Derby Aftermath

[jms62]

Originally Posted by moses

That’s my thought. My wife just gave birth last Wednesday (the baby was due in April but waited until after Derby Day, maybe she wanted to avoid seeing another Baffert horse win it?). Anyway, she got an epidural beforehand and it sure seems like it enabled her to push through the pain. Different drug but same concept - mask the pain and the horse doesn’t know it’s supposed to be hurting and just keeps running. But I defer to those with more knowledge on the topic.

This makes me worry about the entire sport though. How many people are going to read this story and say: “So they’re allowed to mask pain up to a certain point through the use of certain drugs. But if training and racing hurts these horses and they can’t train/race without painkillers and other drugs, why are we even allowing this?” To a lot of outside observers, that’s going to sound like animal cruelty.

First off Congratulations. Secondly the medication debate has been going on for years and will continue after we both are gone.

[moses]

Originally Posted by jms62

First off Congratulations. Secondly the medication debate has been going on for years and will continue after we both are gone.

Thanks and I’m sure you’re right. Would love to just see the sport cleaned up though.

[robfla]

Agreement was reached between trainer Bob Baffert and the Maryland Jockey Club on Tuesday.


https://www.horseracingnation.com/ne...nt_reached_123

[cal828]

Took me a minute to figure out where I had heard of the drug otomax. Anybody that has Labrador Retrievers is probably very familiar with it. Labs tend to get what is called otitis externa which is a fungal infection in their ears. I just looked at a small 10 mg. tube and it lists betamethasone, 1 mg. as an ingredient.

[OldDog]

An interesting read:

http://ustrottingnews.com/hrmc-recom...ation-overage/

[Conrad]

With Medina in, how can anyone bet this race?
The MJC & Stronach made a grievous error here and I hope it costs them dearly at the windows.

[-BT-]

Originally Posted by Conrad

With Medina in, how can anyone bet this race?
The MJC & Stronach made a grievous error here and I hope it costs them dearly at the windows.

I was thinking the same thing, how are we, the betting public, supposed to feel any sort of confidence that we're getting a fair shake and know that everyone is playing on a level playing field when something like this just happened 2 weeks ago on the biggest stage in the sport, and the same connections are allowed to run like nothing happened? You have a trainer who was just ruled off of Churchill Downs, admitted to using a banned substance, but business as usual and on to the second leg of the triple crown.

This is my dilemma.

1) I can blow this whole thing off and keep churning that money into the window, maybe even fading Baffert knowing he has zero margin for error in giving whatever banned substances he's giving.

or

2) Step away, keep my money in my pocket and hit this sport and the powers that be where it hurts, by not wagering.

I know by keeping my money in my pocket I'm not supporting the 99% of the rest of the industry who's playing by the rules, but seriously when is enough enough? I've been on the fence about the industry for the last few years, specifically about this issue, but nothing has changed, so give me a reason to believe I'm not throwing good money after bad in a sport that doesn't really care about a level playing field or the money it costs those who are under the impression that everyone is playing by the rules.

-bt-

[richard burch]

Originally Posted by Conrad

With Medina in, how can anyone bet this race?
The MJC & Stronach made a grievous error here and I hope it costs them dearly at the windows.

I will not bet it. I will bet other races that have no BB entries.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Conrad

With Medina in, how can anyone bet this race?
The MJC & Stronach made a grievous error here and I hope it costs them dearly at the windows.

People WILL bet it. Probably in record numbers. People will watch. Because we always do. People in the industry know this. Trainers cheat. Jockeys cheat. Drugs. Buzzers. Stiffing horses. None of this stuff is new and yet it doesn't stop new wagering records from being set all the time. Medina Spirit will win and move on to NY with a chance at the TC unless he's disqualified from his Derby win before the Belmont.