Hollendorfer barred from Stronach tracks

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I think yes and no. The surface was an issue but it wasn’t because it was a bad surface. Unless you live in Southern California, it’s hard to relate to how unprecedented the amount of rain was that fell. They weren’t prepared for the conditions because the conditions were so unusual.

So what are you saying exactly?

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

So what are you saying exactly?

I’m saying that there has been an extreme overreaction to an unprecedented situation. The surface was never bad, per se. It wasn’t like when they switched to synthetics and had all kinds of man made problems. The conditions were never unsafe because of man made error or negligence. The problems haven’t been the horsemen, the same horsemen that were there before and are still there now.

Perhaps some good can come from the new rules and oversights. In the end, that’s all anyone should want, a safer sport. Going after Hollendorfer does nothing towards that end.

[moses]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I’m saying that there has been an extreme overreaction to an unprecedented situation. The surface was never bad, per se. It wasn’t like when they switched to synthetics and had all kinds of man made problems. The conditions were never unsafe because of man made error or negligence. The problems haven’t been the horsemen, the same horsemen that were there before and are still there now.

Perhaps some good can come from the new rules and oversights. In the end, that’s all anyone should want, a safer sport. Going after Hollendorfer does nothing towards that end.

If it snows and the roads turn icy but I decide to drive 80 mph on the highway, spin out, and wreck my car...is that caused by man made error or negligence?

Saying it rained a lot doesn’t absolve people if they continued to field races on an unsafe surface. I don’t know all the facts with Santa Anita, but just because it rained an unprecedented amount doesn’t mean there aren’t people to blame in connection with the fatalities related to the racing surface over the winter/spring.

[Kasept]

Occured to me this morning, how/why did Santa Anita's 'Workout Approval' system allow American Currency to drill on Saturday? Hollendorfer had to submit the gelding for the OK and they let him work. Or has that part of the 'safety initiatives' been forgotten?

[cal828]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Occured to me this morning, how/why did Santa Anita's 'Workout Approval' system allow American Currency to drill on Saturday? Hollendorfer had to submit the gelding for the OK and they let him work. Or has that part of the 'safety initiatives' been forgotten?

Bloodhorse article said he was vet scratched from a 12,500 allowance on June 16. But he was ok to breeze a few days later? That part didn't make sense to me either.

[Merlinsky]

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-rac...ntering-horses

https://www.drf.com/news/reversal-ny...-runners?type=

Okay, I'm at a loss. I've not got intimate knowledge of his operation or the inner workings of NYRA, so can anybody explain what the heck is going on? Did they just rethink the PR of it all? Is anybody exerting pressure? I get TSG throwing him under the bus because of course they'd do that to someone right now, but NYRA? From afar I'd always heard people speak of him with esteem and as a true horseman. Are they basically 'pulling a Dutrow' unofficially and why? I've definitely heard rumors about some people as sketchy trainers that are going untouched. Are we supposed to go 'oh good, they took down that troublemaker Hollendorfer?' Is there anything about his operation to justify this?

[Konk]

Maybe NYRA now knows something we don't.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by Konk

Maybe NYRA now knows something we don't.

Or maybe they are just caving too!

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by moses

If it snows and the roads turn icy but I decide to drive 80 mph on the highway, spin out, and wreck my car...is that caused by man made error or negligence?

Saying it rained a lot doesn’t absolve people if they continued to field races on an unsafe surface. I don’t know all the facts with Santa Anita, but just because it rained an unprecedented amount doesn’t mean there aren’t people to blame in connection with the fatalities related to the racing surface over the winter/spring.

Exactly. There are people to blame. Track management is to blame. They don’t need to blame the horsemen. They didn’t need to blame track maintenance crews. They didn’t need to overreact with these new rules and safety precautions because the ones they already had worked fine. They simply needed to halt racing until things got back to normal. Which they did. Since that point, racing and training has gone back to normal and the number of breakdowns has decreased to levels lower than other tracks comparable activity.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Exactly. There are people to blame. Track management is to blame. They don’t need to blame the horsemen. They didn’t need to blame track maintenance crews. They didn’t need to overreact with these new rules and safety precautions because the ones they already had worked fine. They simply needed to halt racing until things got back to normal. Which they did. Since that point, racing and training has gone back to normal and the number of breakdowns has decreased to levels lower than other tracks comparable activity.

You don’t think some horseman were running horses they shouldn’t have?

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

You don’t think some horseman were running horses they shouldn’t have?

If you’re referring to physically shouldn’t have been running, I think that’s been going on since the beginning of time. If you’re referring to shouldn’t have run them because the track was compromised by the weather, that’s a different subject and one that isn’t and can’t be addressed by the new rules.

I don’t understand how they put together some committee, said committee allows a horse to run, horse breaks down, and you punish the trainer. Shouldn’t this fall on the committee?

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

You don’t think some horseman were running horses they shouldn’t have?

Hossy. Horsemen were being browbeaten into running. Threatened and motherphucked.

And note that there were horses on the grounds that would never have been given stalls by the previous racing department head. (Hammer).

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Hossy. Horsemen were being browbeaten into running. Threatened and motherphucked.

And note that there were horses on the grounds that would never have been given stalls by the previous racing department head. (Hammer).

I’m well aware Steve. I was the first (and only) person that was telling it like it is on that other board and was told over and over again I was wrong.

TSG is a train wreck and have screwed up at every step here.

I just think threats or not, if you know your horse shouldn’t be running, you don’t run. But that’s another discussion.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Hossy. Horsemen were being browbeaten into running. Threatened and motherphucked.

And note that there were horses on the grounds that would never have been given stalls by the previous racing department head. (Hammer).

I had a feeling it was something like that. Pressure to run.

I'm confused, Steve. On one hand, they're pressuring to fill races which sure makes it sound like they're trying to stay afloat, but Santa Anita's also worth more as a real estate venture to TSG than as a wagering one from what I understand. The conspiracy theories out there contradict the implications of urging to run so which is it? Is TSG just bad at this, flailing around like someone trying to catch farts with a butterfly net? Or is there any sincere desire on their part to tank the track/Cal racing? Are people just seeing malice where there isn't any? (Although I'm sure genuine malice exists on PETA's part).