers succeed because they know so much more about basic horse care than top professionals in their business. As a result, even a trainer such as Wolfson - who has earned respect over a long period of time - won't get the benefit of the doubt when he performs his amazing feats.

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Originally Posted by Kasept

Andy Beyer and Marty Wolfson met and talked for an hour last weekend at Gulfstream. Beyer has written a new 'post-script' column to his 'supertrainer' piece of 3 weeks ago. It simultaneously acknowledges Wolfson's horsemanship and clean record while hinting that elements of his personal background would lead one to believe he is fully capable of 'engineering' performances. I found it to be a complex piece of writing with an unclear purpose.


Triumphs of horsemanship or chemistry?
By Andrew Beyer

SUBSCRIPTION REQ'D:
http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do...7&subs=0&arc=0

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - When I wrote a recent column about "supertrainers" whose feats are so amazing that they raise suspicions about the use of illegal substances, horsemen at Gulfstream Park protested vehemently. A committee of trainers declared that these allegations brought "discredit to the game."

Some of these very trainers have records of drug violations that should make them hesitant to accuse anyone of discrediting the game. But at least one trainer cited in the column does have the standing to voice his objections.

Says to me that the guy has a clean record in terms of tests but believing that he is so much more a horsemen then the rest of the world is the overriding factor. I have not seen move ups like that out west other then the very brief time Mullins was not on the level, there are no 70 beyer fig claims that turn into 110's.

[Bigsmc]

I had no idea. I just called my wife and told her to get me some bigger shoes. I should be running a marthon by the end of the year.

Think what you may about Wolfson's training miracles, if he hasn't broken any rules (the article claims he has no positives, I don't know either way), there is nothing to be said.

As a gambler, you just have to know what you are up against if you play against his horses.

[Sightseek]

Steve, you better keep me away from Sumwon, I take 10 different supplements and lift weights 4 days a week. And Wolfson was in Playgirl?

It seems to me that Beyer was more entertaining Wolfson rather than believing him.

Question - What kind of winning percentage did the top trainers have years ago? I've read lots of people mention the suspicious training percentages, but it does kind of make sense since horsemen are racing their horses less and have more stock.

Also, on the move-ups. I can see in some instances as it being legit, and Wolfson is right on with the "less is more"..at least with humans, which is the opposite of what one would think. Others...I just can't believe...like Lava Man.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

I had no idea. I just called my wife and told her to get me some bigger shoes. I should be running a marthon by the end of the year.

Think what you may about Wolfson's training miracles, if he hasn't broken any rules (the article claims he has no positives, I don't know either way), there is nothing to be said.

As a gambler, you just have to know what you are up against if you play against his horses.

Or she could geld you like Mitchell does to his Stakes winning claimers.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

I had no idea. I just called my wife and told her to get me some bigger shoes. I should be running a marthon by the end of the year.

Think what you may about Wolfson's training miracles, if he hasn't broken any rules (the article claims he has no positives, I don't know either way), there is nothing to be said.

As a gambler, you just have to know what you are up against if you play against his horses.

LOLOLOL

This whole situation is bizarre. I feel like we are reliving the uncovering of the steroid era in baseball- "LET ME BE CLEAR, I DID NOT USE PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS", only to be busted a year later.

Wolfson might have been better off saying nothing at all.

blah blah blah. Put your hand on the bible.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I wish I had Mending Fence's pp's to show.

He was running for 25K condition claiming races - and after going to Wolfson, within two months, he's running 2nd by 1 length to English Channel. Than winning a Graded stake race a few weeks later - than a few weeks later coming back in the Grade 2 Dixie and breaking down on the lead causing Albarado to fall off of Einstein.

The problem is that Wolfson never had any of this magic before 2006. His win percentage and ROI stats always looked the same - and he wasn't an elite form reversal guy to say the least.

It's like a baseball player hitting .280 with 25 hr's and 85 RBI's for 12 straight years .. than he goes .375 with 60 hr and 150 RBI's for the next three years in a row.

[CSC]

Regardless of the sport, no one is out from under the umbrella of suspicion of being clean these days if they are very successful in their sports. It's just the reality of sports today. Frankly I am more surprised no one even raised a doubt to whether wholesome good boy...Michael Phelps was indeed clean when he was winning all those gold medals in swimming. Ironically even if you were, many might question if you were, It's only natural to do so now.

[slotdirt]

I believe Einstein actually ended up running on pretty well in the 2007 Dixie, but couldn't chase down a loose Remarkable News.

[slotdirt]

It was Cosmonaut, not Einstein, who couldn't chase down Remarkable News. How could I have doubted DrugSy?

[the_fat_man]

I think cheating (whether actual or imagined) is part of every 'game'. 'Players' are looking for whatever edge they can get. I find it interesting, however, that the 'voices' in racing are primarily concerned with cheaters rather than, I would imagine, issues of lesser importance.

I mean, check out the way MLB did it: they, at least, made sure that their DATA was accurate, or that their games were easily available, seemingly lesser and thus 'correctable' issues, before turning to the problem of the cheaters.

WTF are we always focusing on what Wolfson, Dutrow, and the others, are doing rather than what EQUIBASE, with flawed data, or Gulfstream Park (with no video feed and the inability to accurately time their races) are up to?

I can handle a cheater or two in my handicapping. I certainly have more difficulty dealing with data full of errors, that ridiculous tax (30%+) on exotics, and other such issues.

Stop the cheating and you still have these issues. Doesn't Beyer want more accurate data and the racing industry to catch up with the times?

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by CSC

Regardless of the sport, no one is out from under the umbrella of suspicion of being clean these days if they are very successful in their sports. It's just the reality of sports today. Frankly I am more surprised no one even raised a doubt to whether wholesome good boy...Michael Phelps was indeed clean when he was winning all those gold medals in swimming. Ironically even if you were, many might question if you were, It's only natural to do so now.

The Olympics have the best testing out there and in addition they freeze samples that they can test down the line. So if Phelps was on something we'll find out down the line. That makes me a lot more willing to give the benefit of the doubt to him. Horse racing has taken the first step towards doing this and it would be fantastic if it could be put in place universally so that anyone who is using something undetectable now can be caught if a test is found for it later.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I wish I had Mending Fence's pp's to show.

He was running for 25K condition claiming races - and after going to Wolfson, within two months, he's running 2nd by 1 length to English Channel. Than winning a Graded stake race a few weeks later - than a few weeks later coming back in the Grade 2 Dixie and breaking down on the lead causing Albarado to fall off of Einstein.

The problem is that Wolfson never had any of this magic before 2006. His win percentage and ROI stats always looked the same - and he wasn't an elite form reversal guy to say the least.

It's like a baseball player hitting .280 with 25 hr's and 85 RBI's for 12 straight years .. than he goes .375 with 60 hr and 150 RBI's for the next three years in a row.

Great comparison.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by philcski

Great comparison.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2658023

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Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I wish I had Mending Fence's pp's to show.



It's like a baseball player hitting .280 with 25 hr's and 85 RBI's for 12 straight years .. than he goes .375 with 60 hr and 150 RBI's for the next three years in a row.

Sounds like Louis Gonzales.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I believe Einstein actually ended up running on pretty well in the 2007 Dixie, but couldn't chase down a loose Remarkable News.

Einstein was also the 5/2 favorite in the race where he lost the jock.

I like how he tried to bring up Onion beating Secretariat ... a race that happened way before he was even old enough to pose for Playgirl.

That race was long before I was born ... but ... the time of that race didn't seem so impressive ... and Rule By Reason finished 3rd beaten just 1 length. The same Rule by Reason that made 91 career starts and never won a single stake race.

Also ... wasn't Riva Ridge beaten by some 50/1 Witchita Oil horse on the turf that very same week? It feels like "Big Red" probably just didn't fire that day.... but like I said ... that was long before my time.

[CSC]

In my opinion, clean atheletes are one's that can sucessfully avoid detection. I seriously doubt when strength and endurance are involved, there are very few atheletes that can get to the top of their sports without some sort of aid.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2658023

Never heard of the guy.

Originally Posted by CSC

In my opinion, clean atheletes are one's that can sucessfully avoid detection. I seriously doubt when strength and endurance are involved, there are very few atheletes that can get to the top of their sports without some sort of aid.

I refuse to believe Tiger ever has used anything, even if you wish to debate that strength and endurance play a role in golf.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by philcski

Great comparison.

Yeah, If only Bill Mott and his team could figure out how to shoe them properly.

Thanks ... and now I have a not so great comparison...


This is me trying to look gay in like September or Oct before I started hitting the gym everyday and supplamenting with ISO Mass X ...



Basically ... I'm kinda looking like that coke'd up fucl<er that comes on tv and tries to sell you the Sham-Wow towells. You know him ....



If I had Marty Wolfson training and shoeing me for a couple months - and Antonio Margorito's trainer wrapping my hands - I think I might be able to sweep the triple crown of badass and come away with the IBF Heavyweight Championship of the world in the boxing ring, the MMA heavyweight championship in the octogon, and WWF Intercont Championship in the squared circle.