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#1
11-07-2009, 07:55 PM
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Quality Road
I have the utmost respect for gate crews - it's a tough, tough job.
But what I think I saw today - and please note, I said "I think I saw" - was about the most awful job of loading a problem horse I have ever seen. It quickly became clear Quality Road didn't want to be touched, or whipped, or even whip cracked on or near his hind end. He seemed to start bucking as soon as the first touch on his ass occurred. I thought they had the situation under control when the backed him out and blindfolded him. It seemed he went straight back in with the blindfold and they closed the gate behind - and I figured he was in. But then it seemed the asst. starter cracked the whip at his feet twice after the door closed behind him and that's when he went off. Assuming the asst. starter cracked the whip after the door was closed, why in the world did would he do that when the horse was in the gate and the door was closed? Had to be one of the scarier things I've seen. And if my sequence of events is accurate, it had to be one of the most pathetic performances by an asst I've EVER seen. 
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#3
11-07-2009, 08:06 PM
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I agree there was at least one other horse after him they could have loaded and walk him around and see if he would settle him down, they became so focused on the order of loading they lost sight.
But as you said that is a tough job and who am I just a guy on the coach watching. but it did seem they could have allowed some time for him though
__________________
"In sports there are just two Opening Days, the Opening Day of Baseball and Opeining Day of Saratoga, all the rest are just season openers"
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#5
11-07-2009, 08:17 PM
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They should have immediately took the blindfold OFF as soon as he was in.They left it on,and brought him out the front after the fiasco,and the blindfold was still on him and he was still freakin' out.He did not relax until finally someone reached up and pulled it off.Yes,it was a poor job by the starters.
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#6
11-07-2009, 08:31 PM
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What about the guy on the crew that grabbed the reins as QR took off out the front of the gate with the blindfold still on! If he doesn't grab the reins and QR bolts, I can't even imagine what a scared blindfolded horse does with a crowd like that in the stands - could have been very ugly.
__________________
You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist. - Friedrich Nietzsche on Handicapping
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#7
11-07-2009, 08:54 PM
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I say we go back to walkup starts.
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Still trying to outsmart me, aren't you, mule-skinner? You want me to think that you don't want me to go down there, but the subtle truth is you really don't want me to go down there!
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#8
11-07-2009, 08:57 PM
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He went absolutely biserk. It even looked/sounded like he kicked the tire at the end of the gate. I wouldn't be suprised if he suffered some sort of career ending injury after that display. And agreed it was a terrible job done by the starters.
__________________
Felix Unger talking to Oscar Madison: "Your horse could finish third by 20 lengths and they still pay you? And you have been losing money for all these years?!"
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#9
11-07-2009, 10:26 PM
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I'm not sure what they could have done differently. Karma is a bitch Mr Evans.
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#11
11-07-2009, 11:16 PM
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i've seen horses go haywire, but nothing like that today-and especially not in such a big race. and like derby cat said, luckily he didn't break loose through the front of the gate. hopefully he comes out of that incident ok.
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#12
11-07-2009, 11:30 PM
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Cigar Mile!
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#13
11-08-2009, 07:37 AM
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Quote:
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#15
11-08-2009, 08:19 AM
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__________________
"An Absolute Thriller!!" - Grassy wins a six-way photo finish, Saratoga 9th, 8-22-09
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#17
11-08-2009, 11:03 AM
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Quote:
__________________
"I don't need nice horses at Philly, just ones with conditions."---Cannon Shell 
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#20
11-08-2009, 12:36 PM
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I think he threw the fit cause he knew PG was all over him.
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