GILL: ‘WHAT HAVE I DONE THAT’S SO WRONG?”
By Ray Paulick
“I’ve been doing this since 1979, and I just can’t get a fair shake.” So says Michael Gill, North America’s leading owner by money and races won on four different occasions who finds himself in a familiar position–at the center of controversy, after Penn National jockeys voted Saturday night not to ride in races if Gill’s horses are entered.
The jockeys took the initiative following the fifth race at Penn National, when a Gill-trained horse, Laughing Moon, blew a suspensory and fell after the finish, causing another horse to go down. Gill had a runner entered in the sixth race, but that horse was scratched. Gill-owned horses entered later this week also have been scratched, and Penn National officials said Monday they temporarily have banned his horses from the entry box, according to bloodhorse.com. Jockeys complained that an unusually high number of horses owned by Gill have either broken down or suffered injuries in Penn National races in the last few months, putting riders at risk. One of Gill’s horses broke down on Thursday night, and Laughing Moon became the 15th runner since October to break down, pull up during the race, be eased, or return lame following the finish.
Penn National officials said seven of Gill’s horses broke down in 2009, a figure that Gill disputes. But even if that number is correct, he said, he believes his percentage of breakdowns is in line or lower than that of other stables that compete at the Pennsylvania track.
I was unable to reach Gill over the weekend prior to publication of Monday’s Paulick Report article on the Penn National incident, but I contacted him Monday at his Mortgage Specialists office in New Hampshire. Needless to say, he wasn’t happy with the actions of the jockeys or with the unwelcome publicity, and in a 30-minute, emotional interview touched on a wide range of subjects. Among the revelations from the 54-year-old Gill were:
- He has fired Darrel Delahoussaye, the trainer of Laughing Moon. “They (Penn National) put a gun to my head, and someone had to take the bullet,” he said. “I feel bad about this. But if I lose the (49) stalls at Penn National, I’m out of business.”
- Some time last year, Gill hired former Oaklawn Park and Louisiana Downs leading trainer Cole Norman. Norman was released from prison in January 2009 after serving time for negligent homicide, for his role in a fatal car crash in which he was under the influence of prescription pain killers. Norman works at Gill’s Elk Creek Ranch in Oxford, Pa., which is used as a training center for horses that race at Penn National, Philadelphia Park, Laurel, Mountaineer Park and Charles Town. “He’s a good trainer,” said Gill.
- Though he said he has lost tens of millions of dollars over the years, Gill claims he didn’t “put one penny of my money into the business last year. I can go to the IRS and say this is a business, it isn’t a hobby.” Gill said he is in a five-year audit with the Internal Revenue Service over whether or not his racing stable is a legitimate business.
- Apart from the horses that broke down at Penn National in 2009, Gill claims he had only one other horse break down in a race. “I ran 2,247 horses last year,” he said. “If a guy had 100 starts and one horse breaks down, is that unacceptable? We’re running in the middle of winter on muddy tracks.
- Gill denies “running sore horses,” and said he didn’t have a single bad test in 2009. “And was anything found in any of my horses after they broke down? Nothing.” I asked Gill about widespread rumors that shock-wave therapy is used at Elk Creek Ranch on horses close to a race. “I never use shock-wave therapy. Never have had a machine. Never, ever used it once, and believe me, plenty of guys have tried to sell me the machines. I don’t believe in them.” He also said he would “open the farm to anyone to inspect it. They can go over every horse I have.”
- He attributes much of the stable’s success to the fact he gives all of his horses medication for Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis, or EPM, a neurological disease. “A good 80% of horses have EPM,” he said. He also has throat surgeries, or myectomies, performed on many of the horses he claims because “with EPM, one side of the flap (in the epiglottis) is gone, and the other half doubles in size. Then it closes up. The surgery helps them breathe.”
- His stable, at one time consisting of 450 horses in 2009, was reduced to 220 and he is in the process of reducing it to 120. “I’m still downsizing,” he said. Furthermore, Gill claims that “all of the horses go to retirement programs.” He wasn’t specific as to where they go. “I give good homes to them,” he said. “I’ve given away 20 horses in the last 30 days for $1.”
- Gill didn’t say he planned to take legal action against Penn National, the jockey colony or the Jockeys’ Guild, but said “Do you know when people organize against one person, that’s a significant lawsuit. Does anybody understand that? I’m tired of suing racetracks—and winning, by the way, every effing time.” He said the jockeys took the action–reported to be a unanimous vote—because “it’s a very closed community at Penn National; a lot of good old boys. I went in there and won all these races, and I’m winning with only two jockeys.”
- Though he lives and works far away in New Hampshire, Gill said he keeps tabs on the stable both at the training farm and the track. “There’s not a race that goes off that I don’t see,” he said. “I have cameras in the barn that go right to my office. I turn around and see every race. I do what I can to be able to run both businesses.”
Why, I asked Gill, is he still in the business, if he thinks he is so mistreated and so misunderstood? “I love the competition. I love the animal. I am a competitor. I am that $5,000 broke down racehorse. I’m a raw competitor with bad knees and sore neck. What better place to compete than in horse racing, and I don’t even gamble on these horses.”
Gill continues to be denied stalls at many tracks, and doesn’t understand why he isn’t appreciated for his involvement in the game and for “showing the industry that you can make money doing this. Of course, if people find out they don’t have to buy a $1-million yearling to make money, do you think they’ll spend money at those sales?”
I suggested to him that people spending that kind of money are looking to win big races during the Triple Crown or at the Breeders’ Cup, not $5,000 claiming races in the dead of winter. “That’s the lottery mentality,” he said.
He turned the tables and asked me a question: “Why don’t you like me?” I said I thought he was arrogant and used his horses as a means to an end. “You’re mistaking arrogance with competitiveness,” he said. It was clearly an argument I wasn’t going to win.
“Look,” he said. “I came from a seminary, had no money, didn’t go to college. I worked harder than everybody else to get what I have. I started my mortgage company in a one-bedroom apartment, and my living room was my office. I loved horse racing and turned around and invested my money. I go to work every day and haven’t had a vacation for as long as I remember.
“I just don’t understand: What have I done that’s so wrong?”
Copyright © 2010, The Paulick Report
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Tags: blood-horse, Breeders' Cup, Charles Town, Cole Norman, Darrel Delahoussaye, Elk Creek Ranch, EPM, Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis, internal revenue service, IRS, jockeys' guild, Laughing Moon, laurel park, Louisiana Downs, Michael Gill, Mortgage Specialists, mountaineer park, New Hampshire, oaklawn park, Oxford, Paulick Report, penn national, Philadelphia park, Ray Paulick, Triple Crown
January 26th, 2010 at 7:45 am
Oh my. This person, Michael Gill, is quite clearly off his rocker, and now has offered many remarks on the record for the investigators to pursue.
January 26th, 2010 at 7:46 am
Keep up the good work Ray on this issue.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:00 am
pathological liar.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:16 am
I was in the mortgage business as both a broker and banker throughout its hey days of the 1990’s. I left the business in 2000 because I was tired of seeing fraudulent loans become the norm.
Because of these peoples actions I foresaw and predicted the collapse in the housing market for years. The only reason it lasted as long as it did was Government intervention (money) say what you want but I lived it and know fraudulent loans are the reason for the collapse.
Though I’m not accusing Gill of overseeing fraudulent loans I do know for a fact that in 2008 he was ordered by banking officials in Mass and New Hampshire to stop processing loans.
http://www.hgazette.com/local/local_story_214160749.html
Like I said I’m not accusing him of anything but, if it looks like a rat, acts like a rat and smells like a rat its probably a RAT!!
January 26th, 2010 at 8:18 am
So does the mangement at Penn National really need people like Gill?. Is the greed so great to have horses to run there that they will risk the lives of the jockeys at any cost? The slaughter of horses still goes on even with the no slaughter polices that are not enforced and it goes on on the track as well with the horrendous breakdowns. This industry is full of cruelty and disregard for the care of the horses. It is all about the money and what is allowed to go on.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:21 am
This piece of garbage has had the same “victim” script for years. And isn’t it interesting that the trainers are always at fault….since he seems to have real problems with these hires; sometimes for short periods of time and certainly after HE receives “bad” publicity. That there is any place on the race track for a seedy snake like Gill simply shows an industry that cannot police itself…until there is death in the afternoon.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:26 am
Why wasn’t he specific about the “retirement programs” that his horses go to? The answer is - because they don’t go to retirement programs. What a liar this man is.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:28 am
Gill states that “a good 80% of horses have EPM”, yet according to Davie County Large Animal Hospital “the infective stage of the organism, the sporocysts, are passed in the opossum’s feces. Tne horse comes into contact with the infective sporacysts while grazing or eating contaminated feed or drinking water”.
Which makes me wonder where and under what conditions Gill is keeping his horses!!
January 26th, 2010 at 8:31 am
Gill claims that “all of the horses go to retirement programs.” He wasn’t specific as to where they go. “I give good homes to them,” he said. “I’ve given away 20 horses in the last 30 days for $1.”
Before one more minute goes by and I stand up to defend this guy, who I have never met or talked to, I want to know-WHERE DID THESE HORSES GO?
If they went to the killer-this guy must be run out of the business today-not tomorrow.
Ray, please follow up-WHERE DID THESE HORSES GO?
The truth of everything else in this article hinge on this information.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:54 am
I am so proud of the jockeys for taking a stand. They shouldn’t have had to do this. If we ever get a single authority over racing medication, and close all these multi jurisdictional loopholes that these night crawlers slime their way through, racing will become a popular sport again.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Oh, and Ray, kudos to you, too for pursuing this story and giving it instant national coverage.
Great work!
January 26th, 2010 at 9:00 am
I think this statement says it all:
“I am that $5,000 broke down racehorse. ”
And yes, I want to know to whom he is selling horses for $1.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:15 am
The retirement comment should be enough to ban this guy for life. There are hundreds of stories from credible people in the retirement community who would refute Mr. Gill’s statement about the retiring of his horses. Perhaps Mr. Gill’s definition of retirement is selling them for $1 to the meat man?
January 26th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Enough already. This sleaze bad has to be barred from all racetracks now. Why does this sport do such an ineffective job keeping these miscreants away? He is bad, bad news and it’s time for him to shut up, go away and concentrate his efforts on predatory lending. Ray…great job on this. As usual, the DRF and Blood-Horse were asleep at the wheel while this was going on.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:50 am
Very nice interview; just one more proof that the best stories about racing are coming from folks who’ve been forced out of print and into the online world, or who aren’t the regular print-media beat writers.
I was down at (the old) Gulfstream some years ago when Gill went on a claiming spree, totally disrupting the reasonable expectations of folks in the business, all in the pursuit of his goal of being the “leading owner,” whatever that means. At the time, it was widely reported that he’d achieved that leading owner status while losing several million, by claiming high and then dropping the horses to get wins. No wonder the IRS is auditing him, presumably on the basis that, if his objective is to win races, rather than make money, racing is actually a “hobby” and not a real trade or business. I hope he takes the IRS determination to court, so we can get a look at his finances.
Gill reminds me of another owner recently in the news who also had a habit of switching trainers regularly: Ernie Paragallo. Maybe they both found the same “retirement homes” for their horses.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:10 am
The previous thread on Gill was fascinating. I’m glad to see the Paulick Poll voters definitely blaming Gill, the owner. That he doesn’t “get it” is akin to a murderer saying he/she is innocent. Typical.
What those jocks did was absolutely, positively one of the most superb moments/events in recent racing history. As a demonstration of the best AND worst in human beings, it literally eclipses RA v Z (and I love the rivalry…it’s good for racing). This might be “the” event of 2010 in my book.
Many posters have asked that jocks draw the line in the Tapeta, dirt, turf, syn when it comes to questionable health of the mount in the past on the PR. They did it. They said enough is enough….they ought to get Humanitarian of the Year. But I’m fairly certain the Eclipse Governing body will overlook them to feather the awards nests of the trolls like Gill, Stronach, et al. Pathetic.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:15 am
I think we should all throw money together and offer money to the six voters who voted him as Owner of the Year in 2009. Those people should find another line of work.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Ray, thank you, thank you, thank you for covering this story and exposing this revolting individual. The jockeys stood their ground and I applaud them. I waited and prayed for months for my chance to rescue my mare from the clutches of this man. Opportunity knocked and at least now she is safe and happy. She had been at his farm in Oxford and was in bad shape when we arrived to get her at Penn National. Most likely an inspection of that farm would be revealing to say the least. Just like Ernie Parragallo, Michael Gill is a misunderstood wonderful individual who loves horses and the sport. Wake up racing offices — do your job instead of looking the otherway. Let’s rid racing of this snake. Our sport does not need anymore black eyes.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Same thing going on in the Southwest, 7 lidocaine positives yet the trainer is still allowed to enter the sore things. Why don’t the riders do the same thing? Oh, because the trainer is big buddies with the track owner?!
January 26th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Anthony Adamo has trained for me in the past. Always got a very small Vet bill and had much success.
As far as I can remember he has always been a high percentage trainer and is very ‘hands on”.
Wouldn’t hesitate to give him more horses to train for me.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:31 am
i am not taking up for Gill, do not know him or much about him, and certainly not taking sides in the debate on retired race horses. i do have some curiosity though. what is his record or his trainers record in regards to bad tests on thier horses, especially when compared to a lot of our leading and best known trainers in the country, including some, or a lot, of the hall of fame trainers? for a sport that seems to reward success at any cost, what can you expect?
January 26th, 2010 at 10:31 am
ace is right, Ray - follow up and find that any one of his horses was knowingly sold to slaughter and it puts a hole in every one of his assertions.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:34 am
For Lawsuit:
And where are those horses now? And this is about Gill and those that are his enablers. Seems like this “Gill” goes through trainers like I go through a loaf of bread at a lunch table with 4 teenagers.
Nice handle BTW.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:38 am
Thats what happens when you put slots in small tracks. They put all the money in claiming races so trainers can abuse these cheaper horses for the big pots. Its just as much the tracks fault.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:40 am
Gill’s statement that all of his horses go to retirement programs is false. In 2005, I paid for the rescue of one of his horses, Trinity Moon, who was found in a kill pen at New Holland shortly after Gill last raced her. She had finished last in a race at Suffolk, beaten 32 lengths. She had a swollen right knee and was also lame behind, her feet were in poor condition, and she was underweight. “Poor thing doesn’t know which leg to limp on,” wrote the kind woman who took her in. She is now flourishing.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:43 am
Sorry, the tracks and horsemen’s groups may have culpability, but most certainly are not the perps. Two different issues.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Forgot to add….slots are the cause problem for poor business decisions propping up cheap claimers????? WTH? I can hear Gill now saying, “the slots revenue claiming races made me do it.” Puhleeze.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:50 am
A few years ago, Gill paid $800,00 for the most arresting horse I’ve ever seen at auction, a colt who was later named Saranoia. The horse broke down under Gill’s ownership, and was euthanized. “He was 100% sound,” said Gill. “An $800,000 horse I’m going to run sore?” Judging by that statement, the decision of whether or not to run a horse sore depends on the horse’s monetary value to Gill. This is a revolting man who has no business being in control of horses’ lives.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:55 am
“Gill denies “running sore horses,” and said he didn’t have a single bad test in 2009. “And was anything found in any of my horses after they broke down? Nothing.”
I have no doubt that what he is saying is true. Isn’t that the problem we have in a nutshell?
Of course they are not sore - they don’t feel anything - until they breakdown on the track.
And it’s all perfectly legitimate and legal “training” - sorry - I should have said medication.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:01 am
He’s no different than most of the crumb bum outfits running at Penn National.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:06 am
I commend you for giving Gill a chance to speak. I think some of his defense has merit, though agreed his comment on the $1 horses is rather vague.
However, from reading the classifieds I gather that some classy big name outfits sell off their culls for $4,000 or $5,000, knowing this puts the horse on a downward spiral. They just separate themselves a few degrees from the inevitable..
It is interesting that despite the outpouring of venom against Gill he apparently has no drug positives, unlike the big names, who of course, attract attempts to discredit them with set ups.
I might add that a local hobby trainer took some cheap horses he bought in California for $1,000 to a Montana meet and the local jockeys did all they could to block and harrass his jockey during races, ….until his boy won some races on other mounts and then they accepted him. Amazing how people do form a good ol boy network for even a $1,000 purse.
I repeat my observation that a comparison of Gill breakdowns against the broader population will determine if Gill and his trainers require censure or not. I have not seen that yet. And if his breakdowns are indeed highe he should ordered to improve the safety of his horses or suffer consequences.
It might also help Gill’s image if he speculated with some yearling purchases or otherwise put some money into the broader industry as a tithing. And too he might get a Derby conender.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:07 am
I have to agree with an earlier post on the other thread: It’s the structure of American racing that allows a guy like this to flourish. The lack of anybody in charge who gives a sh#t (or anybody in charge, period), a racing calendar that depends primarily on claiming races and the system of claiming horses BEFORE they race is to blame just as much as Gill, personally is. I’m afraid there are plenty more like him out there. (And by the way, isn’t this the guy whose vet sawed the leg off one of his dead horses in Florida so no one could see what was done?)
January 26th, 2010 at 11:07 am
By the way - maybe he meant $1 a pound….
January 26th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Again, as someone in the racehorse retirement community, I have never seen or even heard of gill giving horses to retirement groups.
If he as, ask him for the receipts. Donating horses to these groups would be considered charitable, and he’d be able to claim that on his taxes.
I can’t imagine someone as interested in $ as he is wouldn’t have the tax records to prove it if he really was doing something so ethical.
What’s that gill? You don’t have tax receipts?
(Seriously, any rescue or retirement program that is legit offers receipts. Easy enough for him to prove, I say ask him for the evidence.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:13 am
I’m in agreement with a lot of the comments: It’s going to take a lot of legwork to get to the bottom of Gill. But legwork that is the responsibility of whom, exactly? Racing commissions have investigators and, I believe, it is their responsibility to take hold of issues like this. Do the states have or want to spend the money to support proper investigations? Do they see that as even in their best interest, even though that true interest is to protect the horses and the racing public? Enterprising media, too, needs strong backing, financially and editorially, to get the job done. Yet, the days of the New York Times throwing big money behind lengthy investigations is long gone, let alone at smaller papers. Ray and others online are doing great work, but how deep can they go? Who takes up the cause and devotes heavy resources and time simply because knowing the answer is the right thing? What I do know is that we have gone round and round with Michael Gill for years. He plays the game differently than almost everyone else and is widely reviled for his methods. In talking to him in the past, I’ve gotten the same kinds of responses Ray did, and his style and presence are persuasive. Good journalists are not swayed, one way or another, and report what they find. I believe the Pennsylvania racing commission should consider conducting a thorough investigation of the charges against Gill and make a ruling. If they find nothing, the jockeys should be put on notice. If they find something, take appropriate action. Horses breaking down before our eyes are pretty good facts to start with. Now, close the loop and find out what is going on. It took a long while for Major League Baseball to confront its steroid problems, finally moved off its stone by the federal government. In the long run, everyone, save some cheaters, benefitted. The NBA took decisive action recently in the case of star Gilbert Arenas, who brought guns to work with him. The league office considered its reputation paramount. Racing needs to get clean with the racing public if it is ever going to change its image with the general public. Pennsylvania, flush with slots money and a dynamic racing program aching to grow, would be a good place to lay a stake in the ground.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:16 am
“80% of all horses have EPM” - based on what? Unreliable titres? His horses do better on ‘EPM medicine’ because of its potent anti-inflammatory effects - guys were tubing trotters with ponazuril before a race back when you had to import it from Canada.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:20 am
There is obviously a problem here… the answer is not a pre-race exam because the horses are already blocked from their feet to their shoulders so they will obviously be sound for their exam… …the man obviously doesnt get it and never will…He quotes “WHAT HAVE I DONE WRONG” well if he doesnt know what he is doing wrong than maybe he never will get it until it is too late and a humans life and family have to pay the price for his arrogance…
And Lawsuit you say you had a small vet bill. You keep giving guys like him your horses and write back to me in a couple years when you realize what kind of person he really is…
Everyone need to remember the old saying “YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR” and in this case AA and DD are the only guys that would work for peanuts and be his puppets
January 26th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Mr. Gill seems to be universally unpopular to say the least! However there are underlying factors to this debate which are being forgotten - to the detriment of objective discussion.
[1] Due to slot machine income Penn is able to pay a $12,000 purse to a $5,000 horse. This, arguably, tends makes lower level horses expendable. Judging by last week’s posts on slots in Kentucky, very few subscribers seemed concerned that the money will largely be generated from those who can least afford to gamble. So exploiting humans appears to be less of an issue than exploiting horses.
[2] There is a certain irony in this list getting so enraged on the horse protection issue when just las week it voted overwhelmingly [70/30] that the change from dirt to obviously safer synthetics in California was a mistake.
[3] The systematic treatment for systemic disease aspect [not necessarily EPM] of Gill’s regime may have something in it - although it would be unlikely to account for rapid turn arounds in performance.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:24 am
He sold his horses for $1!
To whom????
January 26th, 2010 at 11:36 am
Good point, John S. Does everyone remember Major League Baseball turning a blind eye for several years after the public already knew that players heads were expanding? Seems like a very similar comparison in my opinion between Bud Selig and Rob Marella.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:40 am
Bill. I don’t think you follow what’s been going on at the Grantville oval.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:42 am
Maybe Gill doesn’t know anything about shock wave therapy and doesn’t own a machine but it is my understanding that his farm trainer was very, very adept at its use.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Penn National has a hole somewhere in the middle the base of its racetrack. Many jocks have told me this, and that’s why they have taken weeks at a time last year to fix it. If anything is Mr. Gill’s fault here, it’s that he’s running his horses on an unsafe racetrack, but aren’t the other trainers at fault as well?
January 26th, 2010 at 11:52 am
For every breakdown we loose hundreds of fans. The sport allows Bute as a pre race exam medication, and guys like Gill to use it.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:59 am
So BUTCH I guess what you are trying to say is that Gills horses are the unfortunate ones that keep stepping in these holes?…..COME ON MAN….MAKE SENSE
January 26th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Ok JR… you just figured it all out…thats why these horses are all breaking down, its the bute.
COME ON MAN!!!!!
January 26th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Bute is just one factor in the variable equation that is destroying racing in America. Frankly, I think it’s the humans with bute, with other meds, cheap claimers, distorted sales practices, unethical training, poor enforcement, lack of central authority, whacko takeouts, past posting, gross wagering takeout, poor recoup of offtrack/internet wagering…….and the list goes on and on and on……
January 26th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Bute, when used as a therapeutic measure, is not a detriment. Bute will not make a horse with complete degenerative joint disease feel better. It’s clear who on this board is in racing world and who merely bets on them. Bettors are important and critical, but I get irritated when they act like they know what Bute is. No horse breaks down because of Bute. If you think Bute is evil, then you should go home tonight and take out the advil and aleve in your medicine cabinet.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
“Ray…great job on this. As usual, the DRF and Blood-Horse were asleep at the wheel while this was going on.”
Ray is not the first to break this news. Former employees and other horseman have been posting wrong doings for well over a year now. It’s just that nobody was listening outside those horseman who agree.
Also i’m sure if someone was to interview folks that ship in their horses on days Gill has horses running, you’d be shocked at the stories some of them could tell.
For example, about a month ago, Adamo had horses in the first and third race at Penn. The groom ran the horse in the first race, brought the horse back to the recieving barn, gave the horse 3 or 4 rounds and stuck him straight into the stall still huffing and puffing. Steam was still coming off the horse. Was no where near cooled out. Was dying for water, and hadn’t even been hosed off.
The reason why? Because the groom had to run vetrap for the horse in the 3rd race and get him bridled up and ready to go up. The clowns are too cheap to hire enough help. Wont even pay $20 for a hotwalker. This is how the whole operation runs.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
If you need meds to currently race your horse, then WHATEVER THE MEDS….you got a serious problem. If you want to play some kind of snake dance regarding usage, I’m not your partner.
I use bute, as needed for pain relief in my horses…not to keep them running. Big difference.
I just love the “therapuetic” argument….seems we have tracks that allow usage of some form.
p.s. Give bute to a horse? Then it is immoral to sell it for human consumption horse slaughter…not that Gill gives a flying rat’s butt.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Anyone who is trying to reach me directly, please email me at ray@paulickreport.com
January 26th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Uh, Mitch, I beg to differ, but bute IS evil if you’re running a horse with it in its system. It acts as a very powerful anti-inflammatory drug and masks the pain of an unsound animal. That’s why it is illegal to race with it in most of the world. Bute is just fine to relieve the pain of a horse that won’t be running anytime soon, but not in a racing animal.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
How on earth can anyone ever find a way to defend this industry? Really? For every decent owner and trainer there are far too many “Gills”, Not just at the bottom but at the top… Let’s not lose sight of the fact that MANY of these horses didn’t start out running for a $5,000 tag. Many started out in the limelight both on the track and in the sales ring.
This entire industry has shown time and time again, that it’s NOT SERIOUS ABOUT HORSE WELFARE.
HOW MANY HORSES HAVE TO BE SACRIFICED TO FEED THE “COMPETITIVE” SPIRIT OF MR. GILL? HOW MANY MORE?
And I totally agree SLOTS ARE NOT THE ANSWER THIS RACINGS ILLS….PENN IS PROOF THAT ALL THE CHEAP MONEY ENDS UP DESTROYING “CHEAP” HORSES….CUT OFF THE LIFELINE TO THESE PATHETIC SOCIOPATHS…
AND AS FOR THE LUDICROUS STATEMENT BY MR. GILL THAT “HE IS A 5,000 CLAIMER”…. I’D LIKE TO KNOW THE LAST TIME HE WAS BEATEN INTO THE GROUND AND LEFT FOR DEAD!!!! I SINCERELY HOPE IT’S SOON.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
its not just the gill horses breaking down there was 4 sat night the only ones talked about are the gill horses people do need to look at thewhole picture
January 26th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
When a “house” trainer, like L. Jones, or D. Wayne, has a horse that breaks down, the “house” journalists rush to their defense. When the anti-establishment owner/trainer has a horse that breaks down, he is vilified without due process. Until there is a detailed statistical analysis, given the scope of his operation, there is no evidence he is any more guilty than the rest of the owners and trainers.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Chris McErlean of Penn National was quoted in the BH asf: “The practice of running and reviewing a necropsy exam on horses that suffer fatal injuries at Penn National is one instituted by the track at the start of the year in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission.”
Gill’s two recently dead horses are apparently being necropsied now, under Penn National’s new program.
But were necropsies performed on Gill’s dead horses in 2009, as he claims. Gill is quoted above saying “… was anything found in any of my horses after they broke down? Nothing.”
Who did the 2009 necropsies to which he refers? Was it a “neutral” veterinarian? Assuming the 2009 necropsies exist, will he make the results available to the press?
January 26th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
It’s a shame that Penn National doesn’t have a “No Slaughter” policy in place. Better yet…why don’t they help support some type of thoroughbred retirement? A program such as Rerun at Philadelphia Park seems like it would be a good idea along with some backing from Penn Gaming, especially now that a new set of eligibility rules have been put into place by the Penn National Racing Office come Feb. 3rd…there will no doubt be a large number of horses on the backside who will be needing a new home in the next few weeks.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
And lets all take moment to look at the story posted about ZAYAT STABLE…The bank is asking to take over the stable because it is concerned to for the “welfare” of the horses!!!
AGAIN….WHERE DOES THIS INDUSTRY STAND?…AT LEAST SOMEONE AT A BANK IS TAKING ACTION!
January 26th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
I guess to Michael Gill, a “retirement home” is another word for kill pen or feed lot where the horses are transported for slaughter? How does he explain at least THREE being brought to a kill pen byz a trainer of his who were rescued and when Mr. Gill was contacted, declined to offer ONE CENT to their rescue. What a guy!!!! But “what did he do that was so wrong??” He will just NEVER get it, will he?
January 26th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Turning for Home is the thoroughbred retirement program at Philadelphia Park, Rerun is the New Jersey based program………both seem to really be doing an excellent job in helping place retired racehorses. Certainly would be a welcome addition to Penn National Race Course.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Sheilagh,
I don’t know anything about the details with Gill’s farm in Pa, but your comment that he had to “clear out” some stalls alarms me. Do you have any idea HOW he “clears” out his stalls?
January 26th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
If Gill gave Darrel up to keep his stalls and save his business should we believe that Adamo is safe? Lawsuit, if Adamo is the standup guy that you say, I hope he gives gill up and jumps out of the sinking ship before it’s too late. If not I fear that his trainer career is over and his name will be linked to gills horror show for eternity
January 26th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Re: Bute - I’ve seen a horse with a fractured cannon bone walk sound getting 2g of bute. Had another horse that was euthanized for some major hoof issues - infection in the coffin joint and laminitic changes - horse was CRIPPLED but 1g of bute for three days had him walking pretty sound (looked like a horse that was just a teeny bit footsore, not one that needed euthanasia).
It’s a dangerous thing to underestimate the power of bute. It doesn’t “cause” breakdowns but it could surely set conditions so that horses try harder and run faster than they would if they could feel the full extent of their soreness or injuries. THAT is pretty much the main problem a lot of us have with Gill’s operation. If not bute, then it’s joint injections and nerve blocks. Sure, the horse feels good on race day. That’s the problem - horses with compromised bones and soft tissue run harder than their bodies can take, and then they go down hard with no warning and it’s a matter of time before they take a jockey with them into oblivion.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
To Leslie- For the few years when he didn’t have many horses he leased his barn to other people and gave them time to find other places to keep their horses.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
So does that mean that the gill show continues after he disposes of Adamo and delahoussaye? Not defending gill but it doesn’t seem fair that these two take the fall for all of the wrongdoing and the next guy fills in for business as usual. But from gills comments he makes it sound like he has cut a deal to sell his present connections down the road and start fresh. Those guys probably wish that they never took that gig
January 26th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
KLH,
This scrutiny needs to affect all trainers. Right now it looks like Gill is going to pay the price for being a BIG MOUTHED FISH in a small cesspool. I hope it gives the rest of the “evil doers” a wake up call!!! ALL OF THEM.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
“They (Penn National) put a gun to my head, and someone had to take the bullet,” he said. “I feel bad about this. But if I lose the (49) stalls at Penn National, I’m out of business.”
What kind of “man” let’s someone else take the bullet for him???? Coward…
January 26th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
“At one time over a year ago he had a few of his overflow here until he could clear out some of the stalls he had leased to people”
btw, I forgot to respond to this statement. Gill doesn’t “lease stalls out to people”
January 26th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Good point about gill and the blame game. Total cowardly move. I would think that Adamo and delahoussaye after taking the blame would no longer be able to get jobs in the racing industry. Taking the rap for this clown seems senseless and foolish. Can’t believe one of these guys doesn’t have the guts to turn the guy in and save themselves
January 26th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
After Analyzing all of these posts I’m willing to bet there are ONLY 4-5 people using fake monikers while posting absurd comments.
RAY: DELETE THIS CHILDISH BLOG PLEASE!!!!!LET THESE SO CALLED HORSEMEN GO BACK TO THEIR BARNS WHERE THEY ARE GETTING PAID TO BE!!!
January 26th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
“childish blog”….. whats wrong Lawsuit….the fact that the unethical and cruel acts of Michael Gill have come to light? Yeah…how “childish”….Are you worried about being next? And I doubt there are many people posting that “being paid to be in a barn”. I know I’m not.
And as for Ray deleting these comments….What do you think the purpose of the Paulick Report is for? Hiding from this industries problems? You must be confused with another industry publication.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
What are you crying about lawsuit. Everyone had a valid point here. I don’t see why you think the dialogue is so absurd
January 26th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Very valid points regarding the injustice and lack of care in this sport. There are more problems than Michael gill but that situation is now in the spotlight. All horses should be considered first but the truth is that it rarely happens at anymore. So any progress on these problems is a step in the right direction
January 26th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Seems like he truth hurts for Lawsuit. Lawsuit, just do what is right. Instead of going around to all the jockeys today and saying you have nothing to do with the outfit, how about doing something to make the situation better instead of trying to save your behind? There has been way too much verbal exchanges, it’s time for Gill or his employees to come clean and turn over a new leaf.
January 26th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Wow. It sounds like somebody is calling out lawsuit. Or is this just another fake writer with a hidden agenda? I agree lawsuit-come clean and speak the truth. What is your purpose here. We all share a common belief and u posted to save Anthony Adamo. It doesn’t add up
January 26th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Hey, anybody out there know how to put a tongue tie on?
January 26th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
There are a lot of problems at the Grantville oval. Mr. Gill is just the biggest one. And to a previous poster, Ms. Beattie did not have more breakdowns per start than Mr. Gill. I just want one person to come forward, not associated with Gill and defend him. Nobody at Penn has a problem with Tim Kreiser, Bernie Houghton and others, all of whom win a lot of race at high percentages.
January 26th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Many prominent trainers at penn win without the problems of a michael gill. A lack of concern for the animal is at the forefront of this issue. The fact that the guy trivializes his breakdowns at penn and in many ways describes them as no big deal proves his guilt. Every breakdown should be taken seriously- this guy looks at the animal as a pawn to make money. He treats jockeys like they are expendable commodities
January 26th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
After re-reading all the quotes from the Gill articles made by him I learned two things. I really know now why attorneys tell clients to shut up and I know why Hollywood stars have people called publicists to handle their problems.
January 26th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Reading this article makes this man sound more pathetic than he is already perceived to be. “What have I done that’s so wrong?”??? How can someone say that that has been associated with so many breakdowns and even worse, 6 injured jockeys. Has he really been watching every single race that his horses run in?
What has not been mentioned is the horses that break down in the morning also. I wrote down all the horses he claimed from me over the past 1 1/2 years (24).. 2 of them broke down during the races and another 2 broke legs and were put down in the morning. Of the other 20 I have listed, another 10 have disappeared from racing.
I think it is great that he is opening up his farm for anyone to come and see the horses there…. after he admittedly got rid of 20 horses the past 30 days. I would think it is the 20 horses that people here are concerned about and what condition they were in and where did they end up???
But I have to say this man is winning me over, it touched my heart to hear that he is treating all his horses for EPM. This is very impressive Dr. Gill that you say 80% of horses have EPM and that you are addressing this. Considering that over 80% of horses have ulcers, are you treating them with Gastroguard? That would be so honorable.
Can you tell us what your trainers are addressing when they drench all your runners with “loads of DMSO”?
January 26th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Maybe he is speaking the truth. Maybe it’s 100% false. Or maybe its somewhere in the middle. The sad truth is, IT SHOULDN’T MATTER.
Wouldn’t it be lovely if we lived in a world where the stewards of our sport took some time over the past few decades to establish standardized, NATIONALIZED rules with strict enforcement and stiff punishments? Instead, what have they done? Nothing. The stasis and lack of creative leadership that this sport has endured over the past 30 years is appalling. So much needed to be done, no one stepped up to do it. Took the role, without the responsibility.
Here’s a sad fact: Over the past 30 years, the single greatest advancement in our sport (for both fairness and humanity to the horse) was initiated by none other than Richard Dutrow, Jr. By speaking the truth, and a forced hand, our sport took it’s first baby steps by initiating a looooong overdue steroid ban (almost Nationally, almost uniformly). With proper Regulation, there would be no reason to freak-out about Gill, or anyone else.
January 26th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Good point Layne. A few months ago I took my wife out to dinner. We were walking through and around the paddock area where I could smell the distinct odor of DMSO peeling off of one of mr gills horses. Safe to say I thoroughly lost my appetite. Curious what condition he IS treating here
January 26th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
I think lawsuit had a lunch date at the “ranch” with previous poster crybaby. They are meeting for a media relations seminar. Or maybe just doing some good old want ad searching
January 26th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
“What has not been mentioned is the horses that break down in the morning also”
And the additional statistical problem that horses who are not euthanized on the track don’t count in Penn’s breakdown statistics. If they can make it back to the barn and are put down (or shipped off) immediately after, it’s not being counted. Horses that break down in the morning aren’t counted either, are they? So even the official statistics that are available are only showing part of the picture.
January 26th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
#57 Picksburg Phil
The problem isn’t that the house journlists are singling out Gill and ignoring the ‘house trainers’. The problem is that it took journalists this long to discover what happens with Gills horses and itwasn’t til the JOCKEYS TOOK ACTION that anyone in the press paid attention.
January 26th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Four breakdowns out of 24 claimed from the same outfit. 16.6%- just curious if that is under the national average? What these posters like crybaby don’t comprehend is WHY the local trainers are so concerned about Michael gill claiming their horses. They assume that the complaints stem from people who are afraid that gill will make these horses more profitable. Has any thought been given to the fact that they can just not stand the thought of this monster butchering the beloved animals that they have cared for? Makes sense
January 26th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
I don’t know why Gill would even be so concerned with EPM.
Gill doesn’t have anywhere on his farm to turn horses out in a field or paddock where the likelihood of contracting the disease would occur through opossum droppings. Horses normally ingest the organism through contaminated feed, or grazing areas.
I also know that some birds can be carrires as well. But that isnt a problem in this enclosed facility.
So unless these creatures have access to his feed storage areas, it is highly doubtful that this problem would be anything that this location would consider worrying about dealing with. In other words, Gill isnt going to spend money on that.
January 26th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Also with any new horses he claimed, wouldn’t it be cheaper and kinder to check for antibodies before doing this procedure?
January 26th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Wizard, you are sure the dmso was a gill horse from walking by the paddock. How about just about every horse in every race, I don’t think we can single out gill for that one alone. As for the Equine Avenger how long did you work for gill before you were fired? And Layne all of the horses gill claimed from you were all 100% sound without any problems? Let’s get off of the personal agendas and allow the racing jurisdictions do their jobs. This forum is filled with a lot of lies and not all from gill. Everyone has inside info. Which is bull. And what are the numbers for the whole year at penn? compare gill to everyone and make it fair, not just someone here making up numbers. And I don’t know if the penn numbers will even stack up against Santa Anita in the morning and afternoon. Ray get some true numbers so the 3 or 4 people here using 3 or 4 different names have something real besides “inside info” (we all know how reliable that is)
January 26th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
In answer to his question, and as has been pointed out already, nothing noticeably different in regard to the welfare of his horses than scores of other owners and their trainers across the country. He’s just also managed to piss off a bunch of horsemen for unrelated reasons. Come out to California Mr. Gill; they are desperate for horses, and they won’t give a damn if you want to give ‘em away for $1 to the first person who comes along with a large stock trailer.
January 26th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Crybaby,
No horse is 100 % sound Tony but YES, all my runners are very well looked after and in perfect order when they run or they WILL NOT race. I personally gave away 5 of my own horses to good homes (and I can give names and addresses where they all are). I didn’t even get the dollar for them, what a horrible business person I am. A large number of other horses were sent home to be retired by their respective owners.
You keep begging for people to get off the personal agendas, it’s not going to happen. Everyone has their axe to grind and it is for a reason but the fact of the matter is that what ever the reason people are speaking up against the entire Gill operation is, they are right and their comments are completely justified and for the most part, probably very accurate. This “thread” is for comments and feed back and that is what everyone here is contributing.
I really don’t think you want the truth to come out about the real number of cumulative breakdowns at Penn from your Mike Gill operation. FACT: Gill has had a tremendous number of horses put down on the track during the races… FACT: Mike Gill has had a number of horses break down in the mornings at Penn… FACT: Gill has had a number of breakdowns that have only pulled up instead of fall, than go back to the backside to be euthanized. Do you really want ALL numbers to come out? And add on top of that, the number of horses that have been given away and/or disappeared.
Why would you even think your boss wouldn’t be the target of such scrutiny and outrage from people, personal agenda or not?
He has been the bully in the playground for the past couple years and has made people hate them. And the beauty of that is that people can only take so much before they fight back. And while they are waiting to fight back, we gather as much information as we can because we know that the devil always gets his due. And now, I hope and pray that this is the time that we all get our chance to see justice take place.
January 26th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
To Starting Small and Wizard, not adamo. Not a gill employee. Wrong. Not everyone feels the way you do, just an opposing opinion. Again, everyone here should agree not to give any inaccurate numbers until the real ones come out
January 26th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
How about 3.5 riders per week lately. Flores Frazier Clifton Whitney strunk carpio. All riders that needed medical attention after gill related breakdowns. But you’re right Tony, that happens everywhere. No big deal buddy
January 26th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Did I mention that this was only in the past two weeks. Not over the course of a race meet. I could give you those names if you wish. They count and can’t just be given away after a race
January 26th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Still waiting for that list of which horses went to which retirement organization- TRF, Canter? Be wonderful to see that “barn camera” footage of those horses leaving the barn, and with whom.
January 26th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
I am the wife of Anthony Adamo and last night we were called by a friend to look up this sight to see the personal attacks that have been orchestrated towards my husband and the Gill organization. To a handful of people, please stop posting things on web sights that you know nothing about. There are so many untruths that have been said about this operation and I want to clear some of them up.
I live here on Elk Creek Ranch and my kidsand I have spent alot of time at the barn with these horses and i can give you some insight on how the barn is run.
Firstly, there is no-magic pre-race,no wonder block and no abnormal activity done to these horses . Cole Norman is in charge of their traing,they are trained bathed, walked,fed and vetted like any other race horse.Before entry they are evalluated and then again before they load the van for the races.In my husbands care, no horse is sent to the races with the intention of them breaking down.I am a horse lover before I am a racing fan so i am not defending the recent outcome of some of these horses-it was awful but what i can say is that these breakdowns are not without regret or sorrow.
Secondly and most importantly to me ,after today I hope to never have to read about any horse in our care that was sold for meat because that is simplly not true.We have given horses away for riding,jumpers,breeding,studs and some even went to their original breeders,for instance white buck just went to retire in Florida.When we give these horses away we can only rely that what people say they are going to do with them is the truth.This past season we gave a horse away to his breeder.He was sore.That horse ran 3 weeks later and to no surprise was no factor.It just goes to show that not everybody is upfront with us. We do surrender their papers when they leave us just to ensure that they do not go for meat.We have turned out and I personally feed some of these layups until we can find them a home.Infact I want to add this,Iwas the one who for 3 months fed a mare and her foal,a 2 year old and another lay up horse of a previous trainer who abandomed them at the farm when they were let go.If it wasn’t for me I can not say how they would ended up.
Thirdly, All the allegations about Mike gill ,not because he employs my husband but because i just don’t get it. He does not live here ,so he has to entrust his trainers to properly care for these animals.Is he a hard nose? absolutely,I will not paint a picture of a harmonious relationship between owner and trainer.The two have their differences.He likes to win and when he is favorite and doesn’t he wants an explanation.Fair enough. Never and I stress Never has he suggested or implemented any tactics for these trainers to run unsafe horses. Again that is trainer resposibility.
I get that he is unliked because of his aggressive claiming but lets be honest he’s claiming some of these”bad ‘ horses from our fellow trainers and you guys are all laughing all the way to the bank. Everybody is responsible for sore horses not just one organization.This problem has not started with Mike and nor will it end with him.
Let’s look at another perspective of Gill racing,he employs alot of people from the hot walker,rider,groom,vet,feed,hay straw and supplies.He helps to keep the horse world employed.He is ahealthy economical part of this industry,especially in times when jobs are hard to come by.
A note to the people of pen national,If mike were to leave the level of competion is not going to change.Mike is considered an invader, invaders are not going away not with the purse structure as it is. so if the people of pen want to keep things as they were then get rid of the casino and decrease your purse structure.
I want to address one last issue, Lane Giliforte aka Startin Small Stable has run a personal campain against this operation and my husband.The amount of lies that he continues to write are so absurd that at times it is comical.I want the public to know that Lane has his own agends regarding the serious issues at hand.At the risk of speculating and spreading a rumour,I feel that he is rejoicing at recent injuries of horses and riders because it gives leverage for his cause. Before this issue this man has threatened,and harrassed my husband with terrible,relentless e-mails to the extent that Tony went to the stewards.we were told to go to the police which unfortunately we decided not to.This is all because Mike claimed a number of his horses.When you want to keep impressive stats and run horses at respectably prices you risk losing them.You asked tony as a friend to speak to mike about it and when it did not go your way you turned on him and vowed to get him back.Specifically you threatened that Mike took away your livelyhood and that Mike was “too big” to get to so you would go after him.Mike did not discuss your claims withTony nor did he ask him to do anyl claiming from him. Talk about what kind of people we need in this industry-Let’s look at Starting Small Stables.
I realize that i have steered away from the issue at hand and that is the safety of horse and rider. I will not defend that but i will defend my husband as a person and a trainer.These are real people you are bashing.Tony is a loving husband,father and friend . When we looked up some numbers out of 223 starts at pen, there has been 3 catastrophic injuries to his horses , some pull ups have not been due to injury. It’s not OK but certainly those numbers do not set him apart from other trainers who are dealing with large number of starts.
Something has gone wrong with the number of injuries at this track and i don’t have an answer for it There definately has been an oversight with the horses stabled at penn but that has been addressed.We can not go backwards but only forward and work harder and be more cautious in this game.
January 26th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Wants Answers,
The really horrible thing is to think about what condition the “give away” horses were in. If Gill is running unsound horses, just imagine how broken down the ones are that he deems “unraceable”!!! It’s hard enough to find a home for a sound horse off the track right now…SO WHO IS GOING TO TAKE A DEAD LAME ONE? AND 20? FOR $1…..
TALK ABOUT GILLTY!!!!
January 26th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
This is no defense of Mike Gill but I do detect some classism in the criticism here. A few people have pointed out that the structure of American racing, with reliance on lower level claiming horses running short races on dirt, is one of the primary issues behind the phenomenon that allows the Mike Gills of the world to operate.
Cheap horses sometimes start out cheap but often they don’t. Many of the horses who run at Penn ran at one time at Gulfstream or Belmont Park. Many times their owners dispatch them and look the other way as they drop down the claiming ranks. Should we just abolish all tracks with purse levels below a certain threshold? That probably doesn’t work. Plus, how do we deal with the jurisdictions in which racing is a pre-condition for gaming and in which the horsemen thrive on more dates and more races, encouraging them to run horses that may be of questionable health? There is a shared culpability here. It might make you feel better to condemn Mike Gill or Penn National, but that’s not going to solve the problem.
Our current system, or lack thereof, is a holdover from the days when animals were considered live stock. It is outdated but we have no structure in place to deal with it other than the efficiency of markets. As racing becomes less and less popular, the market will correct itself (it is already happening) but the artificial stimulus of slots in certain markets will skew the correction.
We run horses so that people can bet on them. The horses should be treated humanely. Those two things are not mutually exclusive but the current system makes it hard to marry them.
January 26th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
I think one would find a similar high but less visible attrition rate of horses that run at the lower levels - no matter who trains them. A lot of that is economics - and where else do you go after one is hurt, or just slow and you have to run them too often to try and make money. And the owners have less money to vet with. Everybody in this business knows that. Everybody sure has a hard on for Gill - nobody went after our West Virginian trainer/feedlot that recently passed…….they gave Baird an Award!! This entire stink is ridiculous and ignoring bigger issues like veterinary accountabilty. Horses do break down and we hate it. It is sad but factual. And there is too much hopping instead of actual training.
January 26th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
As a former trainer of gill yes gill is diffecult and maybe heartless but it comes down to trainer responsiblity you have a choice to run or not horses break down that’s a fact but most of us try so hard not to let that happen and surely don’t laugh when it does happen , this has been going on for a while and no one cares till now . Well now well see if they do something as a package deal or only worry about gill. Remember gill a business man pays the trainer to win , trainer has to care about his or her stable and the lives they affect
January 26th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
blacktieaffair,
I agree that Gill is being made a scapegoat as of right now…but rightly so. I can only hope that by shining a light on this unsavory part of the industry that somehow some good might come from it. Yes the racing stables at the top do play an integral role in this. Tracks like Penn are merely a destination for many castoffs after they don’t display enough ability or are hurt. So what can be done? I certainly believe that slots are NOT the answer. The revenue just props up a dying industry and more animals are sacrificed.
There are too many horses and too many tracks. And what about the significant increase in PA breeding ?!!! What is PA going to do to ensure that all the additional horses being bred to feed this MONSTER have a chance of a LONG life? When is someone in a position of power going to show some decency and think about the welfare of all these animals?
I know the Governor in PA went after puppy mills….maybe he’ll set his sights on the animal cruelty in racing which is in his own backyard. Think I’ll call Gov Rendell’s office tomorrow.
January 26th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
I am a trainer from another racetrack and have been following what has been going on at penn…It is an absolute disgrace what Mike Gill and his so called trainers are doing with these horses…I first heard of of Mike Gill years ago with the Gulfstream incident that I am sure you are all aware of and he should have been banned from racing nationwide, but in our industry unfortunately we have different rules in different jurisdictions and he has been allowed to once again make headlines…I am not sure if many of you know how sick of an outfit this is but there was an instance where a horse owned by Gill and trained by Darrel D won the race and broke down after the wire the connections were still able to gather in the winners circle for a horseless photo while the horse was laying on the track… Do these connections deserve a place in this industry….NO………So for all of you Gill Employees and backers maybe you should think about how the horseworld is looking at you and try to save face by jumping ship before it sinks…….
January 26th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Thanks Sheryl,
Your article sounds as ridiculous as Mike Gill’s. A whole lot of jibber trying to cover the truth and hide the facts.
Who cares about past conversations I had with Tony and text messages. You’re off topic.
But since you asked: STARTIN’ SMALL has won 6 training titles, set numerous records, has trained for some of the most respected and prominent owners in racing and has won over 800 races. Thanks for the publicity. In the words of Tim Ryan on NFL radio, “Let’s talk about it”
No, let’s not ! Let’s get back to the concern at hand.
Get tied on people. There are some GREAT things coming out in the next few days.
January 26th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Re: Post 94 Sheryl Adamo
Would you mind outlining the past violations Cole Norman has had with racing jurisdictions involving medications? Does he have a clean record in the racing industry? Just curious…
Thank You.
January 26th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Did Gill say he doesn’t run sore horses?
I dare Tony Adamo to have the jewels to come on here and pronounce that GEEFOUR was not a sore horse toward the end.
January 26th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
By the way Sheryl,
That message was sent with all due respect because you are a lady!
Thanks again
January 26th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
i think there is a war going on crybaby vs startin small and myectomy but as for cole norman he has won over 30 million in purse 16 training titles and 2500 win which is more than all 3 of you and admo put together but let get back on track the animals and why they are breaking down i still believe the track surface must be looked into
January 26th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
So let me get this straight. Your employee who is a known felon actually trains the horses? Wow!! Well that just relieves mr Adamo from any responsibility at all. As a matter of fact I have to commend him for hiring such a reputable trainer to pin some of the blame on. By the way can u provide me with a list of states that are willing to license the honorable horsemen and model citizen known as Cole Norman ?
January 26th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
what does one horse got to do with the problem at hand myectomy??????
January 26th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Todd,
In case you missed the memo, this thread is in response to Gill’s comments where he talks about a lot of things including not running sore horses. I, and just about every horseman and jockey, knows that GEEFOUR was a cripple his last few races. Need circumstantial evidence? Otero used to ride. Jumps off. Cortez named to ride, took off at scratch time but rode others on the card. John Lloyd rides the horse.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
as a trainer you have the option to not train for someone who will not pony up for the proper care of horses And if you continue to stay on you then become responsible for the end product. No one in their right mind would think that gill would come right out and say break that horse down. But I know that he often refuses to pay for treatments that could save a horses life. This is my complaint , breakdowns happen but with proper care the numbers can be reduced , I pray that my horse is not following one of gills the next time it happens .
January 26th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
It looks as though it’s just about time to put the kids in this”room” to bed and, unfortunately, turn off comments for this article, just as we had to last night.
While I would rather spend my time pursuing further, important details on this story, because of the tone of so many comments I have had to spend a great deal of my day moderating and editing some of the most inflammatory comments.
To those of you who are posting under multiple names, this will not be tolerated any further. If some of you want to continue your arguments and personal grievances with one another, please head to the nearest tavern. Lets remain civil.
Comments will be shuttered if I feel it’s necessary.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
as a fan that watchs races from all over there is more than 1 sore horse at penn when there is 40 lenths 1st to last its not because they just dont feel like running that day i believe there are many sore horses at penn and everywhere the question to me is it the horse or the track cause there are lots of horses of late at penn that breakdown and from what you guys say there sounds like alot in the morning there to
January 26th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Truth is whole race horse industry is beyond repair. Win at all cost attitude by many people not just Michael Gill has led to the destruction of the modern thoroughbred. Too many steroids, nsaids, and exotics like snail venom and epogen have contributed to the decline of the sport. Well it used to be a sport. Horses ran till 7 or 8, now they’re lucky to race at 4. People used to be called horsemen, now you can just call them a horse’s ass. There are some good, honest and caring horsemen left, and to them I say it’s up to you to take the sport back.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
does anyone else get the feeling that everytime gill opens his mouth, he buries himself further and further. Never ran a sore horse. Please!!! Jockeys want to ride for him and he will only use two of them. Right!!! That is why they begged every exercise rider in America to show up at Penn to ride their horses Saturday night. A love of the game and equation to a sore claimer. Wealthy guy taking advantage of helpless animals. Sorry- wrong again. Saying he fired a blameless trainer to save himself and his business. How admirable Mr. Gill. I hope they rid you of this business forever. But until they do, for Gods sake, hire a publicist
January 26th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
How can we talk about Gill while race tracks continue to take entries from guys like Burt Sipp, who has a even more horrific record of horse abuse. Time the industry sets a standard that rules these kind of abusers off on a permanent basis.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Good job following this story and taking it mainstream in the first place Ray.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Man what a thread! Gill is a guy with a storied history in his mortgage business, plenty of allegations of fraud that he denied, while indirectly admitting to not necessarily following the letter of the law. Familiarize yourself with the accusations of the Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks, in Docket No. 2008-015, Mortgage Broker Licensing vs. (Gill’s company) The Mortgage Specialists, Inc.; Cease and Desist Order isued in Mass, July 31, 2008. Has nothing to do with his horse business, but this thing at Penn National is not the first time Gill has been accused of and had to defend illicit activity. Judge for yourself.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
or is Gill a H.S. Grad and opportunist operating under the rules of racing?
before the hanging, I want to know specfically what rules he has violated. Is Gill the culprit, or the rules that permit his operation?
I am encouraged that Penn is investigating. That is Step #1 to change the industry in terms of injury and breakdowns. They’re doing this also at Turfway.
Hopefully, soon, we’ll see rules that prevent entry of untrained, undiagnosed horses.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
I think that the first thing Mr Gill should do is to get a few people who can back his story that he’s giving away his horses to places where someone is going to love them and take care of them. Lets find out who’s getting Gill’s horses for 1 dollar. Lets find out where these horses are going and where they are now. Once we find all this stuff out, we can say that there is some good to Mike Gill and he’s not the monster you are all making him out to be. Once we have some actual proof that Mike Gill’s retired racehorses are safe and sound with good homes, than we can re open this debate further. It seems like Mike’s credibility is in question. It shouldn’t be hard to prove if his retirees are safe and still alive, or not.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
ray what happened to free speech. Gotta leave this site censored way too much. Not for abusive things rather content not approved by the moderator, the almighty ray. the censorship is too one sided here, have fun stacking your deck.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
and, stillriledup, can we please have the anti-slaughter discussion elsewhere, and stay on topic here: injuries/breakdowns, on track welfare of horses.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
Steve Byk, who has a radio program on TB racing, said earlier this evening in response to a caller that although he did not know that much about the Gill situation (and why should he with a daily racing show and guests like the folks from Re Run among others) that it was his thought (and I’m paraphrasing here) that the vote by the jockeys may have had more to do with the amount of money Gill’s 2 riders make than anything else. I was stunned. This man is clueless. I changed the station. Doubt me? I’m told there are transcripts of his shows on his website. Me? I’ll find other things to listen to when I’m in my truck.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
A post about facts:
According to the Jockey Club, the average breakdown rate for a dirt track in America is 2.03 horses per 1,000 starts or 1 per every 500.
———-ADAMO————-
- MELODEEMAN - Race2 on 1/21/10 at Penn National - 10 years Old, Trained by Anthony Adamo, owned by Michael Gill.
- On May 30, 2009 at Philly Park, a horse named FISHERS MILL broke down according the race chart. The horse was trained by Adamo and Owned by Michael Gill
- On June 3, 2009 at Penn National, BONE DRY, Broke down on the backstretch and was humanely destroyed. Trained by Adamo, Owned by Michael Gill.
- On October 14, 2009 at Penn National, BL’s LUCKY APPEAL was pulled up on the turn. Has not returned to the races. Trained by Anthony Adamo, Owned by Michael Gill.
- Also on October 14 2009 at Penn National, CATCH ME, broke down with William Otero aboard. Trained by Anthony Adamo, Owned by Michael Gill.
- On October 15 2009 at Penn National, INVISIBLE FIRE, Pulled Up. Has not returned to the races. Trained by Anthony Adamo and Owned by Michael Gill
- On August 29, 2009 and on October 21, 2009, consecutive races for IGOR, the horse was PULLED UP in August and EASED in October. Igor has not returned to the races. Igor was trained by Darrell Delahoussaye in the August race and Anthony Adamo in the October race. Owner: Michael Gill
- On December 18, 2009 at Penn National. LION’S PRIDE went lame and rider DeShawn Parker fell off. Trained by Anthony Adamo and owned by Michael Gill
Adamo had 1,162 starts for Gill in the past year thru 1/25/10.
7 out of 1,162 starts, Eased horses from above not counted
1 out of 166 which is 3x the national average for dirt tracks
———————DELAHOUSSAYE———————-
- SURVEYOR - Race 8 on May 26 at Philly Park went lame and was pulled up and vanned off. Has not raced again. Trained by Darrell Delahoussaye, owned by Michael Gill
- On May 30, 2009 at Penn National, a horse named TERRIOR was reported to “FELL” with Alcibades Cortez aboard. The horse was owned by Michael Gill. Cortez missed several weeks of action as a result of this spill. The Penn National Chart Caller for some reason did not report the horse Broke Down. Trained by Darrell Delahoussaye, owned by Michael Gill
- On June 11, 2009, SHABRILL THRILL did not finish and no report was given because of FOG. Horse never returned to the races. Trained by Darrell Delahoussaye, owned by Michael Gill
- On August 28, 2009, INDUETY, went lame on backstretch. Has not run back. Trained by Darrell Delahoussaye, owned by Michael Gill
- 8/29/09 - IGOR (previously mentioned)
- On October 24, 2009 at Penn National, SMASHING GLASS went lame and was pulled up. Trained by Darrell Delahoussaye, Owner Michael Gill
- - SKIPTOMLOUMYDARLIN - Race 4 on 11/6/09 at Penn National - 9 Years Old, Trained by Darrell Delahoussaye, owned by Michael Gill.
- December 3, 2009 at Penn National, Master of Disaster was eased. Trained by Darrell Delahoussaye, Owned by Michael Gill
- On January 23, 2010 at Penn National, Laughing Moon was not reported broken down after the wire by the Penn National Chart Caller, but according to Penn Gaming, the horse did break down and was destroyed. Trained by Darrell Delahoussaye, Owner Michael Gill.
Delahoussaye had a total of 535 starts for Gill in the past year thru 1/25/10
7 Out of 535 starts were either Pulled up or Broke Down (Eased not counted)
1 out of 76 Rate which is more than 6.5x the national average.
———–HOOPER———-
- On April 19, 2009 at Penn National, KELLY’S CALLING, was pulled up. This horse has never run back. Trained by Timothy Hooper, Owned by Michael Gill.
Hooper had 348 starts for Gill in 2009.
1 in 348 Breakdown or Pulled Up Rate which is closer to the national average.
———
January 26th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Game. Set. Match. Goodbye gill delahoussaye and Adamo. Those stats not only expose your outfit as reckless unsafe and negligent but also set Ray up for a nice piece on the penn national chart caller. Either he is completely incompetent or there is some kind of instructed coverup going on. Lead us home Ray. Let’s clean things up one scum at a time
January 26th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Penn National needs to find out “WHO” asked Gill to fire Delahoussaye. That person should be fired immediately and investigated for colluding with GIll. Can someone tell me…aren’t stalls assigned to trainers and not owners? If Gill fired Delahoussaye, which trainer has Penn assigned the stalls to in Barn 5? Or have they been assigned to Gill in an unprecedented move by a racetrack.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Myectomy, hope Steve Byk sees this; you are the one who should have the radio show!
January 26th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Yes, stalls are assigned to trainers, but well heeled owners have been known to exert a little friendly persuasion. Gill might just be blowing smoke by saying someone at Penn told him to fire Delahoussaye. I wouldn’t believe a thing Gill said. I believe I read Adamo was now assigned those stalls. You need to look into these two trainers before they hooked up with Gill. Horseofcourse had it right with “decent horsemen can’t stomach being employed by this man”.
January 27th, 2010 at 12:12 am
while i appreciate myectomy’s stats i’d avoid comparing a horse being eased up to a horse breaking down. for adamo there are 4 breakdowns listed, instead of 7 e.g.
Michael Gill in context, some more stats:
1. 5 out of 8 of the horses on Mandella’s DVD “On The Muscle” were seriously injured before the end of that DVD. That’s a 62%/year injury rate.
2. Ross Staaden’s book “Winning Trainers” indicates D.W. Lukas in the years 1987-88 injured 43% of his horse per year permanently.
3. Doug O’Neil’s website indicates that for the year 2008-2009 (early) they injured 75% of their stock permantly and their stock is injured at a 50% rate within 3 months of acquisition.
4. Bruce Jackson’s website (apparently no longer training indicates a permanent injury rate of 50% per year.
5. for the same period Mark Hennig’s website indicates a permanent injury rate of 57% per year.
6. Plecher: 50% permanent per year and 50% with some debilitating injury within 3 months of arrival, over same time period.
7. Linda Rice, same time period, 69% permanent injury rate.
8. Bongo Racing, 50% per year permanent over same period.
9. Mark Case 55% permanent/year, same period.
10. Catherine Day Phillips, somebody you might want to use, 35% permanent over same period.
11.Reade Baker, same period, 65% permanent injury rate.
12. Kiaran McGlaughlin 55% permanent, same period.
These stats are taken off these trainers own websites. Anybody wanting further substanting may email me at fb0252@yahoo.com.
January 27th, 2010 at 3:44 am
Sheryl, maybe you can help. I’ve taken an interest in two older mares of Gill’s, January Rain and Croesus, neither of whom have been seen on the track in months. How are they? Is either of them available for adoption? How about Pop Goes The Tiger, who’s not run so well lately? There are a number of us who have concerns about horses who have seemingly disappeared, might you be willing to help us learn where they are? Thank you.
January 27th, 2010 at 3:55 am
Oh Sheryl, I forgot another of my favorites, Summer of Summers, Summer Bird’s older half-brother. He ran terribly in his last race, how is he? Thank you.
January 27th, 2010 at 6:12 am
Rapidman, this is on topic as Gill himself addresses this question right here on this page. Gill wants to know what he’s done so wrong and then goes on to say that he’s given them good homes. I, along with quite a few others, would like to know what homes he’s talking about. The Gill discussion centers around him being uncaring towards horses, i thought that if he would just show some proof that his ex racehorses DO have good homes, than he can gain back some credibility. His character is being called into question, my suggestion is that he produce some happy retired racehorses so we can see that not all is bad about Mike Gill.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:52 am
Great job with your research Myectomy! I am a wife of a jockey and have seen and been around Michael Gill since 1995. I tried to give him a chance but that day has long since passed. My husband told me what was going on Sturday and I immediatley looked in the charts and it made no mention of the horse falling after the wire. I cannot tell you how proud I am of the jockeys for doing this after seeing so many racing juristrictions struggle to find a legal way to get rid of Gill. I have seen so many beautiful successful horeses be claimed and abused by this man, horses that had the heart of many horsemen. So many people would love to see him bared. Not becuase he is different or flush with money or winning races as he says, it is sick what he does. Sure they are not catching him with positives anymore, but the “NEW THING” is the shock wave treatment (I don’t know the science of it) that numbs the horse for approx 45 min that is administered before the horse goes to run. How do I know this? My husband was hospitalized after a spill attributed to this. And as with any group of people, one bad guy gives everyone a bad name. This is a rare and unfortunate occurance. Great job riders in standing up for yourself, it took guts as we know, in the past actions like this have been met with expulsion for riders. These riders and horses need protection, plain and simple.
January 27th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Ive read over 320 comments.none have mentioned the bettor,the ones that actually keep this game alive,Has a handicapper when i see a Gill horse claimed for 5000 then running back for 5000 off a huge race i question its soundness,fact is, most Gill horses put up a red flag in the spots they are in,I can understand why trainers that lose their horses to Gill are so upset because they care for the animal and dont want to see it dissapear,which often it does agents’s should not accept mounts from Gill’s people period,Seems everytime i watch Penn racing i see a Gill horse break down and all jockeys are at risk of a chain reaction,As an avid race fan and owner I have no respect for anyone associated with Gill in anyway.When i pick up a racing form and see Gill as the owner, i quickly look to see which revolving muppet is named as trainer,it seems it really doesnt matter whos name is on the form,the result is usually the same a possible pull up,break down or win is expected,We need rid of people in this industry that dont put the horses welfare first!Note to Starting small,i know you put the animal first and formost before anything,that put’s you way above alot of people in this business.
January 27th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Re: #129 - I watched the replay of some of those races, trust me, they broke down. How about going and watching the LION’S PRIDE race and then come back here and tell me that horse didn’t break down. Some people are clueless.
January 27th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
stillriledup, unfortunately, by and large, “good homes” are unavailabe to OTBs. that is the unfortunate problem. personally, i’d prefer many of them dead to what they go through after they leave the track and are given to a “good home”.
January 27th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Although I can not comment about the racing industry nor the current issue at Penn National, I can say that I have personally given good homes to horses from Gill’s Elk Creek Ranch. They were given to me for $1 and all of the guys (Tony, Cole, the assistants) were trying hard to ensure that each of the horses available found a good home. Why would they work so earnestly to find them good homes if they were only making a buck? Because they honestly cared about the future of the horses. The horses I have are now in various stages of dressage and/or jumping training, staying sound, and are happy. And I wouldn’t hesitate to look at other horses from Elk Creek again.
January 27th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
To Sheryl Adamo,
You mentioned in your post (#96) that White Buck was sent to a retirement farm in Florida. Could you please email me the contact information for the folks who have White Buck?
I have a personal connection to this horse as he spent some lay-up time here on my farm in IL several years ago. I would just like to know that he is safe. My email address is glv190@aol.com.
Thank you.
Gail Vacca
January 27th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
I appreciate your concern. The papers went with the horse.I just tried to email but an account is not set up on this borrowed computer. Our kids broke our home computer. If you want to find him just look up his breeder.
January 27th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
An update on a horse mentioned in post #134: IGOR.
Igor (by Stravinsky) ran one more time for Gill after 8/29, and was eased again: 10/29, PEN 8, for Adamo.
I found a listing for Igor on CANTER PA on 11/15/09. The contact was a trainer who hadn’t worked for Gill since March, but was the trainer from whom Igor was claimed in July 2009. The listed price: “$500 with special considerations to a great home.” On 12/7, when I checked the list again, Igor was listed as sold.
I also want to note that on 3/4/09, a 5yo gelding named Joe On the Go, owned by Gill, collapsed on the track after finishing 4th in LRL 3. I haven’t been able to get a trace on him since.
A list is posted on the thoroughbredchampions forum of some 80 Gill MIA horses: horses that haven’t run for him since July 2009 (at the latest) and have no record of running anywhere else in the US/CAN (as per EQB Horse Search) through 1/25/10. It can be found on the “Whatever Happened To” board of the TBC forum.
If you have time, please take a look at it, and if you have any info about one of the horses named, please post or PM the original poster. As information is obtained, and if permission is given to publish at least the basics, the list is updated. And will be supplemented soon with Gill horses who haven’t raced since September.
January 27th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Sheryl Adamo,
Is there any chance you could check out the link provided by Pisces and give us some more updates other than just one horse. It would be greatly appreciated, but I’m not going to die while I hold my breath. Every time you go to the grocery store, you are buying your food with blood money.
January 27th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
#136
If horses, including multiple graded stakes winners and six-figure earners, some that have earned well over $500K, were properly protected by the very industry which breed them then carry it on their backs and legs, against flagrant exploitation and abuse by licensed scumbags that drop injured stakes winners not wanted for breeding into claiming races, those that claim them then run them eventually into the ground on chemicals and the assorted layers of co-conspirators and profiteers that let it all happen under their well wined, dined and remunerated watch, racing wouldn’t be as dangerous and painful to horses, it would cost much less to rehab retired horses, and more would have some hope to be adopted and enjoy a second career.
The industry needs to ban lame and spent horses from training and racing loaded with “therapeutic” and “FDA approved” drugs. It needs to ban the numbing and pumping of horses with chemicals, it needs to ban all claiming races for $10K and under especially on drugs.
Racing needs to scum-proof itself.
Uniform rules need to be created and enforced across all 38 racing jurisdictions by a central authority to properly engineer, run and police horse racing and offer excellent protection of horses and riders. Otherwise too many horses that are “lucky” enough to be retired or rescued instead of being sent to slaughter, will be life-long cripples for the most without a though, monetary donation or pension offered by those who profited from them.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Joe…you are misinformed about claimers being the only ones getting the chemicals.
Ask Bob Baffert if he had to tap War Emblem to get him through the Triple Crown races.
Those horses in the Derby have the same DRUGS as the condition $4k claimers running at Penn tonight.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Sheryl, Dont know if ive seen a modern computer that does not have email capability. Furthermore your husband runs a large business with a boss that is many miles away. Are you meaning to tell us that he has no means by which to send a message to a concerned horse lover? At the risk of stating the obvious this sounds beyond suspicious. It may be best if you remain silent to requests in the future as the pressure is mounting and the empire is crumbling. These horrific stories will come out-I guarantee it. Ignorance may be the only true defense
January 27th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
You can’t blame the vet’s its the trainer that knows when their horse is ”ON THE BOB’ especially Adamo! in fact thats his line,so there is no claiming ignorance in this mess,Gill Racing Team should stand up take it like men and depart.
January 27th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
my experience with the gill/adamo circus was on october 31,2009 after the 4th race at philadelphia park. while in the receiving barn the horse Master of Disaster had just come back from his race and he started to “tie up and cramp” in his rear end while the groom was cooling him out.
instead of calling the trainer (adamo) or a veternarian and stop walking the horse, the groom tried to force the horse to walk and ultimately Master of Disater fell on the pavement outside of the barn.
while everyone was trying to communicate to the groom to call a vet, the trainer, etc. the groom proceeded to try and drag the horse on the pavement to get him on his feet , scraping his front and back legs to the point of blood before the horse finally got his bearings to get up.
as disturbing as this sight was, more disturbing was the two grooms who did not understand english or have the experience of what to do when a horse “ties up” were laughing at the whole ordeal. finally a vet arrived and administered some meds to comfort the horse.
this is a brief summary and i left out some other details but the bottom line and questions i have are:
1. when you are the leading owner in the country, dont you hire qualified people to care for your investments because these two so called grooms had no clue what was going on with the horse and adamo was nowhere to be found.
2. if you are going to hire grooms that are not qualified to be grooms wouldn`t you think you would make sure they knew how to speak english and be able to contact the trainer or a vet.
January 27th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Don…I’m perplexed that such a stellar organization would let this happen. Maybe if Cole Norman wasn’t a convicted Felon, he could make the trips to help the hores out. Although, he’s more important to keep on the farm to instruct which joints to tap repeatedly. It takes a long time to figure out what needs tapped on 120 head of horses.
January 27th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
if your looking for confrontation look elsewhere you call yourself a horseman call kentucky and ask them who the breeder is
January 27th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
This is my first email response ever. I am the owner of these horses not the trainer. Every one of my trainers has strict instructions that if a horse is sore, you don’t run that horse and there is not a trainer that has worked for me that will dispute that by name. I give away more horses than anyone in this industry and I have a bill of sale for one dollar for each and everyone. Many of these horses are still running but not for me.
None of my horses have tested positive for anything. So when you see the comments on these blogs they are coming from trainers like Mr. Guilforte that won’t tell you that I claim a bunch of his horses and he cries each and every time and I mean big tears, Maggie Moss who has horses running in Penn now an has Stephanie Beatie to claim horses, and the other bloggers? Jockeys I don’t use. So when you win $3 million dollars out of a little track in Western Pennsylvania their motives are pretty clear. The other group of bloggers hates horse racing all together, and jump on every opportunity to give me a black eye. Every one of these horses were bread to race, otherwise they would not be here and trust me they do not come cheap.
I want all you bloggers to pay attention because class is in session: Gillforte, Maggie Moss, Mr Clifton, Ray Paulick, pay particular attention. Have you all heard of liable? And antitrust? If you think I am kidding about suing you, you haven’t been paying attention. I have never made a threat and not followed through. I have a case in the Supreme Court right now. I am going to have horse racing as my business, and my hobby will be punishing each and every one of you pinheads, so happy blogging you have my attention.
January 27th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
DressagePrincess - That’s some funny stuff. Have you ever written any fiction ??
January 27th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
hey mike ,
i dare you to try and discount my allegations of what happened in the receiving barn at philly park to the horse Master of Disaster after his race on october 31, 2009. you will lose that one my friend
January 27th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Mr. Gill, sometimes it’s better to quit digging and just shut up.
January 27th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Sue! Sue! Sue! Yawn!! Maybe someone needs to send a hit squad up there.
January 27th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
I cant even bring myself to read the rest of the crap spewing from Gills mouth! Egods, the man is either stupid or darn right arrogant. Mr Gill, I have a question for you. I WOULD LIKE THE NAMES OF ALL THE HORSES THAT YOU SOLD FOR $1 DURING THE LAST 30 DAYS?? You think you are doing a good thing by selling a horse for a $1?? Did you place them with a reputable thoroughbred retirement organization as you intimated? If so,. name them?I am many of your horses are long gone to slaughter by now.
Kudoes to the jocks at Penn and Maggie Moss. Yes Gill we do want you put out of business, and will do all we can to make that happen!! You are a disgrace to the sport!
January 27th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Have we ever heard of “liable” Mr. Gill? As in you are liable to be a very delusional man?
Seriously, where DO you think those $1 horses ended up?
You are a blight on humanity, not just a black eye for the sport of horse racing.
January 27th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
HEY MIKE! IT’S SPELLED LIBEL!!!! And just what kind of Antitrust suit would you have against some internet bloggers?
January 27th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Wow. “Every one of these horses were bread to race…” Can’t expect someone to be able to competently or humanely manage a stable full of horses if he clearly is uneducated.
January 27th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
mikey,
this jockey situation sounds all to similar to what happened at suffolk in 2008, isnt it true that all the quality riders there did not want to ride your horses and you got fed up and pulled your 60 plus horses off the backstretch leaving two of your past employees high and dry, Tommy Creel (current racing secretary) and Sam Elliot (current vice president of racing). the only difference was that the riders at suffolk did it informally
January 27th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Layne how many names are you using here? I am counting at least 6. (How many did gill claim off of you?) And equine avenger why don’t you just say Tom? (weren’t you fired from there?) The rest of the planet needs to realize that there are some upset (and extremely jealous) horsemen who have had horses claimed by gill and some disgruntled ex-employees other than that there might be 10 other people posting here. Their agenda is personal and has nothing to do with the horses, don’t be fooled.
January 27th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Gill doesnt know the diff between bred and bread?and hes a big wig broker?
January 27th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Lying Gil4te - I’m neither from above. I beat Gill more than he beat me last year. He never claimed from me, I never claimed from him. I’m just angry because I’ve witnessed this carnage for over a year now at Penn. I’ve seen Darrell Delahoussaye laugh when someone asked him how a jockey was that went down on one of his horses as he said “It’s a pinhead jockey, how do I know.” And as Moss pointed out, I’ve seen many of Gill’s breakdowns run on 3 legs for over a furlong.
Back to the facts, Lying Gil4te, could you explain the reason - other than freezing tracks, it’s been pretty mild here other than a 3 week period around Christmas - why has the breakdown rate climbed substantially in the last six months? When did Cole Norman begin his employ at Elk Creek?
We’ll all debate you Gill supporters as long as we go FACT for FACT. You have a lot more explaining to do that all the bloggers on this site.
Also, why don’t you start with Don’s experience at Philadelphia Park? Can you explain why you didn’t have competent help to take care of Master or Disaster?
January 27th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
#159, you’re delusional if you think only “ten other people” other than those “jealous” have a gripe with Gill. Don’t you read any of the fan boards? They’re exploding.
January 27th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
How’s Master of Disaster now? Can’t recall if he’s still with Gill, but I imagine he is. Probably “retired”.
January 27th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
Fact for Fact, that would be nice, all I read so far here is accusations. When facts are printed then lets talk about them. Fact: Layne has a personal vendetta against gill. Ok now give me a fact to go with that.
January 27th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
I’m just glad that Mr. Gill came forward and announced he doesn’t run sore horses. Mr. Darrell Delahoussaye must have the worst luck in the game then given his breakdown rate in 2009.
I’m driving out to Elk Creek Ranch tomorrow to see available horses for retirement. I can do this, right, since Gill said anyone can come to view his stable, right? Sheryl, what time should I arrive?
Thanks
January 27th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
“I’m driving out to Elk Creek Ranch tomorrow to see available horses for retirement.”
Yikes! I guess they better hurry and clean that place up. It looks like the ghetto.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Listen, I am trying hard to give the truely concerned horseman some reassurance of the welfare of the horses but all i am really accopplishing is providing more ammunition for the people with their own personal agendas. Some of these horses were before we came to farm. I always said i will only comment on what I know. Myectomy-you have given me a really hard time so here’s my glory.You are so welcome to the farm but understand that means that you have to give up your identity on this site.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Does anyone claim their horses back from Gill?
January 27th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
ms. adamo,
i have no personal agenda, i race in new england where the “gill “operation has a minor influence, i am just providing what i had viewed in the receiving barn that given day at philly park which had turrned my stomach.
to have such non qualified people caring for horses is a disgrace to the sport and i just sit here and laugh to myself how “team gill” tries to explain how ethical and consciencous they are with their horses
January 27th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
I think people need to look at the real issues here, and maybe not all of u people would understand them if you have not spent anytime at this so called racetrack… i have been here for six weeks and i am completely disgusted and can not wait to get out of here. the real issue has to be dealt with, everyone wants to blame a group of people for what is happening here, and believe me i am completely appualed with what i have seen in the past few weeks to the point that i had to leave the races cause i was sick of seeing horses twig legs off and riders leaving the track in ambulances, it seemed to happen every night!!!! STOP blaming just this group of people!!!! How can a track like this not have commission veternarians checking each and every horse that runs on that nights card?? i am in a barn of fifty horses and have not seen one vet pre race check any of our horses?? this is a complete joke, this track offers huge money for bad horses and of course there going to be sore ( all of them ) because this is a bottom of the barrel racetrack and always will be until they start to run it like a real racetrack… The racing commission are the ones putting the riders at risk because they do not have a licenced vet checking these horses before the races?!?! I have personally watched horses in post parade that were on the nod and far from sound, so you tell me were is the vet that should be watching these horses warm up before post time, so he/she can scratch these unsafe horses from running..
Also i would like to kno how darrel has not gotten a positive for dmso?? i would believe the withdrawl period would be 36 hrs here(dont quote me) i have smelled his horse from a 1/4 mile away and i will bet my life that a dmso jug was administered that morning of the race, so why if these horses went to the test barn was there not a red flag raised and a test done on those horses?? of course not, take action on it after the fact, like the racetrack did, i will bet this went on all year round but was only addressed when horses started to break down, right?!?! dont get me wrong , i kno this is not the reason for the break downs but its just showing that the rul;es are not enforced here, nothing is until stuff like this happens, then the finger pointing starts… how bout this !!!! there are injectable dispense containers right in the barns!! ever heard of this in the real world of racing??? this just makes it easier for anyone to treat a horse with injectable drugs then dispose of the needles lol this is insane, what is also completely ridiculous is that there is not one veternarian on the track property during tthe races??? What happens if u have an emergency or want to treat a horse that come out of the race sore, i guess you just do it urself, we got the dispensory tubs provided by who knows who( the vets or the track) I watched a horse in the paddock flip and smash his head on the groud causing him to bleed out his nose like it was a faucet running, probably life threatning and had the possibilty of having to be put down , a vet was not on the grounds of course and took 30 minutes to get there as the bettors watch him bleed out.
There are so many issues at this track that it would take me a week to write but the point of the matter is if the rules of racing were inforced properly, the proper testing done,pre race vet checks to all horses running then thiss would not be an issue right now.. your solution is to take a guy out of the business that puts a lot of money into the business and claims a lot of horses that we are so happy to lose cause they dont have many races left in them which in return lets us re invest, im sick of hearing all this bullshit of people crying about one outfit, how about all the big trainers that are constantly getting caught using illegal drugs to make horses sound or perform at a higher level, how come no one wants to run them out of the business, how about all the horses that have broke down during the breeders cup races? anyone ever do a study on that? there is always trainers and owners pushing the limits and trying to get away with anything they possible can until they get caught, so stop trying to centre one person out, cause most in this business do what it takes to win wiithin the rules and sometimes outside the rules, i will gaurantee every trainer at penn has bute administered inside 24 hrs so all you are doing illegal shit too!!!.. you people need to look at the real issue, this track is run like a bush track and nothing seems to be enforced properly… I am not supporting what has happened nor do i like it, but were pointing the fingers in one direction instead of many directions… and as for tony which i kno personally for many years, i dont recall him ever not having success in this business and usually bats 20% or higher on win average… the 3 for 100 was when gill was going out of business and what is that 3 weeks of running for him lol Tony is a friend of mine and from my stand point a very knowledgable trainer and would never intentionally put anyones live in danger, and its pretty sickening that anyone that knows him would ever accuse him of that… This is a cut throat business and people will do anything to people out of jealousy or hate i guess, what can u do?? Dont believe everything u here i guess… I am in no way a mike gill supporter but you need to have idiots like him claiming horses and investing on a daily basis, you just need to enforce the rules of racing and do the proper testing and pre race inspections!!! u think there blocking horses, then go to the barn and test everyone of them, dont be so lazy and dont ruin this business because of neglect!!! I hope that the real issue gets dealt with at penn national and they do the right things , so we can all move on and keep the horses safe and the riders safe, and the business safe from disaster because of issues like this and totally bad press
January 27th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
I worked for Gill years ago and the line about shock-wave is a blatant lie! He did it then so why not now? And I hope the take a hard look at the racing secretary at Penn because there are rumors flying that he is taking money to make Gills races go! Offing races with 15 or so horses but nun of them Gills and races with 7 or so runner and they have Gill horses!? Sounds and looks fishy to me. And I think the racing secretary was kicked out of one or two other track for doing the same thing. So we cant blame Gill for it all! There are a bunch of people just a much to blam as he is!
January 27th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
The story above of the inhumane treatment of Master of Disater is breaking my heart. Panic and ignorance and nervous hilarity from people who don’t know the first thing about horses is giving me a nightmare.
Most of what I know about the backside is from havingI worked for Gene Weymouth who is both an owner and trainer. He got his infamous moniker, crazy Gene, because of how crazy he got when people kept claiming off of him. Evidently, Gene was so mad at a trainer who was claiming his horses at Delaware Park that he climbed up into a tree and jumped down on him (this was before my time….boy those purses were low before slots). I came to work for him over a summer in 1979 and ended up staying for several years. I worked with so many great horses that would win and win and win but not one ever got seriously hurt. Ever.
Gene’s a duPont so he never needed to make money. But he worked along side of his grooms every day and took his horses to the races himself. I learned his way of doing things and could never work for anyone who wouldn’t care for the animals like Gene.
He loves his horses dearly (the stable hands, not so much, but that’s another story). It is a noble sport and a joy to work it, being asked to give so much love every day to these beautiful creatures who give that love right back to you in spades. How can someone like Gill be allowed to run an outfit that encourages trainers to take shortcuts and create pain and misery by the barnful?
Thank god for the jockey colony for taking a stand. God loves his creatures and abhors this suffering. Mr. Gill, do you know god?
January 27th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
Shock wave therapy is used for soft tissue!!!!!!!! so how is this an issue???? are u trying to say they aree blocking joints with this equipement???? cause u r wrong, know the facts before u make dumb ass comments!!!! How many big time famous trainers have been caught using medications that have blocking effects on there horses, then transfer the horses into there assistants name for six months then carry on… Todd Pletcher, Steve Assmussen to just name two major trainers… has anyone tried to boycott them??
January 27th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Shortcuts yes… Gill trainers recieve cash envelopes for invisible grooms and excersise riders on the payroll. Outcome of this is horses dont get out to gallop or taken care of properly, which could also be play a roll on what happens to some of these poor beasts on race day. One cannot blame this part on Gill, but on the trainers he employs. The entire operation is a nightmare from start to finish.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
This whole track is a joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! money will get u whatever u want here, and yes people are on the take here, that is FACT!!!! Plain and simple, enforce the rules of racing properly aand this will not happen, if an outfit is suspect for using illegal drugs then investigate them, its very simple… everyone turns a blind eye on what really goes on at this track.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
C. SILVER… you make some really good points but they are out weighed by your stupid comments. First off we are controllers of our own destiny… if you can’t wait to get out of Penn National, the last time I went through the stable gate to leave I didn’t have to show my ID badge for the gate to open so i am sure you wouldn’t either. Don’t let the dust choke ya. As far as Vets on race nights… Are you insane, have you started a horse and have you won a race… If you answered yes to either you would know that there are 2 Vets there all night, one in the test barn and the other in the paddock / starting gate. I do however agree with your DMSO jug comment, this has happened with many horses and i can all but say i know of Gill horse that had one first hand… Its not about Gill winning and claiming, all of this is part of the business… What bothers everyone are the breakdowns and unsafe mounts for all the riders.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
jockey3 im calling you out on shenanigans, you are full of it. When were you fired? Sorry about your luck? Anyone here that knows the operation and have not had a horse claimed off of them or been fired, please speak up? Horseofcourse is that gills fault or again the trainer?????? proof again
January 27th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I would like tony to come on here and proclaim that GEEFOUR was sound for his last 3. Races. He won’t because i will desrtroy him with the concrete info i have on that horse. Penn is run like a bush track and everyone in racing pushes the limits, but there is a big difference between giving bute at 20 hours and blocking horses at 11am.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
myectomy
again we are talking about one horse and you do make a good point about bute and blocking but you should put something in writing to the track about how they run things im guessing you are a trainer and would not do that cause of the re course to you i could be wrong but i dont thing so
January 27th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Don and Meds
After running for $12,500 at PHA on 10/31/09 and tieing up after the race , Master of Disaster returned to racing at Penn on 12/03/09 for $4,000 nw 1 in 6 months and DID NOT FINISH THE RACE. He must have gotten great care between the races and was really ready to run on 12/03. I guess this is the way the leading owner in the country treats a horse that he claimed for $25,000 on 4/13/09. A horse that, prior to being claimed by Gill, competed successfully in several stake races!
January 27th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
yes, ur talking about state vets, where are your personal vets at??? are they not required to be at the track during racing?? should i just call up to the test barn , and see if they are allowed to treat one that is cooling out on the gimp?? or should i just whack them myself with the needle?? or should the owner have to pay a huge charge for the vet to get off his couch to come treat the horse??
January 27th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
jockey3 talks about how certain races go at Penn for Gill and others with more entrants do not. I do not know about that but let us just say that a certain agent that has a very close relationship with people in the racing department was the one that really managed where and when Gill horses would run and could ‘find’ races for his horse and his jocks of course. It is not just a Gill issue. Penn National needs to completely clean house from top to bottom. It is a crime that the PA racing board lets Penn have a slots/racing license.
January 27th, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Starting small, my point is what you are complaining about gill, is exactly what your owner does, just on a different level because your owner has more money. He is the next step up?? Have you or melnyk ever contacted gill or adamo and said hey you claimed him fair and square, but when he is done and needs a home, I will help out, our you can send them to us, because we are so rich. Or have you even gone far enough to offer a number for a rescue. I ask of you, what have you done to protect the welfare of these horses?? you admit that you brought them there to loose them with your fancy trickery. And your owner did it for gain? Seems just like what gill did but one step up. Look in the mirror?? Are you better than you make out gill to be? And if you are so good at what you do, then why has mr. melnyk chosen another trainer at penn and not you? maybe the other trainer is a double agent also.
January 27th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Mr. Ed, I believe I was quite clear when I made my last post. I have never been employed by Gill or had a horse claimed from me by him. I’ve seen the operation up close and personal however. Although I did have an owner (against our judgement) that claimed a trainwreck from Gill, we might have had the option to return the horse with proof that was attainable that the horse was trashed prior to the race. We opted to keep the horse, operate and give him the retirement he deserved.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:05 am
Regarding the vets at Penn National. Aside from Dr. Pack, I would feel more comfortable with a 1st year vet student from Ohio State University than the vets they have watching the post parades at Penn National . It’s utterly embarrassing to see the sore horses they let run at that track and I’m not just referring to the ones whose pilots are wearing blue and white silks. And Dr. Pack pretty much has a “let ‘em run” attitude anyway. I’ve heard him comment about it in the spit box. He feels the older horses take care of themselves. Guess that is not the case for Melodeeman or Skiptomyloumydarlin. Pack has to wake up and change his stance on that.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:14 am
Lifelong PA Trainer, don’t worry. The Racing Commission is about to get dealt a serious blow in the coming weeks. They are going to be getting some real serious heat from the top for sitting on their a$$ regarding the Gill breakdowns and the shenanigans at Penn. Their approach to this was no different - “we’ll let Penn Gaming handle it.” Really? We’ll golly, don’t we all feel better that it’s in the hands of the company whose only agenda right now is to secure a slots license at Aqueduct so they can promote Rob Marella to run that ship into the ground. By the way, someone told me that Penn National hasn’t updated their General Information section of their site for FOUR YEARS !!!!! Is that possible? Check for yourself. copy and paste the link below
http://www.pennnational.com/welcome.shtml
How embarrassing this must be for Christopher McErlean and Rob Marella.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:38 am
Dear Mr. Gill, Thank you for posting your first response ever. It’s great hearing your side of the story. It will be even better when you back up your statements with proof. It’s great to hear how wonderful you are for racing after, for years and years, hearing how bad you are ever since you started making those ridiculous claims at Rockingham Park several years ago thru your trainer, Carlos Figueroa. It’s amazing, that after all these years in the business, you still make ridiculously bad claims. I hope you keep posting. Maybe you’ll answer some nagging questions. If your operation is so well run, you should have good records of each and every claim you have made. We would love to see where those horses end up especially the ones you claimed in the past year and a half for $20,000 or more and ended up DNFs for $4,000. I’m sure you found them good homes.
Owners and trainers are not concerned that you are claiming their horses because that is part of the game, however, we are concerned for the horse, and what happens to it, in your care and what happens to it when it is no longer useful to you. Hope to hear more from you soon.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:48 am
KLH, no comment. Maybe you should ask the jockey agent to the stars. They probably know the answer to your question.
January 28th, 2010 at 1:01 am
In defense of Mr. Gill, you have to understand where he comes from: Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park, where horses were able to be treated with unlimited Bute, so running cripples was the norm. Soaking their feet in white gas, and doing whatever it takes to win, however unconventional was a daily happening. Sending horses to the killers was a means to an end in those days and most racetrackers looked the other way. Mr. Gill was a “trainer” at one point, hard to believe that he never comes out to watch his horses train, although because of his background I dont believe he would know a sore one from a sound one. In the old days many trainers got away with these practices, but in this day and age of the internet, the fans and the people that truly care about these horses are not willing to let this bad behavior fly. The people that love these animals not just as commodities, but as the noble animals that they are speaking up, and you Mr. Gill should take heed.
January 28th, 2010 at 2:16 am
Someone commented earlier that shockwave therapy was for “soft tissue only” and questioned how that would help mask pain in a way that would lead to more breakdowns.
The current research points to the pain-relieving affects of shockwave therapy. It’s not just used to improve tissue healing anymore. I direct you to these articles:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=4885
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2140&S=0&SourceID=69
January 28th, 2010 at 4:31 am
horseofcourse,
before you start railing on suffolk downs and rockingham park first get your facts straight. rockingham park has not raced tbreds since 2002 and yes did not test for bute levels when they were in operation, however i currently race at suffolk downs( most of the time) and the way we can pre-race medicate a horse is tougher than running in pennsylvania (i also run there) . Massachusetts does test for bute levels , so you are wrong.
i think the problem here is more the concern of the alleged blocking and shocking the horses pre race, so get your facts straight.
January 28th, 2010 at 9:01 am
WHITE BUCK (Thats Our Buck), now-10yo gr/ro gelding, claimed 11/15/08, PHA 9, $7.5K. Last raced - 9/1/09, MNR 7, 1m70y Cl5000; 1st, $5,760/AA. Owner: Michael Gill - Trainer: Anthony Adamo
Record: 94-14-12-20, $417,859; 2009: 8-2-1-2, $19,424.
Won the Sam Davis at TBD in 2003; placed in the El Cajon (DMR) and Bien Bien (HOL) in 2003 and the Eight Thirty S (DEL) in 2004.
In following up my search for news about the fate of White Buck…
I bring sad news with regard to the fate of White Buck. Buck is dead.
I spoke with his breeder at great length yesterday and she was very gracious in answering all of my questions. The story goes as follows…White Buck’s breeders had been concerned for his well being for quite sometime as he advanced in age and steadily went down the claiming ranks. They had made calls to Mike Gill to let him know that when Buck needed to be retired, they would like to bring him home to give him the proper retirement that he deserved. At some point (many weeks) after his last race, someone from Gill’s team contacted the breeder to let them know that the horse was theirs if they wanted him. The breeder made arrangements for transport and arrangements in Florida at the farm of one of Buck’s early caretakers for a place for him to go. At the time, the breeder did not have an empty stall for Buck, so the deal was made for Buck to stay with others who loved and cared for him during his youth.
The breeder was on hand as Buck was unloaded from the van and she described him as being “dead lame.” She stated that Buck otherwise appeared to be in good flesh. The day after Buck arrived in FL his caretakers noticed he wasnt feeling well and promptly called a vet. The vet determined that Buck had pleurisy and a collapsed lung so aggressive treatment was commenced. A couple of days into treatment Buck was taken outside to graze with the hope that this would perk him up and that getting his head down to graze would aid in his recovery. The breeder told me that Buck took about two bites of grass and “dropped dead” right where he stood grazing.
As you can well imagine, Buck’s breeders and caretakers are devastated by the tragic death of their horse, as am I. I had so hoped for a happy ending for Buck.
The breeder figured that Buck’s respiratory troubles were a result of the transport to Florida, but I dont know that I buy that. For Buck to have been so gravely ill only hours after arriving in FL, I have to question whether or not he was already sick when he was loaded in PA. Given the fact that the horse was so lame, one would have to question whether the stress of his injuries might have further compromised his physical condition.
My heart breaks for Buck’s breeders. They are terrific people who do their absolute best to take responsibility for the horses they breed and to try to prevent their horses from abuse, neglect, and slaughter. Buck’s mother was born on their farm and was laid to rest last May at the age of 30. Buck’s grandmother also born on their farm was laid to rest there as well at the age of 26. These are folks who genuinely care for every single horse they breed or own.
The Link’s are heartbroken to have finally succeeded in bringing Buck home only to lose him days later.
RIP White Buck. The humans that did this to you will one day be judged for their actions.
Gail
January 28th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Okay Don. I knew I’d catch some for my comment…I was there in the 80’s, saw what went on and some of it was very bad. I’m not saying good horsement cant come out of N.E., there are some very fine examples, V. Blengs, N. Allard, S. Klesaris, etc. Gill learned his tricks of the trade up there, and no matter which way you sugar coat it, there were very, very sore horses running up there weekly when Gill was “learning” his craft. How could one possibly know how a good horseman runs his stable if one never worked for one? Gill simply isnt a horseman, never will be on, yet controls his trainers as if he knows what he’s doing.(the ones that can stomach working for him that is). His ethics here are in question, how he treats his stock, and how he disposes of them. Just saying that he has learned from his environment.
January 28th, 2010 at 9:59 am
horseofcourse,
i am not trying to sugar coat anything , there are bad horseman and there are sore horses at every race track . if you dont think the same thing wasnt going on in the 80`s in penn, ny, maryland, etc. etc. , you are just fooling yourself , if i remember correctly penn national used to be the dumping ground for the suffolk/rockingham bad horses back then when the purses and competition was better up here in new england. I KNOW THAT HAS CHANGED RIGHT NOW , but previously racing in the 80s-90`s was better up here ,that is a fact.
i am in total agreement with your assessment as far as gill learning his craft and gill not being a horseman and will never be one and his questionable ethics. when i am commenting on something , i like to make sure i have all the facts.
January 28th, 2010 at 10:24 am
Don, sorry, I cant agree with on your statements about NY and MD (as I was also in these states at that time)… horses were shipped up to NE to run from both of those states where they could be medicated to the hilt to hopefully get one or two more races out of them. If they couldnt cut it there, it was off to the fairs or questionable ends. I do agree that there are bad horsemen/sore horses everywhere, Gill and his trainers are not alone in that arena. The reason Gill is in the spotlight is due to his high number of breakdowns and questionable dispersal of his stock. West Virginia and Penn were in a league of their own, and as I remember, usually if a horse couldnt make money in NE, it was hardly worth the shipping fee to send them south.
January 28th, 2010 at 11:02 am
horseofcourse,
i am not going to get into a pissing contest with you but when horses cant cut it at one venue they are usually shipped to another venue due to the weaker competition not medication rules , unless you are talking about a bad bleeder , where there are some venues where they allow you to use more meds to help that. it is the natural progression of the sport , the best pop is the drop.
if you have been around as long as you say ,you should surely remember when the quality of racing was better in new england 80`s-90`s and when a horse could not compete up here owners/trainers would ship them to penn, charles town to compete at a lower level. if i am correct it only used to cost $200-$300 to ship a horse back then which wouldnt set you back too much if you weren`t a gyp. how i know this because i had done it many times back then so dont tell me it wasnt worth it.
lastly i understand why gill is in the spotlight you dont have to explain that to me.
January 28th, 2010 at 11:33 am
I am in no means going to get into any kind of contest here. I guess we remember things differently though. What I remember is horses shipping into NE to run from NY, not the other way around. Horses from MD usually went to CT (as they still do). Keystone horses went to Penn. Ocassionally there might have been a load going south but usually the buck stopped in NE if a horse couldnt compete at the bottom there.
January 28th, 2010 at 11:52 am
horseofcourse
my last post to you, whoever said horses shipped from NE to NY on the drop? i surely did not and that would be pure stupidity if someone did. i think you should read someones quotes carefully before you repond.
dont you remember when penn ran horses for 2500 when the bottom in NE was 3500 and 4000, i guess you forgot that ,so the so called bottom was at penn , not suff/rock. have a good day
January 28th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Yes i understand that shock wave THERAPY is used in the process to promote healing of bones and i seen with my own eyes a horse with slab fractures in both hind ankles that in my eyes was a right off, after shock wave therapy ( 3 times ) and the proper care( hand walking twice for 20 min a day) for three months this horses fractures healed, i was amazed and very impressed, shock wave therapy is great for a lot of things, but first i would like to kno how this group of people do this?? this is a very expensive piece of equipement and the only way they could do this at the track would be if the vet did it for them, and if they are doing it the day of the race then the vets should lose there licence, if the trainers have there own machine at the track and are doing it themselves, how do they not get caught? this machine is very loud and gets the horses wound up when using it, just seems like a lot of accusations to me, i want to see proof instead of accusations..
January 28th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
we need you to expain the breakdowns that michael gill has had the last 6 months. please post on the pace advantage board if you could.
January 28th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Mr. Ed
I was never fired! I worked for him at Delaware Park and at the end of the meet I started my riding career so dont think that I have a “I hate Gill cuz he fired me” thing going on here. I have never been fired from a job on the back side. I’m a damn good ex. rider and love my job and “my” horses.
Life Long Pa Trainer
I know just who you are talking about and you are sooooo correct! I hope he gets his in all of this too!
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:02 am
Hello! Your post (Paulick Report » Blog Archive » GILL: ‘WHAT HAVE I DONE THAT’S SO WRONG?”) does so well that I would like to translate it into French, publish on my french blog and link to you. You have something against it? Regards