The Mig ditching the left coast

docicu3 · #1 07-14-2008, 09:08 PM

Doesn't it seem more like the guy wasn't all that successful out there compared to what he'll likely do here...the "family line" is certainly a great thing if he's being sincere but given the win percentage he had at the Wood and SA this year I have to say the coincidence is worth noting.

blackthroatedwind · #2 07-14-2008, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docicu3

Doesn't it seem more like the guy wasn't all that successful out there compared to what he'll likely do here...the "family line" is certainly a great thing if he's being sincere but given the win percentage he had at the Wood and SA this year I have to say the coincidence is worth noting.

Come on, man, that's pretty weak.

the_fat_man · #3 07-14-2008, 10:28 PM

I think the MIG would be perfect as a steward when he retires. Let's recruit him from now.

blackthroatedwind · #4 07-14-2008, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

I think the MIG would be perfect as a steward when he retires. Let's recruit him from now.

He certainly knows how to watch a race.

10 pnt move up · #5 07-14-2008, 10:33 PM

I think he was a bit caugt in the middle as an older rider. He is not young and up and coming like some of those kids out there and he does not have the rep that say a Solis, Nakatani or Smith have so it put him in a middle position to get good mounts. One thing that is very different from the east coast to a certain extent is that you have to work horses in the morning to get mounts, where your rep can do alot of that for you out west. I dont know how much he worked horses, maybe a lot, but that is one thing you have to do out west.

blackthroatedwind · #6 07-14-2008, 10:37 PM

I'm going to guess that few, if any, spent more time out in the mornings than Mig.

10 pnt move up · #7 07-14-2008, 10:38 PM

I was just pointing out a big difference for top riders out east to west, how many does JV work? Bailey rarely worked horses, I mean 6-8 a morning.

ELA · #8 07-14-2008, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

I was just pointing out a big difference for top riders out east to west, how many does JV work? Bailey rarely worked horses, I mean 6-8 a morning.

Johnny works few horses, but that's because he has something that other jocks don't have -- his agent! Bailey worked plenty of horses in his day, for guys like Mott and Frankel. He wasn't out there working racehorses everyday as he wasn't riding a lot of them and those he was riding he didn't have to work.

I remember one weekend at the Spa, Bailey won something like two G1's, a G2, and maybe a G2 -- at the Spa, somewhere else and then back at the Spa. There he was Sunday morning, 5:30am or so, right at Frankel's barn getting up on horses.

Like him or not, personally, professionally, doesn't matter, I don't think what Bailey did or didn't do in the mornings defines what he did in the afternoons.

IMO, 6 to 8 a morning is a lot, relatively speaking.

Eric

ELA · #9 07-14-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

I think he was a bit caugt in the middle as an older rider. He is not young and up and coming like some of those kids out there and he does not have the rep that say a Solis, Nakatani or Smith have so it put him in a middle position to get good mounts. One thing that is very different from the east coast to a certain extent is that you have to work horses in the morning to get mounts, where your rep can do alot of that for you out west. I dont know how much he worked horses, maybe a lot, but that is one thing you have to do out west.

You never have to worry about Richie's work ethic.

Eric

10 pnt move up · #10 07-14-2008, 10:49 PM

I am not worried, just added a difference between the two places, notice the comment "maybe a lot".

ELA · #11 07-14-2008, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

I think the MIG would be perfect as a steward when he retires. Let's recruit him from now.

Absolutely! Many people have said this. Although, with his passion, people skills, and being an excellent horseman, he is one of the few who could become a trainer as well. It might not be a wise economic decision, but that's another discussion, LOL.

Eric

ELA · #12 07-14-2008, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Come on, man, that's pretty weak.

Andy, don't even waste your time.

Eric

docicu3 · #13 07-14-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Come on, man, that's pretty weak.

The guy has a reputation just south of pure saint and it's not wrong to ask a legitimate question that will be asked by racing journalists across the country.

He goes to California approximately 20 months ago to see if he can make it out there after a horrible injury filled 2003-2006. He has a decent 6-9 (months) in California and then things start to slide, he isn't getting as many good mounts the last 6 months, he fires his agent a few months back and now he's coming home. If there are special family circumstances that would have this make sense ,okay could be, but I didn't see that in the story or anywhere else.

The man has four children that are approximately 16,12,10 and 6 years old. Two years ago when he went to California and like alot of fathers who's jobs take them away from home,myself included, he weighs his options and chooses to go west. I am sure he missed those kids and his wife in 2006, they missed him dearly the first time he was away Wed-Sunday and the same is true now.

It's not like looking at an athletes situation when they have announced they have decided to spend more time with the family is character assassination on the contrary I respect this very talented jockey who is a medical miracle
recovering from the injuries he has had winning just about every major award there is from the age of 17 when he won the eclipse for apprentices to multiple versions of jockey of the year in years gone by. What fan is not an admirer of this guy?

It was no secret that injuries took their toll on him the three years prior to going to the west coast.

From NTRA website...

A series of injuries over three consecutive years caused the number and quality of his East Coast mounts to decline. Most notably, broke his leg and injured his Achilles tendon in a paddock accident at Belmont Park nine days prior to the 2005 Breeders' Cup and lost the mount on Artie Shiller, who won the Mile. In 2004, rode Artie Shiller to a 12th place finish in Mile but was later diagnosed with a broken wrist, ribs and pelvis from a gate accident two days prior ... After 26 years of riding on the East Coast, moved West in fall 2006.

Given that the last 6-9 months in California were not as successful as Fall 2006 and his health is far less of an issue it makes sense to consider a previously very fertile environment where everyone respects the guy. It's even possible that both answers to the question are true but it's far from a cheap shot.

Handicappy · #14 07-15-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Come on, man, that's pretty weak.

That is weak. He is a family guy and the prospect of having a few owners who will run him is enough to bring him back. I'm not sure what I think about him but I think he is sincere.

10 pnt move up · #15 07-15-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handicappy

That is weak. He is a family guy and the prospect of having a few owners who will run him is enough to bring him back. I'm not sure what I think about him but I think he is sincere.

maybe as simple as he went west to strike gold only to come up with silver and thats no reason to stay 3k miles away from your family.