Barbaro

Originally Posted by tanner12oz

I highly doubt a thorough examination was done...gave him a quick once over and back in the gate. Pretty sure the threshold for late scratches on the big time tv races is waaaay higher then your typical maiden claimer. Jeez the only really big late scratch I can even remember in a big race is quality road in the cup a few years back. Lots of cash on the line, tv obligations, all have a part in the quick but probably not thorough exams. No clue if he was hurt or not but it was a bizarre sequence of events. I was at the track that day and it was an ominous feeling. Bernardini ended up being a great horse but it all all about the derby winner that day.

Track veterinarians don't care if the race is on NBC or a 4k claimer at GGF. They are there to assure a horse, to the best of their ability, appears to be racing sound.

While I agree the percentages are low. Horses do win after breaking through the gate. I expect the incidence of breakdowns is no higher as a result.

Further, if this is a worry, what about horses that thrash about in the gate while waiting? Vet's routinely will back them out and have a look. Should they all be scratched as well?

What happened to Barbaro was so sad and tragic. We all feel horrible. He was a special favorite of mine having won the Florida Derby.

But as the great Hyman Roth so accurately said. " This is the life we have chosen"

RIP