Month: December 2020

Ask Ray: Christmas Cheer And The Return Of Comments To The Website

It's been just over a fortnight since our publisher, Ray Paulick, in a fit of pique suspended reader comments on all stories at the Paulick Report. We told him it wasn't going to go over very well, and when he urged readers in the last episode of Ask Ray to send their opinions about this new policy, you flooded his inbox.

Well done!

Most of the emails were constructive, even understanding. But the overwhelming majority landed on the same conclusion: please bring the comments back.

Ray is usually not a very good listener, but in this instance we are grateful that not only did he read every one of the emails received, he actually comprehended some of them.

So along with our best holiday greetings – Merry Christmas to those who celebrate – we are very happy to announce that we once again are permitting comments on all stories. The only difference: rather than reviewing comments after they are published and deleting those that were offensive or had personal attacks, all comments are going into a moderation queue prior to publication and will be approved as quickly as possible. Please understand that we have a small staff with other responsibilities and will get to comments as quickly as possible, but there will be a delay between the time you share your words of wisdom and when they are published.

With that, we hope for 2021 to be a year of good health and happiness and a return to the relative normalcy we all enjoyed before the coronavirus pandemic turned our world upside down last March.

In this newest episode of Ask Ray, our publisher explains why the decision was made to reinstate comments. But no matter what he says, it's because we all miss Tinky … whoever he or she is.

The post Ask Ray: Christmas Cheer And The Return Of Comments To The Website appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Desormeaux Returns to Action After Rehab Stint

When racing returns to Santa Anita Dec. 26, it does so in a blitzkrieg of high-octane firepower, with races like the GI Malibu S., GI La Brea S. and GI American Oaks luring headline grabbers from across the country.

As things go, race three on the card–a $16,000 claimer–is a far less exulted companion to its starrier cousins. But the race contains its own prodigal return…that of Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux after a hiatus from the saddle. Still, it’s just the sort of low-key call to arms the jockey is looking for.

“It’s not something you get control of and go tell the world about your accomplishment,” said Desormeaux, of his newly established sobriety after a tumultuous six-month period culminating from decades of struggle.

“I can honestly say it’s been 25 years since I’ve been clean this long,” he said.

It was back in July that Del Mar management barred Desormeaux from the grounds following an off-site incident in which the jockey was accused of using a racial epithet in a fight.

The following September, the Del Mar stewards suspended the jockey for 15 days for “disorderly conduct–racial slurs, aggressive behavior.” He was also ordered to be evaluated by the Winners Foundation, which helps backstretch workers deal with substance-abuse problems, and “abide by the recommendations of that organization.”

Desormeaux explained that he subsequently enrolled in a three-month rehabilitation program at a local facility. It’s not the first time the jockey has sought professional help for his substance abuse issues–another stint was as recent as 2016. But this has been the most concerted effort yet, he said, to wrestle the demons under control.

“This one was not a resort. It was not a vacation. It was not intended to buy some time,” he said. “I learned a lot about myself and came back to reality. There’s a lot of people who certainly care about me, love me and they were deeply concerned.”

One of those family members who has proven resiliently loyal is his brother, trainer Keith Desormeaux, for whom the jockey has two mounts at Santa Anita Saturday and Sunday

“He has always had my best interest at hand,” said Desormeaux. “He has long told me that what I’ve just gone through was needed for quite some time. He’s not sticking by me just this weekend. He’s stuck by me through thick and thin before.”

Desormeaux explained that, as a condition of his license, he is required to undergo routine testing.

“I have a very restricted license,” he said. “I get tested often, and there’s not enough lapse of time for me to use ever. I can’t use at all. Not weekends. Not days off. At all.”

The plan moving forward is very simple, Desormeaux said. “Sticking to the program,” he said, in reference to both alcohol and narcotics anonymous meetings. “You know how they say, ‘you live to learn and learn to live?’ I’ve learned how to live, and now I can move on and live to learn.”

The post Desormeaux Returns to Action After Rehab Stint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights