The Michael Gill/Penn National Riders Saga

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

If they don't want to ride his horses ... all they have to do is tell their agent that.

They don't want to ride in any race which has a Gill horse running in it. Doesn't matter if they are riding that horse or not...they are afraid of being behind a horse of his that breaks down and becoming part of it.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

They don't want to ride in any race which has a Gill horse running in it. Doesn't matter if they are riding that horse or not...they are afraid of being behind a horse of his that breaks down and becoming part of it.

They know how hated Gill is by other horseman they ride for.

It's calculated handwringing.

[the_fat_man]

Sounds like the track vets, that are passing all of these horses, are doing a bang up job.

Maybe if they step it up a bit, this would be a NON issue.

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

Sounds like the track vets, that are passing all of these horses, are doing a bang up job.

Maybe if they step it up a bit, this would be a NON issue.

What exactly are they supposed to see if a trainer or vet block a horse prior to prerace inspection?

[philcski]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

Sounds like the track vets, that are passing all of these horses, are doing a bang up job.

Maybe if they step it up a bit, this would be a NON issue.

Agree with this, but part of the problem is he has a private farm and ships them in- and somehow he's skirting part of the prerace vet rules because of it. Don't know the laws on how that works in PA but that seems to be the rumor.

[Thoroughbred Fan]

This thread is a bunch of misguided animal lovers not understanding two very fundamental things about horse racing.

1. The sport is all about money. Period. If there wasn't money to be won, hardly anyone would want to race horses. Only the already rich would be involved at all.

2. This is not a hobby. This is a business when you own the horses. Period. At the end of the month the owner can't tell the trainer, vet, dentist, etc that I shouldn't pay this month because I am a great person who didn't start my horse who has a slightly sore ankle. It doesn't work well, I've tried.

Gill is not the greatest person in the world, but he is running his stable like a business and if animal lovers don't like it, then don't support horse racing until they change all the rules to suit you. Period.

I've owned horses. It is a tough business in every aspect. Posting a bunch of crap about a guy or his practices (the same practices as many other but on a larger scale) is much easier.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Thoroughbred Fan

This thread is a bunch of misguided animal lovers not understanding two very fundamental things about horse racing.

1. The sport is all about money. Period. If there wasn't money to be won, hardly anyone would want to race horses. Only the already rich would be involved at all.

2. This is not a hobby. This is a business when you own the horses. Period. At the end of the month the owner can't tell the trainer, vet, dentist, etc that I shouldn't pay this month because I am a great person who didn't start my horse who has a slightly sore ankle. It doesn't work well, I've tried.

Gill is not the greatest person in the world, but he is running his stable like a business and if animal lovers don't like it, then don't support horse racing until they change all the rules to suit you. Period.

I've owned horses. It is a tough business in every aspect. Posting a bunch of crap about a guy or his practices (the same practices as many other but on a larger scale) is much easier.

As much as it pains me... Sharp post

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by Thoroughbred Fan

This thread is a bunch of misguided animal lovers not understanding two very fundamental things about horse racing.

1. The sport is all about money. Period. If there wasn't money to be won, hardly anyone would want to race horses. Only the already rich would be involved at all.

2. This is not a hobby. This is a business when you own the horses. Period. At the end of the month the owner can't tell the trainer, vet, dentist, etc that I shouldn't pay this month because I am a great person who didn't start my horse who has a slightly sore ankle. It doesn't work well, I've tried.

Gill is not the greatest person in the world, but he is running his stable like a business and if animal lovers don't like it, then don't support horse racing until they change all the rules to suit you. Period.

I've owned horses. It is a tough business in every aspect. Posting a bunch of crap about a guy or his practices (the same practices as many other but on a larger scale) is much easier.

So you don't care about the humans riding these horses at all? Interesting...

Also interesting to note that the Penn National Jockey Colony is the newest PETA Chapter of Pennsylvania.

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by Thoroughbred Fan

2. This is not a hobby. This is a business when you own the horses. Period. At the end of the month the owner can't tell the trainer, vet, dentist, etc that I shouldn't pay this month because I am a great person who didn't start my horse who has a slightly sore ankle. It doesn't work well, I've tried.

This could possibly speak volumes about the type of person or at least the type of business person you are...

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Thoroughbred Fan

This thread is a bunch of misguided animal lovers not understanding two very fundamental things about horse racing.

1. The sport is all about money. Period. If there wasn't money to be won, hardly anyone would want to race horses. Only the already rich would be involved at all.

2. This is not a hobby. This is a business when you own the horses. Period. At the end of the month the owner can't tell the trainer, vet, dentist, etc that I shouldn't pay this month because I am a great person who didn't start my horse who has a slightly sore ankle. It doesn't work well, I've tried.

Gill is not the greatest person in the world, but he is running his stable like a business and if animal lovers don't like it, then don't support horse racing until they change all the rules to suit you. Period.

I've owned horses. It is a tough business in every aspect. Posting a bunch of crap about a guy or his practices (the same practices as many other but on a larger scale) is much easier.

I guess your business model has changed?

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/sho...212#post594212

[letswastemoney]

Why would you start a horse that has a sore ankle??

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

I guess your business model has changed?

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/sho...212#post594212

period.

At The End Of The Day.

Period.

It Is What It Is.

Period.

[Thoroughbred Fan]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

I guess your business model has changed?

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/sho...212#post594212

It is what it is. Sometimes you start out with rose colored glasses. You learn the hard way when you go broke in the horse business. It all starts like a ray of sunshine, but then financial reality hits home.

Gill is operating like a business far more than I ever did. Which, is why I am now out of the horse racing business and he continues to make money.

I was in it for the fun. The financial aspect can take the fun out of a lot of fun things.

Bad luck hits everyone in the game. Gill has just learned to mitigate the risk through numbers.

[richard]

Originally Posted by Thoroughbred Fan

This thread is a bunch of misguided animal lovers not understanding two very fundamental things about horse racing.

1. The sport is all about money. Period. If there wasn't money to be won, hardly anyone would want to race horses. Only the already rich would be involved at all.

2. This is not a hobby. This is a business when you own the horses. Period. At the end of the month the owner can't tell the trainer, vet, dentist, etc that I shouldn't pay this month because I am a great person who didn't start my horse who has a slightly sore ankle. It doesn't work well, I've tried.

Gill is not the greatest person in the world, but he is running his stable like a business and if animal lovers don't like it, then don't support horse racing until they change all the rules to suit you. Period.

I've owned horses. It is a tough business in every aspect. Posting a bunch of crap about a guy or his practices (the same practices as many other but on a larger scale) is much easier.

A totally unethical and immoral statement. I suggest you invest in inanimate objects such as Wall Street.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by richard

A totally unethical and immoral statement. I suggest you invest in inanimate objects such as Wall Street.

It was more a statement of truth and the obvious.

Right now ... Gill has an army of cheap cripples and it's all about winning races and having constant action without subjecting himself to losing a colossal fortune.

He's the Shiek Mohammed of the $5,000 claimer.

The difference is that one goes after the choicest broodmares, yearlings, 2yo's, and proven racing stock money can buy ... and couldn't care less how great a fortune he pisses away.

The other goes after the choicest low level claimers - horses who have shown or hint at ability but have big 'For Sale' signs on them - and likely aren't entered for a claiming tag of a few thousand dollars more because they have issues. He wants to roll the dice, do some vet work, and try to turn them around.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

Sounds like the track vets, that are passing all of these horses, are doing a bang up job.

Maybe if they step it up a bit, this would be a NON issue.

If a horse is (successfully) given something (like cobra venom injection on the farm before the horse ships in to race) to hide a lameness, the lameness is hidden.

How do you think the vet is supposed to identify that?

I believe the article said they were looking into 'some' vets (probably those that vet Gill's horses). Not the track vets.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Thoroughbred Fan
This thread is a bunch of misguided animal lovers not understanding two very fundamental things about horse racing.

1. The sport is all about money. Period. If there wasn't money to be won, hardly anyone would want to race horses. Only the already rich would be involved at all.

2. This is not a hobby. This is a business when you own the horses. Period. At the end of the month the owner can't tell the trainer, vet, dentist, etc that I shouldn't pay this month because I am a great person who didn't start my horse who has a slightly sore ankle. It doesn't work well, I've tried.

1. If you are not rich enough as an owner to race horses and not abuse them in an attempt to earn money, you don't need to be in the business.

2. If you think money trumps the lives of horses, you don't need to be in the business.

3. If you want to consciously abuse animals in the name of business, by racing them when they should not be raced, just to make money, you need to not be in the sport.

4. If "It doesn't work well, I've tried" is your excuse, that other people force you to abuse your own animals to make money to pay your bills, then you need not only to not be in the sport, you need a spine transplant.

5. If the above post defining "two fundamental things" is truely how you think of horses and horse racing, you need to not be in the sport.

[Thoroughbred Fan]

Originally Posted by Riot

1. If you are not rich enough as an owner to race horses and not abuse them in an attempt to earn money, you don't need to be in the business.

2. If you think money trumps the lives of horses, you don't need to be in the business.

3. If you want to consciously abuse animals in the name of business, by racing them when they should not be raced, just to make money, you need to not be in the sport.

4. If "It doesn't work well, I've tried" is your excuse, that other people force you to abuse your own animals to make money to pay your bills, then you need not only to not be in the sport, you need a spine transplant.

5. If the above post defining "two fundamental things" is truely how you think of horses and horse racing, you need to not be in the sport.

No one ever said abuse the horses, but if you are so uninformed as to think more than 40% of the horses who go to the gate don't have something bothering them, you are joking. There is a lot of gray area when it comes to is the horse able to go or not. I would never abuse a hores, but you sometimes have to start one that is a little sore or you'd never enter a horse.

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by Thoroughbred Fan

No one ever said abuse the horses, but if you are so uninformed as to think more than 40% of the horses who go to the gate don't have something bothering them, you are joking. There is a lot of gray area when it comes to is the horse able to go or not. I would never abuse a hores, but you sometimes have to start one that is a little sore or you'd never enter a horse.

There is a cyclopean difference between running a sore horse and knowingly running a horse that is on the verge of a catastrophic breakdown.

I believe that is the point, which you have obviously missed.