(raymond)

I’ve noticed several comments, tweets and at least one post about Calvin’s use of the whip on Rachel. My only question is, what took you so long? Did people just now notice that American jocks whip horses too much?

Check out Calvin’s ride of Lady Joanne in the 2007 Alabama (not on YouTube, sorry!) or Mike Smith on Tiago in the Santa Anita Derby:

(partymanners)

And these are just two that came to mind immediately. AND how about all those horses who aren’t Rachel Alexandra, Lady Joanne or Tiago?

If Rachel can get some meaningful discussion going about use of the whip it will be one more stellar accomplishment for her to add to her impressive resume. It’s easy to blame the jocks, lord knows I’ve done it, but the issue is bigger than that. We have vague rules that are hard to enforce which makes it that much harder for stewards to actually do something about it.

I’m a huge fan of whip reform. Sadly as regular fans and players we’re all used to it but commenter ljk summed it up nicely on a post last year when he said:

I’ll say it again: to newcomers our sport looks like people with sticks beating horses to make them run

Word.

Posted by dana on Sep 08 2009    
Filed Under: Stewards, The Whip, 2009, Mike Smith, Rachel Alexandra, Twitter, Raymond Haddad, Internet, Grrrr, Fans, Tiago, Race Replay, YouTube, Calvin Borel, Racing

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Sabastion Morales after being thrown by Kim Karakorum at Belmont (raymond)

If you’re interested in more than just pictures of Chantal Sutherland (something Google can’t tell me), you should check out Alex Brown’s interview of her. While I suspect that ALL that Google traffic isn’t about determining if she’s currently the leading rider at Woodbine, this is the sort of thing you can find out in the interview and frankly, we’re hoping you’re interested in that too.

Admittedly you’d be hard pressed to find out such information at her new web site and that splash screen is NSFW! Fans of more than how hot she is would love to see up to date news prominently placed on her homepage, perhaps with the ability of subscribe to an RSS feed so we could find out things like her upcoming big races, when she hits a milestone, has an appearance or even some new product coming out (as apparently she’s now also a brand… who can blame her?). Here’s hoping her team can steer her more towards a usable interactive experience vs. the equivalent of a magazine spread.

New York rider Maylan Studart seems to be on the mend after her recent accident in the shedrow, sending the following notes to her Facebook Followers:

Hello, my friends!!!! I got a hold of my laptop now, but am still in the hospital. I had an accident during morning workouts where a horse “liked me too much” and knocked me down!!!! LOL!!! I don’t like him that much after this, but he was just showing his love!!! LOL!!!! I broke my left femur Thursday morning and was taken to North Shore Hospital and was operated in the evening. I was walking the next day.

Thanks again for the support guys!!!!! I have great news!!!! I’m leaving the hospital today and going to Glenn Cove Rehab Center at 2p.m.!!!! I will be there from 1-2 weeks but will know exactly after I get there and talk to the physical therapists. I walked a lot today again!!! Much more!!! I went down out the room to the end of the hall to a window and came back to my room!!! It was about 150ft. my Phys.Ther. said

Best of luck for a speedy recovery!

On the riderless front, the previously mentioned Phone Jazz’s triumphant run at Belmont on Saturday did not go unnoticed. ESPN picked up on it, here’s the segment.

The chart doesn’t indicate that she continued on gamely after dumping Jean Luc-Samyn, but we’ll always know she was the best that day!

Over the weekend Val pointed out a disturbing trend in breakdown reportage, or lack of it. The good news is that All Smiles, the filly that was pulled up at the wire and dumped her rider in the Obeah, has come out of surgery at the New Bolton Center and is likely to go home soon! Thanks racing fans and twitter for supplying pertinent information!

Last, but not least and not at all related to the rider theme, I have to give a huge shout out to Woodbine for their exceptional parade camera work! Of the tracks I watch or play regularly I think NYRA has the best parade camera work. But what was so impressive about Woodbine’s was that not only did they label each horse as they followed them during the warm up, they followed them in numerical order! A super extra “well done” to the camera team at Woodbine and if you missed Queen’s Plate day, Keith has a great photo essay.

Posted by dana on Jun 23 2009    
Filed Under: Raymond Haddad, YouTube, Riderless Horse, 2009, Twitter, Woodbine, Maiden, Belmont, Jocks, Race Replay, Chantal Sutherland, Racing

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Getting ready for the big moment… (raymond)

Great Weather? Check.
Not Too Crowded? Check.
Outfit Together? Check.
Working Bathrooms? Fingers Crossed.

Winning tickets? That would be nice too.

Best of luck to everyone and let’s get everyone home safe!

I’ll be doing a bit of tweeting, which you can follow along here at GbG or over there at twitter.

Posted by dana on Jun 06 2009    
Filed Under: 2009, Twitter, Raymond Haddad, Belmont Stakes, Belmont, Racing

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Channing Hill at Belmont (raymond)

Best of luck to Channing Hill as he leaves us New Yorkers behind and ventures out west to ride at Santa Anita and then Hollywood.

Here he is on First Defence in the G1 Forego last summer at the Spa. It looks like someone put Vaseline on the lens but you get the picture.

We hope to see you around every now and again, don’t forget to visit!

Posted by dana on Mar 16 2009    
Filed Under: Channing Hill, Raymond Haddad, 2009, Santa Anita, YouTube, Race Replay, Hollywood Park, Racing

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Curlin arrives in California (Charles Pravata)

This break in 1994 profiling is brought to you by disbelief. There I was, in the middle of my mid-afternoon malaise, when I noticed this item announcing the Eclipse winning photo for the year. Surprised, I immediately tweeted “There are many more deserving photos than this one”. Others agreed.

What’s wrong with the winning photo you ask? Nothing. It’s a perfectly nice photo, perhaps too perfectly. In fact I think it’s the image equivalent of a press release. As Patrick points out, it’s not like there aren’t plenty of other photos of Dettori hopping off a horse when he wins.

I’d like to humbly submit the following 20 photos that made an impression on me at some point during this year for your consideration. While I have no idea what the criteria is for an Eclipse award is besides probably, at the very least, being published somewhere other than GbG, I chose shots that 1) were taken this year and 2) felt like solid stand alone images that either spoke to an event this year or what makes racing great overall.

I put this list together relatively quickly and it’s by no means comprehensive. Sorry that I can’t put it in a slide show, they’re not my images!

Big Brown the day after winning the Derby - Charles Pravata

Big Brown in the Belmont - Corrado Photography

Alan Garcia after the Belmont - Raymond Haddad

Big Brown in the paddock at Monmouth - Sarah K. Andrew

Casino Drive greets the kids of Anna House - Sarah K. Andrew

Fairgrounds Racing - Championship Racing

Fairgrounds Racing - Championship Racing

Jackie Davis with dad former jockey Robbie Davis after her first race - Kristen Davis

Ginger Punch out of the gate in the Go For Wand - Jessie Holmes

Zaftig and Indian Blessing in the Acorn - Jason Moran

Notional and Joe Bravo after winning the Salvatore Mile - Sarah K. Andrew

Outrider captures a runaway at Saratoga - Sarah K. Andrew

Ocean Colors after finishing last in the Schuylerville - Sarah K. Andrew

Evening Attire’s retirement party - Melissa Wirth

Zenyatta after winning the Clement L. Hirsch - Charles Pravata

Curlin arrives in California - Charles Pravata

Curlin working at Santa Anita - Charles Pravata

Larry Jones and Old Fashioned before the Remsen - Sarah K. Andrew

We need more of this - Jason Moran

If you had to pick one of Dettori at the BC - Rick Samuels

It’s a tough call if I had to pick one. I love them all but I can narrow it down to Casino Drive with the Anna House kids, Big Brown in the paddock at Monmouth, Evening Attire’s retirement and Larry Jones with Old Fashioned.

What images did you like this year? I’m sure I’ve overlooked some great ones!

Update, check out Patrick’s post… I hadn’t noticed but Juvenile is misspelled!! After thinking about it this morning, I would have to concur with GbG pal and commenter Kevin of Colin’s Ghost on 2 points 1) the pic of Big Brown’s butt losing the Belmont should win and 2) the award should go to a photographer, not a single photograph.

Posted by dana on Dec 29 2008    
Filed Under: Raymond Haddad, Indian Blessing, 2008, Remsen, Jessie Holmes, Big Brown, Jason Moran, Zenyatta, Casino Drive, Frankie Dettori, Mainstream Media, Kentucky Derby, Breeders' Cup, Derby Trail, Curlin, Belmont Stakes, Notional, Sarah K. Andrew, Charles Pravata, Alan Garcia, Racing

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