I'll Have Another injured, withdrawn, retired..

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by ScottJ

Last night in Andy Serling's online chat, I specifically asked if Andy felt or had heard any backstretch news about the impact of the detention barn or that any horses had not taken well to the environment. Andy said that although this was not his domain, he had heard nothing and was hopeful that things would continue to be quiet.

Now, one just has to think that the detention barn issue did have nothing to do with this injury based on reports right now. If nothing else, this has put the industry in a positive light with the volume of attention these animals received. Some doubters will suggest that you need the same protections for a $5,000 claimer on a Tuesday afternoon in November, however this time, the sport is being shown "at its responsible best".

I completely disagree with this. Positive light? The NYSRWB basically said to the world that this sport is so corrupt and cheating is so rampant, none of the trainers of the best 3-year-old horses in the country could even be trusted to cook oats for their horses 72 hours before the race. How could that possibly be construed positively by an outsider?

[ScottJ]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I completely disagree with this. Positive light? The NYSRWB basically said to the world that this sport is so corrupt and cheating is so rampant, none of the trainers of the best 3-year-old horses in the country could even be trusted to cook oats for their horses 72 hours before the race. How could that possibly be construed positively by an outsider?

Dear ateamstupid : There is a huge difference here between the fan who will tune-in or come to Belmont on Saturday afternoon and the fans like those here on Derby Trail that will show up on next Wednesday.

The casual fan will see the oversight that the industry applies in making sure that these horses are properly handled and prepared. By "industry", the casual fan has no idea what the "NYSRWB" might be, but the casual fan will know that the trainer is responsible for the horse - and that the trainer, owner, and other principles made the call in favor of an injured horse as opposed to chasing a title. That will be positively received by the casual fan.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by ScottJ

Dear ateamstupid : There is a huge difference here between the fan who will tune-in or come to Belmont on Saturday afternoon and the fans like those here on Derby Trail that will show up on next Wednesday.

The casual fan will see the oversight that the industry applies in making sure that these horses are properly handled and prepared. By "industry", the casual fan has no idea what the "NYSRWB" might be, but the casual fan will know that the trainer is responsible for the horse - and that the trainer, owner, and other principles made the call in favor of an injured horse as opposed to chasing a title. That will be positively received by the casual fan.

The majority of the causal fans lost all interest in the Belmont offically at 1PM today. They will come back on the first Saturday of May next year. They don't care about oversight.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

The majority of the causal fans lost all interest in the Belmont offically at 1PM today. They will come back on the first Saturday of May next year. They don't care about oversight.

True. The only good thing was the track discovering what a disaster for the horses' routines, and the trainers, they created with the barn restrictions.

Hopefully, if they want extra scrutiny in the future, they'll just place overweight, clueless-about-horses rent-a-TSA-cops outside particular horses regular stalls.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by ScottJ

Dear ateamstupid : There is a huge difference here between the fan who will tune-in or come to Belmont on Saturday afternoon and the fans like those here on Derby Trail that will show up on next Wednesday.

The casual fan will see the oversight that the industry applies in making sure that these horses are properly handled and prepared. By "industry", the casual fan has no idea what the "NYSRWB" might be, but the casual fan will know that the trainer is responsible for the horse - and that the trainer, owner, and other principles made the call in favor of an injured horse as opposed to chasing a title. That will be positively received by the casual fan.

The casual fan doesn't give two craps about racing unless the Triple Crown is on the line or a horse breaks down, so yes, it's a benefit that I'll Have Another didn't run hurt, but they'll just pay attention to something else now. The detention barn nonsense cast a pall over the race that didn't need to be there and although I'm sure it had nothing to do with the injury itself, it was a ridiculous precedent to set and a decision likely made in deference to the Times hit-pieces that have somehow managed to mold the racing narrative in the past year. The good will engendered by IHA living to see another day is negligible at best in the eyes of most, who are made to believe more and more every day that the sport is completely corrupt and teeming with cheaters.