Posts Tagged ‘buggy whip’

Much has been written and said about the incident at the starting gate before the Breeders’ Cup Classic involving Quality Road, who was eventually scratched from the race after he refused to load. Alex Brown, an exercise rider for trainer Steve Asmussen, publisher of the Alex Brown Racing website, and a leader of the anti-slaughter movement, offers his opinion on the subject. – Ray Paulick

By Alex Brown
For animal rights activists this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic was not about the grace and brilliance of Zenyatta. It was about the “animal abuse” targeted at Quality Road by the gate crew, and the platform that abuse provides to support an anti-racing agenda.

I have read Internet articles, and have been forwarded e-mails targeted to news reporters, that include rhetoric that is deliberately inflammatory and without substance. Some of this discussion is posted here.

The rhetoric includes the idea that the gate crew is vindictive. What?  That the gate crew favored hometown Zenyatta at a cost to others.  Does this really deserve a response? I have read speculation that Quality Road was struck with a buggy whip after he was blindfolded. I would think that those who appear so excited about this opportunity to highlight our sport in such poor graces would at least confirm whether or not Quality Road was indeed struck with a buggy whip after being blindfolded. And finally I read in an e-mail about the number of horses that have died at the hands of gate crews. Really, how many?

The reality is that much of this rumor and speculation comes from people who know little about our horses and horse racing.  And their target audiences, who are similarly less knowledgable about our sport, are easily convinced.  If two people say it on the Internet, it must be true.

I have worked with many gate crews in North America, from Houston in Texas to Toronto in Ontario. Working for trainer Steve Asmussen, we bring each horse to the gate for schooling each week.  I see the gate crew work a lot.  The gate crew’s job is tough and not without risks. I have not always agreed with the decisions they have made with horses I am riding that are reluctant to load.  But their decisions are always made with their best intentions. Those working on gate crews do, for the most part, have a “machismo” type of attitude.  But they are putting themselves in risky situations on a frequent basis.

So I am a little aggrieved that the only thing animal rights people want us to remember about Zenyatta’s terrific performance is the near tragic circumstances that conspired before the race.  And these same animal rights people are on my team.  We are all arguing for the end of horse slaughter.  We believe it is inhumane and unnecessary. But if you are a horseman who should you believe? The pro-slaughter argument that horse slaughter is humane and is necessary or the anti-slaughter argument that it is inhumane and unnecessary. This latter argument is delivered by the same people who are willing to use speculation and inflamed rhetoric to damage our sport.

And for anyone interested in the reality of the Quality Road situation, here it is. Ugly, yes.  But let’s stop the speculation and inflamed rhetoric and if there is something to learn from this situation then let’s learn.  And let’s hope we see Quality Road back at the races to show us how brilliant he too can be.

Finally, thanks are due to the guy on the gate crew who managed to catch hold of Quality Road as he came out of the gate, blindfolded.  Without his quick thinking I shudder to think what might have happened.