Posts Tagged ‘Gary Stevens’
Monday, January 4th, 2010
By Ray Paulick
What do jockey Martin Pedroza and quarterback Brett Favre have in common? Critics in horse racing and the National Football League say they both did a little favor to help a couple of friends set records in their respective sports.
Favre was lambasted in 2002 when it appeared he “took a dive” late in the final game of the season between the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants, allowing defensive end Michael Strahan of the Giants to set an NFL record for the most sacks in a single season. The move took some of the shine off Strahan’s accomplishment, but the sack and the record are in the books.
Favre was ripped by, among others, Mike Freeman in the New York Times for “handing” Strahan the record as if he were “throwing change into a Salvation Army bucket.” Freeman said it was the “kind of mistake Favre may never live down.”
Pedroza helped Garrett Gomez win his fourth consecutive money title by reportedly telling Santa Anita Park stewards he was not feeling well and took off Cenizo, his mount in the final race of the year at the Southern California track. Gomez got the pick-up mount, won the race, and earned more than enough money to surpass Julien Leparoux, who had been well in front when he stopped riding in early December to visit family in France.
Earlier on Dec. 31, after Gomez’s first of two scheduled mounts of the day finished sixth (he won with his second mount), it looked as though Leparoux would win his first money title by a $194 margin. All Gomez needed to do aboard Cenizo was break from the gate, and the horse would have earned an appearance fee of $400, enough to pass Leparoux, but Cenizo won, giving Gomez year-end mount earnings of $18,571,171, compared to Leparoux’s $18,560,371.
Unlike Favre, who was widely criticized, Pedroza only had to put up with a snarky blog post from the Daily Racing Form’s Jay Privman on Jan. 1. Under the headline “PEDROZA MAKES MIRACULOUS RECOVERY,” Privman wrote, “Garrett Gomez won the national money title in the last race on Thursday when jockey Martin Pedroza fortuitously took off what turned out to be a winning mount. Yet Pedroza was back in action Friday, looking just fine.”
Privman or one of the Form’s other Southern California-based writers could have done some legitimate reporting on the circumstances and ethics of the issue, but apparently chose not to, despite the fact more than a few people are crying foul over how Gomez won the title.
Ron Anderson, the agent for Gomez, says it’s much ado about nothing. (UPDATE: The original version of this article, which read "much adieu about nothing," has been changed because my French pun did not go over well with readers.)
“This is certainly not the first time this kind of thing has happened, and it won’t be the last,” said Anderson, who steered Hall of Famers Gary Stevens and Jerry Bailey to multiple money titles during their careers. “At least four jockeys came into the room and offered to give up a mount so Garrett could get the title. We didn’t fix a race, and it’s not like they opened up the rail to let him win. So there’s a guy who offered to take off his horse, and he took off.”
Anderson wasn’t sure, but assumed Gomez would pay Pedroza his share of the $10,800 winner’s purse in the race in question.
“I talked to Mike Smith about how some people are upset over this, and Mike started laughing,” Anderson continued. “He said, ‘Do you know how many times we took off for Angel Cordero? I probably took off 10 horses in two days so he could win the Saratoga title.’”
Anderson said Hall of Famers like Angel Cordero Jr. and Pat Day would get pick-up mounts at night tracks on New Year’s Eve to go after a money title.
“Julien (Leparoux) and his agent the last two days of the year went around and tried to get on horses at Calder and couldn’t do it,” Anderson said (something the Paulick Report was unable to confirm). “I don’t get how some people don’t understand this. I don’t even know what to say to them. This has been done numerous times, and it’s been done numerous times with more manipulation than just one race.”
Anderson takes pride in the title, especially when comparing the number of mounts and wins by Gomez, Leparoux and third-place finisher Ramon Dominguez.
“Julien won almost forty more races than we did (247 by Leparoux from 1,284 mounts, compared with 210 of 967 for Gomez), and Ramon, who rides all year in New York—arguably our biggest circuit—he won 180 more races than Garrett (a total of 391 wins from 1,651 mounts). It looks like a misprint, but he’s still behind us in money.”
“I get out of bed 365 days a year to try and get leading rider,” said Anderson. “This is what motivates me.”
To win the title, a jockey needs a tireless, sharp agent, and plenty of live mounts in big races. And when all else fails, it doesn’t hurt to get a little help from your friends.
Copyright © 2010, The Paulick Report
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Tags: angel cordero jr., Brett Farve, Cenizo, daily racing form, garrett gomez, Gary Stevens, Green Bay Packers, Jay Privman, jerry bailey, julien leparoux, Martin Pedroza, Michael Strahan, Mike Freeman, mike smith, New York Giants, new york times, pat day, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, ron anderson, salvation army, santa anita park
Posted in Jockeys | 29 Comments »
Monday, December 21st, 2009
By Ray Paulick
“If I had a rifle, I’d have shot him out of the saddle.” That’s how the late Hall of Fame trainer Charlie Whittingham responded when asked about the ride he got from another Hall of Famer, Sandy Hawley, when the Canadian jockey went to the early lead aboard the late-running Kentucky Derby winner, Gato del Sol, in a turf marathon at Santa Anita Park in 1984. The Bald Eagle was only kidding…I think.
Times have changed in this more politically correct era. These days, trainers are more likely to go to the stewards and complain when a jockey fails to follow their instructions in a race. That’s what John Glenney did when he was unhappy with the ride Joel Rosario gave him aboard a colt that finished fourth in a Del Mar maiden turf race on Sept. 6. Glenney told Rosario to keep Cedros in the clear; the horse ended up on the rail down the stretch. Glenney’s anger over Rosario’s failure to follow his instructions were exacerbated when Rosario’s agent, Vic Stauffer, made a flippant remark to him over the phone the next morning about whether or not Cedros was for sale.
But what happened next is a good example of how convoluted our game can be. Instead of looking into the complaint, talking to all the principles involved, and dismissing the case before it made headlines, the California Horse Racing Board rushed to file a complaint against Rosario, unfairly tarnishing the reputation of one of the brightest lights in California racing, and in the process giving the sport an unnecessary black eye.
How the complaint against Rosario–for not putting forth his best effort and conduct detrimental to horse racing–reached the point of a public “trial” in front of the stewards is only one of the questions that begs an answer. Why did the lead investigator in this case not talk with Rosario before a formal complaint was filed? And if Rosario’s ride aboard Cedros was deemed “questionable” by CHRB steward Scott Cheney, as he was quoted as saying, why was the accused jockey not called in by the stewards to review the film of the race, something that is standard operating procedure?
I called the CHRB to try and get answers to those questions but was told by Mike Marten, the agency’s public information officer, neither the CHRB nor its investigators would not talk about the Rosario case or how the agency’s investigations in general are conducted.
Some might say “the system worked” because the complaint against Rosario was dismissed by the stewards after a hearing. However, that was not until the 24-year-old rising star from the Dominican Republic had his name dragged through the mud on one of the most serious charges a jockey can face in the eyes of the betting public and the trainers and owners for whom he rides.
‘DOES YOUR JOCKEY FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS?’
The saga began in August, according to Stauffer, when Glenney approached the agent at Del Mar and asked, “Does your jockey follow instructions?”
“Yes, he does, who are you?” answered Stauffer, who said Glenney then identified himself and said “I can’t find jockeys to follow instructions, and I need a jockey who will do what I say. I should be winning, and I’m not because the jockeys aren’t following instructions.’”
Stauffer said he went over the horses in Glenney’s barn with the trainer and wasn’t interested in riding any of them with the exception of Cedros. “I liked his race the day Aaron Gryder rode him,” Stauffer recalled, “but Glenney said Gryder rode the horse like an ‘idiot.’” Cedros had finished second, beaten a head at 25-1, under Gryder on Aug. 9.
Glenney agreed to ride Rosario on Cedros and the jockey worked him once before the Sept. 6 race, according to Stauffer.
Rosario, who had been leading rider at Hollywood Park during the spring-summer meeting and was about to lock up the Del Mar riding title, rode four winners on Sept. 6, including the $350,000 Del Mar Derby aboard Rendezvous for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Stauffer, who said he bet $250 to win on Cedros because he thought the nearly 9-2 odds were overly generous, approached the rider after Cedros finished fourth in what was the day’s final race.
“I greeted Joel on his way back to the jockeys’ room to congratulate him and he said he couldn’t manage the horse he just rode,” Stauffer recalled. “He said the horse had ability but had the wrong bit and that we had to tell the trainer to change his equipment. ‘If he doesn’t consider changing the equipment I won’t ride him again.’”
Cedros fought for the early lead on the outside from the nine post in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, setting quick fractions of :23.11 for the opening quarter mile and :46.62 for the half. Down the backside, two horses made a strong move past the dueling leaders, and Rosario let them go. He wound up on the rail at the top of the stretch—against Glenney’s wishes—and lost a photo finish for third. The winner came from dead last. Rosario raised the whip in his left hand in mid-stretch, but Cedros appeared to shy from it and drifted out, prompting Rosario not to strike the horse.
The next morning, while Stauffer was visiting trainer Hollendorfer and his assistant, Dan Ward, the subject of Cedros came up. Ward called a replay of the race up on his computer and, according to Stauffer, told Hollendorfer, “You ought to look at this. This is a nice horse.”
Hollendorfer, according to Stauffer, was not interested for two reasons: 1) he was heading to the Keeneland September yearling sale where he planned to be active as a buyer, and 2) he had a previous experience with Glenney and didn’t want to do any more business with him.
“Jerry said to Dan, ‘You like the horse, you call the guy,’” Stauffer said. “Dan said, ‘I’m not calling him, that guy’s crazy,’ then said, ‘Vic, you call him.’”
Stauffer said it’s his custom to follow up with trainers Rosario had ridden for and called Glenney from Hollendorfer’s tack room, putting the call on speaker phone. “I asked Glenney how he was doing and he says, ‘How am I doing? How do you think I am? Terrible. That was a horrible ride.’ Then he goes off for two or three minutes on a diatribe about how bad Rosario rode his horse and how could this kid call himself a leading rider.’ I thought it was a basic rant by a losing trainer. I hear it all the time.
“So at the end of his rant, I said to him, ‘So, I guess you don’t want to sell him, huh?’ That was designed to make Jerry and Dan laugh. It was said flippantly and benignly. There was no actual initiation of being mildly interested in buying the horse. Jerry had already said he wouldn’t buy the horse from the guy. So I said this thing that I thought was sarcastic and flippant. Glenney blew up. ‘Buy the horse…are you kidding me?’ I said, ‘Yes, I was just kidding.’ He then reiterated all the admonitions about Joel’s ride, this time more aggressively.”
Stauffer listed and after a few minutes more said he told Glenney, “OK, have a nice day,” and hung up the phone. “That was the entire conversation and the entire spirit of the conversation that I had with John Glenney,” Stauffer said. “Nothing before or since.”
A few days later, the day after a late-night bachelor party prior to his Sept. 12 wedding, Stauffer got an 8 a.m. call from CHRB investigator Rick Amieva, saying a complaint had been filed against Rosario for not putting in his best effort. Stauffer said Amieva asked about his conversation with Glenney the morning after the race and asked, ‘Who approached you?’
“(Amieva) said, ‘I’ve seen the videotape. It’s obvious that he’s guilty of what is being alleged.’ And I said, ‘Hold on there. Are you certified as a film analyst?’ He said ‘no,’ and I told him, ‘So you have taken it upon yourself to analyze this film and you are telling me it’s obvious Joel is guilty?’ He said, ‘Yes.’”
Stauffer said he was caught off-guard by the call and asked Amieva if he could go back over the questions the investigator had asked him. “I think the first thing I said was the ramblings of a sleeping person,” said Stauffer. “I asked if I could restate the answers to his questions, because I wanted to make sure he got all the facts.”
Amieva, Stauffer believes, is a “bitter” person who has been passed over for promotions by the CHRB. “I think he said, ‘Aha. Now we’ve got a conspiracy. I’ve got him changing his story. This is going to put me on the map as an investigator because it’s race fixing.”
After that conversation, Stauffer immediately called Glenney and “used every cuss word that I know. I asked how he could have the nerve to do this when his horse just didn’t perform to his expectations.” Glenney hung up on Stauffer.
One week later, after Amieva consulted with his superiors, chief investigator Rod Coulter and supervising special investigator Bill Westermann, the CHRB filed a formal complaint against Rosario.
STEWARDS HEARING, THEN A DISMISSAL
After several delays, a hearing was conducted in front of stewards Randy Winick, Kim Sawyer and Albert Christiansen, beginning Nov. 19, and then continued in early December. Attorney Roger Licht, a former chairman of the CHRB and a racetrack regular, was hired to represent Rosario. Deputy attorney general Kenneth Jones prosecuted the case for the CHRB.
Amieva relied on backup or safety steward Luis Jauregui to analyze the film of the race in question, but Jauregui’s comments, curiously, were not included in the investigator’s report. Neither did Amieva interview Rosario before the CHRB complaint was filed. It was only afterwards, and at the insistence of Licht, that Amieva interviewed the jockey. Both Licht and Stauffer said Amieva had declined to talk with Rosario because, the investigator had said, “I know what he was going to say anyways.”
“From everything I’ve been told, (Amieva) would flunk law enforcement 101 because he had the opportunity to interview the subject and he didn’t,” said Licht.
As previously reported here, Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens contacted Stauffer after he learned of the complaint and offered to testify on Rosario’s behalf, calling the charges against the rider a “joke” and analyzing in detail what he felt happened during the race. “Gary Stevens was a tremendous witness,” said Licht. “He was very thorough and credible. You couldn’t ask for a better expert witness. He said the charges were not warranted and also spoke about Joel’s integrity.”
Hollenderfer and Ward also testified, corroborating the conversation they’d had with Stauffer and his phone call to Glenney the morning after Cedros raced. They also talked about Rosario’s character and ability.
Glenney testified about his post-race conversation with Stauffer and an exercise rider for Cedros said she did not consider the horse “unmanageable” during training. Neither Jauregui nor steward Cheney would condemn Rosario’s ride in their testimony at the hearing, leaving the CHRB and Jones with a flimsy case, at best. In his summation, Jones said he was convinced there was no conspiracy, that the video tape was the principal evidence. No charges were ever filed against Stauffer.
“Jones never had his heart in this,” Stauffer said. “He knew he was pissing in the wind, and you could tell he was pursuing this because the CHRB insisted.”
On Dec. 13, two days after closing arguments, the stewards voted unanimously to clear Rosario of all of the charges against him. The witch hunt was over.
THE AFTERMATH
Stauffer said the damage to Rosario’s reputation due to what he called “negligence” by Amieva in investigating the case is “irreparable,” adding that “people all around the country have drawn their conclusions about his guilt. You can never fix that reputation. You can’t get it back. Believe me, Joel is the absolute antithesis of what they say he did.”
Stauffer said there are no plans at present to file a lawsuit, “but we are hoping the CHRB will take it upon themselves to investigate Amieva’s shoddy work. I will not rest until Amieva is held responsible, or whoever was pushing Amieva is held responsible for gross negligence.”
“The CHRB argued that they owe the duty to the industry to investigate everything that appears to be unscrupulous,” said Licht. “There’s nothing wrong with an investigation. The mistake was in bringing the charges prematurely.”
The case hasn’t slowed down Rosario’s success in Southern California. He won his third California riding title at the just-concluded Hollywood Park meeting, where Stauffer also serves as track announcer. On the final day of his hearing, Rosario went out that afternoon and rode six winners in eight races, equaling a record held by three Hall of Famers—Bill Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay Jr., and Kent Desormeaux.
“My heart is broken that he had to go through this,” said Stauffer. “He is such a fine young man. He really exemplifies everything that is good about jockeys.
“I also feel terrible about my contribution, which was stupid. How do you know when you’re saying something benign and flippant that it will morph into this? I wish I had been smarter.”
I wish the CHRB had demonstrated more intelligence, too. From all appearances, the investigation was shoddy from the start, and a formal complaint would never have been filed if the CHRB’s Amieva had talked with all of the parties involved. The case has unnecessarily tainted not just a future superstar, but the sport as a whole.
Copyright © 2009, The Paulick Report
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Tags: albert christiansen, California Horse Racing Board, cedros, CHRB, dan ward, Gary Stevens, Horse Racing, jerry hollendorfer, Jockeys, joel rosario, kenneth jones, kim sawyer, luis jauregui, Paulick Report, randy winick, Ray Paulick, rick amieva, roger licht, scott cheney, vic stauffer
Posted in California, California Horse Racing Board, Jockeys, People | 49 Comments »
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
By Ray Paulick
A budding superstar jockey from the Dominican Republic is under investigation by the California Horse Racing for allegedly not putting forth his best effort in a race at Del Mar in September, and a retired Hall of Fame rider is outraged at the charges.
Joel Rosario, a 24-year-old jockey who won riding titles at Hollywood Park’s spring-summer meeting and at Del Mar this summer, has had a complaint filed against him for violation of CHRB rules 1894, 1692 and 1902. The complaint contends that Rosario did not give his best effort in riding Cedros to the finish line in the 11th race at Del Mar on Sept. 6, 2009. A hearing was conducted Nov. 19 and is scheduled to continue tomorrow, Dec. 3, in the stewards’ office at Hollywood Park.
Cedros’ trainer, John Glenney, complained to the CHRB about Rosario’s ride after he told the Daily Racing Form he received a call from Rosario’s agent, Vic Stauffer, the morning after the race, allegedly inquiring about whether or not Cedros might be for sale. Cedros had finished fourth, beaten a head for third place, in a maiden special weight race. Glenney was quoted as saying he had instructed Rosario to keep Cedros to the outside (he started from the nine post, coming out of the infield chute in the turf race going 1 1/16 miles), but when the field turned for home, Rosario was toward the rail.
Rosario, who had never ridden Cedros, was the fourth jockey to ride the horse in five starts. Prior to the Sept. 6 race Cedros had finished tenth of 11 horses at Churchill Downs; sixth of 10 at Churchill; eighth of nine at Del Mar and second of nine at Del Mar—all maiden races. After finishing fourth under Rosario, Glenney shipped the horse to Kentucky, where he finished last of eight starters in the Grade 3 Bryan Station Stakes at Keeneland, and fourth of six in a maiden race at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
On the day in question, Rosario rode in all 11 races, and won four, including two stakes (Del Mar Derby and Torrey Pine Stakes), finished second in another race, third in another, and had two fourths. His mounts earned $432,748 that afternoon. That’s more than horses trained by Glenney have won in all of 2009; he’s trained eight winners from 59 starts for total earnings of $414,627. Rosarioi ranks sixth among the nation’s jockeys by mount earnings, with $12.2 million thus far in 2009.
When Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens heard about the complaint against Rosario, he said he “immediately got on the computer and said I’ve got to see this.” After watching the film of the race, he contacted Stauffer and said “if you need me to testify I will because this is a joke. After seeing the patrol films, I said I’ve got to say something about this.”
Stevens, who serves as an analyst on HRTV and recently began training, said he has no vested interest in helping Rosario and when we spoke last week had never ridden him on one of his horses. But Stevens calls him a “throwback—a very humble guy with a bright future. I’ve never associated with Joel, but I’m an admirer of him. He’s got superstar potential—a great work ethic and a good riding style. I have a lot of respect for him.
“One of the things that is going to make him a superstar is his patience,” said Stevens. “He had (Cedros) second on the outside and the horse was trying to lean in down the backside. Somebody hit the fire button and went right past him down the backside, but Joel sat where he was. He knew he couldn’t go from the half-mile pole all the way to the wire.
“When his horse switched leads he lugged in down to the fence. And then the horse drifted out, shying from the whip; (Rosario) raised his arm up and started to come down and the horse started shying away inside the quarter pole….you can see it on the patrol films, though not the panshot. If he hits the horse he could have gotten taken down or caused a spill. When I saw that it really became annoying to me.”
Stevens testified Nov. 19, for more than 30 minutes by his account. “I told the deputy DA prosecuting the case, ‘Sir, I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but I did not have a conversation with Joel prior to my testimony here. This is purely a retired jockey stepping up for a fellow rider being questioned for something he didn’t do.”
Jockeys’ Guild representative Darrell Haire also spoke on Rosario’s behalf. The day’s other witness was backup steward Luis Jauregui, a retired jockey who represented the CHRB.
“Luis said Joel didn’t put forth his best efforts. My response is this guy doesn’t how to read the films,” said Stevens.
“This is really upsetting to me that this kid’s integrity is being questioned over something that is so, so simple to watch. We’ve got a deputy DA who’s probably never watched a horse race questioning him. There are legitimate excuses in a race; my job as an analyst is to pick a race apart and analyze why something may have happened.
“I said I thought the horse was lugging in and pointed out several times that the horse was attempting to lug in and pointed out the premature move by two other jockeys. Obviously these guys never watched Pat Day (another retired Hall of Fame rider), who would let guys pass him all the time, and then come back up the rail to win.
“I hate to see something so stupid like this happen.”
As for Stauffer allegedly asking if Cedros was for sale, Stevens said, “I can’t believe he would be stupid enough to say something to (the trainer). John was upset with the ride…we all get upset with riders. But you never do that (offer to buy a horse), even if you won the race.”
Stauffer has not been charged by the CHRB with any wrongdoing.
Copyright © 2009, The Paulick Report
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Tags: California Horse Racing Board, cedros, CHRB, Gary Stevens, Horse Racing, joel rosario, john glenney, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, vic stauffer
Posted in California Horse Racing Board, Jockeys, People, Regulatory Issues | 31 Comments »
Saturday, November 28th, 2009
By Ray Paulick
TOKYO, Japan–Mirco Demuro had just been punk’d by, of all people, Sir Michael Stoute, and he looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
 An Australian journalist wanted to introduce Demuro to the legendary British trainer during the cocktail hour of Friday night’s Welcome Party to the 29th annual Japan Cup. Demuro, Italy’s top jockey and last year’s Japan Cup winner aboard Screen Hero for Teruya Yoshida, said he’d never had the opportunity to meet Stoute, who will be saddling two-time Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Conduit in Sunday’s big event at Tokyo race course.
“Actually you rode for me once at Royal Ascot,” Stoute reminded Demuro (both pictured, left). “Finished second.” Then, with a perfectly timed pause, added, “Moved too soon.” No one enjoyed the good-natured ribbing better than Stoute himself, who let out a big belly laugh at his own joke. Demuro didn’t know what to say. But perhaps he’ll have the last laugh on Sunday as he tries to defend his Japan Cup title aboard Screen Hero.
Stoute is relaxed and confident as he bids for his third Japan Cup victory, having won back-to-back runnings with Singspiel and Pilsudski in 1996 and ’97. The native of Barbados, who has been among the world’s foremost horsemen for more than three decades, has won major races in 10 countries, including five Breeders’ Cups.
 I asked which of his international triumphs meant the most to him. “The Dubai World Cup,” Stoute said, without hesitation. “And for that I give a great deal of credit to Jerry Bailey.”
Stoute recalled how the Hall of Fame jockey worked Singspiel before the scheduled running of the 1997 World Cup but returned to the United States when the race was postponed after a deluge flooded the Nad al Sheba racetrack. “He came all the way back a few days later when the race was rescheduled,” Stoute said. “I think that breeze really gave him confidence in the horse.”
Another international visitor to Tokyo commented that Stoute has perfected the art of shipping horses around the world to win big races. “No, no, no,” he said. “No one’s perfected this. But you learn from the mistakes you make and from the things that go right. And no two horses react the same way to travel.”
Among other things, Stoute sends his own horse feed to Japan, well in advance of his horse, allowing the Japan Racing Association plenty of time to test its contents for any prohibited substances. Many other trainers are content to use the feed provided by the JRA. It’s a small detail perhaps, but it’s the kind of thing that adds up and pays off in the end.
 I MADE THE MISTAKE OF ASKING PATRICK LAWLEY-WAKELIN whether he’d been to the Japan Cup previously. “Last year,” he said, sadly, “but this is as far as we got.” Lawley-Wakelin, who is representing 2008 Canadian International winner Marsh Side on behalf of owner Robert Evans, was referring to last year’s Welcome Party, which he attended with trainer Neil Drysdale (pictured, left, with Northern Farm’s Katsumi Yoshida). The next day, Marsh Side was scratched from the Japan Cup due to a fever, and Drysdale and Lawley-Wakelin departed immediately for the Tattersalls December sale. Let’s hope they get a chance to stick around and see Marsh Side compete this year.
Drysdale was stunned to hear no American-trained horse had won the Japan Cup since Golden Pheasant captured the 1991 renewal for trainer Charlie Whittingham and jockey Gary Stevens.
“I should have won it in 2002,” said Drysdale, recalling the running held at Nakayama racecourse while the Tokyo track’s grandstand was being rebuilt. Italian-based Falbrav and jockey Frankie Dettori edged the Drysdale-trained Sarafan and survived an inquiry after Falbrav drifted in and brushed Sarafan several times in deep stretch. “He really slammed us,” Drysdale recalled, “but the stewards let the result stand. There was no point in an appeal, since the same officials who looked at the original inquiry would hear the case.”
 THE WELCOME PARTY TOOK PLACE at the glitzy Ritz Carlton Hotel in the new midtown development adjacent to Roppongi. The JRA upgraded its host hotel this year to provide owners, trainers and jockeys a better experience during their visit to Tokyo (the international press remains at the Keio Plaza, a fine business hotel but not in the same class as the Ritz). It’s a smart move by the JRA, which has to compete with the Hong Kong Jockey Club for top horses and has lagged a step or two behind the HKJC as a host association and in providing a world-class experience for owners. Connections of Japan Cup Dirt horses will be staying at the Ritz Carlton in Osaka, near Hanshin race course, prior to next Sunday’s race.
The entertainment at this year’s party was quite different than anything I’ve seen in my previous 15 journeys to Tokyo for the Japan Cup. A group of Yabusame (yah-bu-sahmee) archers gave a demonstration of their martial arts skills, which entail riding on horseback at full speed and shooting a bow and arrow and several small targets. It’s a Japanese tradition going back nearly a thousand years to the days of Samurai warriors when the targets were more than wooden squares, and the skill was required to help protect the empire.
Of course, the originators of Yabusame never envisioned riding their horse into the Ritz Carlton ballroom, so some accommodations had to be made. The “horses” were decorated wooden mounts spun in a circle by an assistant, and the targets were only a few steps away on stage. But I think we got the point: don’t mess around with these fellows.
 IT’S BECOME SOMETHING OF A PAULICK REPORT TRADITION to comment on the food we enjoy at various industry gatherings, and the Japan Cup Welcome Party certainly offered a veritable feast, beginning with something called amuse bouche, contuing with a second course of ravioli style shogoin turnip, marinated seafood, crispy pasta, shiso and citrus fruit vinaigrette; followed by pan-friend sea bream, leak, taraba crab, clam sauce, braised savoy cabbage and green vegetable; and then a main course of pot-au-feu style beef fillet, chicken leg, autumn vegetables, truffle flavor white wasabi and seaweed salt. My favorite, though, was the “seasonal dessert sampler” of chestnut, sweet potato, Mont blanc, autumn fruits, apricot sorbet, wasonbon, and green tea sauce. I couldn’t really identify any of it, but it was all good!
Tags: Breeders' Cup, charlie whittingham, conduit, dubai world cup, falbrav, frankie dettori, Gary Stevens, golden pheasant, hkjc, hong kong jockey club, japan cup, japan racing association, jerry bailey, jra, mirco demuro, neil drysdale, patrickc lawley-wakelin, Ray Paulick, ritz carlton, screen hero, singpiel, sir michael stoute
Posted in International Racing, Japan, People | 1 Comment »
Friday, May 29th, 2009
Do you know an individual or organization who you think we should consider for an upcoming “Good News Friday” feature? Then please e-mail info@paulickreport.com with the name of the individual or organization and a brief description of why you think they should be featured. Additionally, we’d like to thank Rob Whiteley and Liberation Farm for encouraging us to bring to light some of the industry’s positive stories and for sponsoring this exclusive Paulick Report feature.
By Ray Paulick
Good news doesn’t always make us feel good. To me, that’s the story of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, a 501(c)3 charity that has the thankless task of providing financial assistance to help former jockeys cope with the realities of lives too often spent in wheelchairs. It’s an organization doing exceptionally important work, and like many other worthy causes it struggles to get the funding it needs.
The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund makes a huge difference in the lives of these former riders, who currently number 60 (nine are women). Nancy LaSala, the Fund’s board chairman, is like so many in the racing community who is hoping and praying that Rene Douglas, severely injured in an Arlington Park accident on May 23, does not become disabled jockey No. 61.
“There is a need for assistance for these individuals,” said LaSala, a native of Chicago who for 26 years has been married to jockey Jerry LaSala, currently an officer with the Jockeys’ Guild. “Many of the riders are hurt at a young age. They don’t have time to build retirement savings. Some have young children. They have no other means of income. Many have said to me, ‘If I didn’t have this assistance, I wouldn’t have a roof over my head.’ The $1,000 a month we provide helps them pay for basic necessities. If they’re ever thrown a curveball, believe me, it’s devastating for them.”
That there is even a Fund for permanently disabled riders is almost a miracle, given the turmoil the Jockeys’ Guild went through under the disastrous leadership of Wayne Gertmenian, whose 2001-2005 reign of terror left the organization teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, and its Disabled Jockeys Fund depleted. Gertmenian was removed as president in November 2005, just a month after a Congressional hearing on the Guild uncovered massive problems. The Guild eventually was forced into bankruptcy.
During the final stages of Gertmenian’s tenure, Nancy LaSala and a number of Guild officers worried that the disabled riders would be left on their own, without any assistance. “I very much care about the welfare of the jockeys,” LaSala said. “In 2005, before the Guild severed its relationship with Gertmenian, I asked, ‘If this organization fails, what will happen to these disabled riders? We got involved in helping with their needs, and I think that was very valuable. We then started having meetings with other groups in the industry in January of 2006.”
Racing executives like Steve Sexton of Churchill Downs Inc. and Don Amos, then with Magna Entertainment, helped lead the charge to start a new Fund, and in May 2006 the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund was created as part of NTRA Charities. One month later, with seed money from Churchill Downs Inc., Magna and other tracks, it was able to begin offering financial assistance to permanently disabled riders in need.
LaSala said many racetracks have really stepped up to help raise money for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Horsemen’s organizations have not been as supportive, though individuals in the ownership ranks, including Richard Santulli, chairman of NetJets, Bill Casner of WinStar Farm, Barbaro owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson, and Michael Bello, a California-based owner, have made significant contributions. In 2008, thanks to Santulli and Casner, the Fund raised $500,000 during the Triple Crown, which amounts to more than half of the Fund’s $800,000 annual operating budget. Santulli and Casner again kicked in major contributions to the Fund at this year’s Kentucky Derby.
“Jockeys have the most hazardous occupation of any professional athlete, and I feel are greatly unappreciated,” said Casner, the former chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and a self-described “ex-gallop boy that got on about 25,000 of those beasts over 16 years as a young racetracker,” one who “had my share of hitting the ground and having several flip over on me …but for the grace of God."
“There are around 1,500 licensed professional jockeys,” Casner added, “with most of them struggling with weight and making a living. They put their lives and bodies at risk every time they get on one of our horses and most will deal with a plethora of injuries over a career. If they are lucky they will walk away and not have to deal with paralysis. Exercise riders and backstretch help should also be included in this group. While they do not experience the injury opportunities that race riders do, they are still subject to the same events. It is only right that we as an industry work with the jockeys to help them help themselves as well as other backside employees. I comment Richard Santulli, as well as the riders, for taking the leadership on this important charitable endeavor over the last two Triple Crowns.”
Riders have been directly involved in some of the creative fundraising that’s been done for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. At Keeneland this spring, “Riders Up!” a karaoke competition involving many current and past jockeys, was the highlight of a very popular dinner that raised $50,000 for the Fund.
Earlier, in Hot Springs, Ark., restaurateur Mike Loy provided free dinners at his popular KJ’s Grill and racing fans paid $100 each to dine and meet some of their favorite jockeys, raising another $17,000 for the Fund. A similar event, “Dining With the Dynasties,” will be held at Arlington Park Aug. 7, the day before the Arlington Million, thanks to Arlington boss Richard Duchossois and track president Roy Arnold, who is now a member of the Fund’s board of directors. Retired Hall of Fame jockeys like Pat Day and Gary Stevens, along with other current and former riders, including some of those who benefit from the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, are expected to participate at the Arlington event.
Speaking of Pat Day, there is good news about him and Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey, two former Jockeys’ Guild presidents who resigned from the organization when the former manager, John Giovanni, was forced out and Gertmenian was brought in. Now that the Guild has regained its credibility and is on the road to financial recovery under the leadership of Terry Meyocks and a newly configured board, Bailey and Day have rejoined the organization in a show of support. Meyocks said a number of other current riders who had quit the Guild during the Gertmenian era have also come back into the fold.
Earlier this year, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund became a standalone 501(c)3 charity, and it is no longer part of NTRA Charities. It continues to struggle for its funding. “We need the support of the entire industry and all of its partners,” LaSala said.
Please contact the Fund if you would like to help. Its web site will have an online donation link in the near future. In the meantime, you can send donations to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, P.O. Box 803, Elmhurst, IL 60126. The telephone number is: (630) 595-7660 and fax is (630) 595-7655.
Liberation Farm celebrates the many horsemen and horsewomen who strive each day to make things better for horses and those who work with them. To learn more about Liberation Farm, click here.
Previous Good News Friday subjects: Father Chris Clay, The Race for Education, Military Appreciation Day at Keeneland, Kentucky Oaks Pink Out for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Mary Lee-Butte and the Blue Grass Farms Chaplaincy, Mary Jo Pons and the Radio Reading Network, TV Ratings Are Up.
Copyright © 2009, The Paulick Report
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Tags: Arlington Park, Barbaro, Bill Casner, churchill downs, dining with the dynasties, disabled jockeys, disabled jockeys fund, don amos, Gary Stevens, Good News Friday, horse racing injuries, jerry bailey, jerry lasala, jockeys' guild, john giovanni, Keeneland, kj's grill, liberation farm, Magna Entertainment, mike loy, nancy lasala, pat day, Paulick Report, permanently disabled jockeys fund, Ray Paulick, rene douglas, richard duchossois, richard santulli, roy and gretchen jackson, roy arnold, steve sexton, terry meyocks, wayne gertmenian
Posted in Good News Friday, Jockeys, racing injuries | 9 Comments »
Sunday, October 19th, 2008
By Ray Paulick
I’m sure I wasn’t the only one holding his breath when the gates opened for the fourth race Saturday at the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting from Santa Anita. Seven “old” men and one still young woman, all of them Living Legends who have retired from professional race riding, were set to show that their skills had not all faded.
This wasn’t like one of those Old Timers Day baseball games at Yankee Stadium I remember watching on television in the 1960s, when pitches were lobbed up to the plate and spikes weren’t sharpened for slides into second base. These eight Living Legends would be aboard racehorses still in the prime of their careers in a game that can be dangerous for even the youngest, fastest-thinking and quickest-reacting athletes.
Thankfully, the eight horses and riders made the seven-furlong course safely, with 59-year-old Canadian Sandy Hawley, one of the all-time great riders and gentlemen of the game, romping to victory aboard the race favorite, Tribal Chief. (Click here to view the race.) Hawley took his charge wire to wire to win by 6 ½ lengths, looking every bit as good as he did in his prime 30 years ago, when he was nine times Canada’s champion jockey and four times led all North American riders by wins. Tribal Chief gave Hawley his 6,450th career victory, 10th on the list of all-time North American leaders.
Following Hawley across the finish line were horses ridden by Living Legends Jerry Bailey, Gary Stevens, Pat Day, Julie Krone, Jacinto Vasquez, Chris McCarron and Angel Cordero Jr. (Equibase chart.) All are members of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. Not riding but participating in autograph sessions were three other Hall of Famers: Eddie Delahoussaye, Laffit Pincay Jr. and Jorge Velasquez.
Turns out I wasn’t the only nervous one. “I was a little nervous going into the starting gate, because I haven’t been out of a gate in 10 years,” Hawley said afterwards. “That was the part that I was worried about, so I grabbed a big handful of mane.”
The Living Legends race turned out to be a popular promotion for the riders and racing fans, and was a clever way to kick off a week featuring the 25th Breeders’ Cup world championships. Fans in the Los Angeles area and at tracks across did more than watch the Living Legends; they bet on them to the tune of over $1 million, with the $438,012 in the win, place and show pool the highest on the 10-race card.
There was immediate talk of holding another similar event in the future.
“If I was invited back again, I would do it again in a minute,” said Hawley, whose biggest personal challenge came in 1987 when he beat skin cancer. “I was 122 pounds two months ago, and when I got invited, I started working out and got on a few horses, and the weight came right off. I weighed 110 in the room today.
“Being back with these guys was a thrill. I’ve been with them the last few days, and you really don’t get to see them more than maybe once or twice a year at the Derby or the Breeders’ Cup. To be able to ride with them … when I got the call, I was like, ‘Holy cow, yeah, it would be an honor.’ The field of riders they ended up getting was tremendous, and I never thought in a million years that I had an opportunity to win, but I got on a good horse.”
I kept waiting for track announcer Trevor Denman to say that Hawley had the Living Legends race “in the bag” as they came down the stretch. Back in 1983, when Denman was just getting started as a racecaller in the United States, that’s exactly what he said about Hawley and a horse named Shanekite when they opened a big lead in the Morvich Handicap, run on the hillside turf course. “Sandy Hawley and Shanekite have this one in the bag,” Denman announced as they hit the sixteenth pole.
Unfortunately, Hawley heard Denman’s call and eased up a bit on Shanekite as they approached the wire, only to get beat on the money by a John Longden-trained runner named Kangroo Court, who was charging hard to the wire under a young apprentice rider, Joe Steiner. It was a rare mistake in an outstanding career for Hawley, and a racecall Denman would like to be able to do over. “I heard the announcer say I had it in the bag,” a fuming Hawley said afterwards, explaining the loss to reporters.
There was no letting up on Saturday. On this occasion, Hawley was the best of the Living Legends.
Copyright © 2008, The Paulick Report
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Tags: angel cordero jr., Breeders' Cup, Breeders' Cup World Championships, chris mccarron, Gary Stevens, hall of fame jockeys, Horse Racing, jacinto vasquez, jerry bailey, joe steiner, john longden, Julie Krone, kangroo court, living legends, living legends race, oak tree racing association, oldtimers day, oldtimers games, pat day, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, sandy hawley, santa anita, shanekite, trevor denman, tribal chief, yankee stadium
Posted in Breeders' Cup, California, Horse Racing, People, Racing Greats | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008
By Ray Paulick
The Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill criminalizing the transportation of horses for the purpose of slaughtering them for human consumption. The action, by voice vote, came less than 24 hours after Josephine Abercrombie, a prominent Kentucky Thoroughbred owner and breeder, sent a letter (co-signed by 45 others) to Judiciary Committee chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) and ranking member Lamar Smith (R-Texas), urging passage of the bill over the “neutral” position taken by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association one week earlier. The bill, H.R. 6598, known as the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008, now moves to the House floor.
Abercrombie’s letter (shown below) seemed to trump an earlier letter by NTRA president Alex Waldrop, which said the NTRA had “concerns with the bill and potential unintended consequences.” The NTRA had previously supported anti-slaughter legislation filed but not passed in 2003; Waldrop’s letter did not address other anti-slaughter bills currently under consideration. Abercrombie and her co-signors urged support of all anti-slaughter legislation currently before the 110th Congress. “We and so many others in the Thoroughbred breeding and racing community strongly support all legislative initiatives, including H.R. 503, S. 311, and H.R. 6598, which will bring horse slaughter to a swift end,” Abercrombie wrote. “We want you to know that the NTRA’s position is not representative of the larger community.”
There currently are no slaughter plants operating in the U.S., the two in Texas having been shut down by a court ruling and a plant in Illinois shuttered after a state law was passed. There has been an increase in the number of horses being transported across the borders into Canada and Mexico, however, and H.R. 6598 provides enforcement for federal officials to end that. Horses confiscated would be under the jusisdiction of the attorney general, who, according to the bill, “shall provide for the humane placement or other humane disposition of any horse seized.”
Abercrombie is a prominent and successful Thoroughbred owner and breeder who owns Pin Oak Stud near Versailles, Ky. She is involved in numerous philanthropic causes, serves as a trustee of the Breeders’ Cup and is a member of the Jockey Club, among other Thoroughbred industry organizations.
Among those who signed the letter with Abercrombie are the owners of such well-known horses as reigning Horse of the Year Curlin (Barbara Banke and Jess Jackson), Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Sunday Silence (Arthur and Staci Hancock, along with breeders Deborah and Thomas Tatham), Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide (Jackson Knowlton of Sackatoga Stable), Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos (Debby and John Oxley, along with breeder James Squires), Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones (Pat Chapman), and Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro (Gretchen and Roy Jackson). Others who signed the letter include Racing Hall of Fame members Nick Zito (trainer of multiple Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown race winners); jockey Gary Stevens (multiple Kentucky Derby winner); and Julie Krone (Belmont Stakes winner and all-time leading female rider).
In addition, a number of the individuals who signed the letter have strong ties to Texas or Oklahoma, where opposition to the anti-slaughter legislation has been the strongest. Included in that list are Abercrombie, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Ford, Janice and Robert McNair, Debby and John Oxley, Madeleine Paulson Pickens (wife of T. Boone Pickens), and Deborah and Thomas Tatham. Following is the text of the letter from Josephine Abercrombie and the list of co-signors.
Sept. 23, 2008
Dear Chairman Conyers and Ranking Member Smith:
Last week, during a Judiciary Committee mark up of H.R. 6598 – the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008, it was revealed that the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) does not support current legislation to ban horse slaughter. Needless to say, we were surprised at the revelation and disappointed by the reasons NTRA put forward, none of which are valid.
As Thoroughbred industry leaders who have long supported all Congressional actions to end this cruel industry, we were disappointed that the NTRA voiced unfounded concerns to those who support the slaughter of horses thus jeopardizing the passage of this legislation. We and so many others in the Thoroughbred breeding and racing community strongly support all legislative initiatives, including H.R. 503, S. 311, and H.R. 6598, which will bring horse slaughter to a swift end. We want you to know that the NTRA’s position is not representative of the larger community.
We commend you, Chairman Conyers, for providing this bill with a fair hearing, which has allowed it to move to this point. Given the narrow opportunity to act before Congress adjourns, we hope that H.R. 6598 can swiftly be moved from Committee to the floor of the full House of Representatives for final consideration. This bill is too important for politics to delay its enactment. Every five minutes an American horse is slaughtered. This bill can stop that.
H.R. 6598 is a sound bill that puts enforcement into the hands of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and its agents who are trained and staffed to deal with criminal issues. We feel confident that the DOJ has the necessary experience in dealing with large animal confiscations having led such high profile investigations involving animal fighting, Class B Dealers, and puppy mills. As with other statutes, under H.R. 6598, the DOJ has the authority to ask for assistance from other federal, state and non-governmental agencies during its enforcement of the law and this flexibility has shown to be highly effective.
Under a close examination of the concerns asserted by those opposing the bill, we can see no legitimate reason not to pass this legislation. As representatives of the Thoroughbred industry we look forward to the next Committee mark up of H.R. 6598 and urge you to pass H.R. 6598 as written, without amendments, as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Josephine Abercrombie
WE, the undersigned, are co-signors of this letter and support legislation to stop the slaughter of American horses.
John H. Adger, racing and bloodstock manager, Stonerside Stable, Houston, TX;
Peggy Augustus, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Keswick Stables, Keswick, VA;
Betty and Gary Biszantz, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Cobra Farm, Lexington, KY and Solana Beach, CA;
Nadia Sanan Briggs, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Padua Stables, Ocala, FL;
Anne and Cot Campbell, Thoroughbred owners, Dogwood Stable, Aiken, SC;
Pat Chapman, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Someday Farm, Doylestown, PA;
Jenny Craig, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Rancho Paseana, Rancho Santa Fe, CA;
Carol Farmer, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Shadowlawn Farm, Midway, KY;
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Ford, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Diamond A Farms, Versailles, KY;
Maegan Ford, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Diamond A Farms, Versailles, KY;
Staci and Arthur Hancock, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Stone Farm, Paris, KY;
Mark Hennig, Thoroughbred owner and trainer, Garden City, NY;
Sara Jones Hill, Thoroughbred owner, Coconut Grove, FL;
Gretchen and Roy Jackson, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Lael Farm, West Grove, PA;
Barbara Banke and Jess Jackson, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Stonestreet Farm, Lexington, KY;
Jackson W. Knowlton, Thoroughbred owner, managing partner, Sackatoga Stable, Saratoga Springs, NY;
Julie Krone, Racing Hall of Fame jockey, Los Angeles, CA;
Janice and Robert McNair, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Stonerside Stables, Houston, TX;
Ellen Moelis and Herbert I Moelis, Thoroughbred Charities of America, Candyland Farm, Middletown, DE;
Maggi Moss, Thoroughbred owner, Moss Equestrians, Des Moines, Iowa;
Joanne and Paul Oreffice, Thoroughbred owners, Dogwood Stables, Paradise Valley, AZ;
Debby and John Oxley, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Fawn Leap Farm, Midway, KY;
Madeleine Paulson Pickens, Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Rancho Santa Fe, CA;
Dan Rosenberg, Rosenberg Thoroughbred Consulting,, Midway, KY;
James D. Squires, Two Bucks Farm, Versailles, KY;
Angie Athayde-Stevens, Thoroughbred consultant, Los Angeles, CA;
Gary Stevens, Racing Hall of Fame jockey; Los Angeles, CA;
Deborah W. Tatham and Thomas P. Tatham, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Oak Cliff Breeders, Houston, TX;
Melanie and Jeffrey Tucker, Stone Bridge Farm, Schuylerville, NY;
Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson, Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Lexington, KY and Saratoga Springs, NY;
Kim and Nick Zito, Thoroughbred owner and trainer, Lexington, KY and Saratoga Springs, NY.
Copyright © 2008, The Paulick Report
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Tags: Angie Athayde-Stevens, Anne and Cot Campbell, anti-slaughter legislation, Barbaro, Betty and Gary Biszantz, Carol Farmer, congressional hearings, Curlin, Dan Rosenberg, Debby and John Oxley, Deborah Tatham, Department of Justice, Ellen Moelis, funny cide, Gary Stevens, Gerald Ford, Gretchen and Roy Jackson, H.R. 503, h.r. 6598, Herb Moelis, horse slaughter, Jackson Knowlton, James Squires, Janice and Robert McNair, Jenny Craig, Joanne and Paul Oreffice, John Adger, john conyers, john hendrickson, Josephine Abercrombie, judiciary committee, Julie Krone, Kim and Nick Zito, Lamar Smith, Madeleine Paulson Pickens, Maegan Ford, maggi moss, Mark Hennig, marylou whitney, Melanie and Jeffrey Tucker, monarchos, Nadia Sanan Briggs, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, NTRA, Pat Chapman, Paulick Report, Peggy Augustus, prevention of equine cruelty act, Ray Paulick, S. 311, Sara Jones Hill, Smarty Jones, Staci and Arthur Hancock, sunday silence, Thomas P. Tatham
Posted in Horse Slaughter, Horse Welfare, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, People, Uncategorized | 21 Comments »
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