what is wrong with lezcano?

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I agree with this. It's easy to bame the rider when you're discouraged and I'm guilty of it myself.

But it's hard not to be critical, when you watch these guys totally unprepared or with no game plan at all out there. It's just flat out laziness and if you or I came to work that unprepared everyday we'd be gone within a week.

Bailey always seemed to do his homework which was a huge advantage. It's no difference then any other situation the people who are best prepared have the most success.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Bailey always seemed to do his homework which was a huge advantage. It's no difference then any other situation the people who are best prepared have the most success.

Bailey was the best jockey I ever rode. We were in the paddock before a race at Saratoga where he was always really locked in and he asks me what I thought about the race. I said what do you have in mind? He had ridden a few of the other horses before, some of them a long time ago and didnt even show on the page. He proceeds to give me a quick rundown of how he sees the race unfolding based on the form and his memory of the other horses and how the track had been playing. He basically wanted to get an inside trip, covered up behind the pacesetters because he didnt think one was sound because he was getting out with him last race and the other wouldnt go 1 1/8th and that the inside was good that day. Of course the race sets up exactly as he thought, the leader got out in the stretch, bumped the rival outside him and we came right up the inside and won.

So the next day I ride Chavez on a live horse dropping in class and stretching out. (This is when he was a top rider). He did the look at the number on the shoulder coming into the paddock, I told him that the filly only had one run and not to get stopped when he made his move with her. He proceeds to go 8 wide in the first turn and 7 wide in the 2nd turn. Naturally the horse tires in the last 1/8th and comes in midpack. I ask him why he went so wide? He tells me that I said not to get stopped and that she cant get the distance. I said you are right, she can get 1 1/8th but no she cant get the 1 1/4 that she just ran. Of course he had no idea what I was talking about...

Ironically after winning the Eclipse Award that year he fired his agent because his wife said Jorge should be getting the same mounts as Bailey got...

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Bailey was the best jockey I ever rode. We were in the paddock before a race at Saratoga where he was always really locked in and he asks me what I thought about the race. I said what do you have in mind? He had ridden a few of the other horses before, some of them a long time ago and didnt even show on the page. He proceeds to give me a quick rundown of how he sees the race unfolding based on the form and his memory of the other horses and how the track had been playing. He basically wanted to get an inside trip, covered up behind the pacesetters because he didnt think one was sound because he was getting out with him last race and the other wouldnt go 1 1/8th and that the inside was good that day. Of course the race sets up exactly as he thought, the leader got out in the stretch, bumped the rival outside him and we came right up the inside and won.

I'm glad you shared this.

[hockey2315]

Ya great stuff, Chuck.

[MaTH716]

That's some good stuff Chuck.

[ateamstupid]

Stories like that make me miss hanging out with Chuck at the track.

[Cannon Shell]

I have some really good stories about Donnie Meche. One meet at CD he was riding 3 or 4 for me pretty regularly and I got so pissed at him one time I told him he wasnt allowed to speak after the race until after we watched the replay and even then I had my assistant standing between us relaying messages so that I would not strangle him if he said something stupid.

It was pretty funny looking back. We used to joke he and his twin Lonnie shared a brain and werent ever sure who had use of it from day to day.

There is a great story about an intentional vet scratch but it would take too long and I dont want to get anyone in trouble...ask me in person if you see me.