Month: February 2022

Ramey: How I Think The Twitch Works Its Magic

I will be the first to admit that I am really glad that I am practicing on horses in modern times, as opposed to just about any other times.  For example, sedatives, the drugs that make horses sleepy, are wonderful, because they make horses so much easier to work on.

Still, sometimes modern sedatives aren't quite enough, or sometimes you don't want to sedate a horse that you're working on (maybe it's at a horse show, for example). In those times, older methods of restraint may work just great.  One of the more curious of those methods is the nose twitch (or just twitch).

SCHOLARLY ASIDE:  I was curious why it's called a twitch, so I started looking around. Not as easy to find the origin of the word as you might think. Google was useless. My copy of the Oxford English Dictionary (yes, my innate curiosity can make me a bit nerdy at times) helped some, showing the first reference of the word in horses to come in 1623. But it was my 1933 copy of the Oxford Universal dictionary that had this obscure definition:  “4.  To pinch or pull at as with pincers or the like; to nip; to hurt or pain as by doing this.”  So, there you go (although how much pain it causes a horse is an interesting discussion, as you'll see below).

BY THE WAY:  If you haven't seen a twitch being applied, here's a link to a quick video clip on the procedure:

NOTE:  The video clip above shows just one kind of twitch. I've seen twitches made with metal chain, bicycle chain, baling twine, and all kinds of rope. I've seen handles made from baseball bats, old axes, hickory sticks, and broom handles. There are metal “humane” twitches, which can be used by one person, some of which clip to the halter, and others of which secure themselves. And they all essentially do the same thing: they pinch the horse's muzzle (although I've also seen them put on a horse's ear, which I wouldn't advise unless you just want your horse to be headshy).

Now you look at this video, and you think, “OK, what's going on here?  You just tighten a loop of rope around a horse's nose, and he'll just stand there?”

And, most of the time, the answer is, “Yes, he'll just stand there.”  And there are several theories why.

Probably the most common explanation is that the causes a bit of dull pain. The idea is that this bit of pain will cause the horse to concentrate on the pain while an unpleasant task is being performed. That's exactly what William Youatt, and English veterinary surgeon wrote in his book, The Horse, in 1831, Youatt said, “The horse suffers great pain from the pressure – sufficiently great to render him comparatively inattentive to that which is produced by the operation; at the same time, he is afraid to struggle, for every motion increases the agony caused by the twitch, or the assistant has the power to increase it by giving an additional turn to the stick.”  If you like old veterinary books like I do – and this one's a classic – you can even see the book online if you CLICK HERE. (The passage is on page 321.)

There's actually a well-known phenomenon called a diffuse noxious stimulus, whereby the perception of pain in one area can be diminished by pain in another area. So, for example, your headache might not feel so bad if someone kicks you hard in the shin. I'm not really persuaded by that explanation, however. I've been around plenty of horses who have been in pain, and they usually don't just stand there. Take a horse with colic (please). When a horse is in pain from a colic, he shows it. He rolls around, or paws, or gets up and down. When a horse is in pain from a lameness, he limps. Pain usually doesn't make a horse just stand in one place, insensitive to his surroundings, it makes them want to get away from the pain. I think there may be a more persuasive explanation.

In the 1980s, it was asserted that the twitch does its weirdness because it's applied at an acupuncture point, and because of some sort of acupuncture-like effect. You can see a link to an abstract of the article, which was published in a fairly prestigious journal, if you CLICK HERE.

[Story Continues Below]

As you might guess, I'm not at all persuaded by this explanation, and for a variety of reasons, including that there's never been any such thing as an acupuncture point demonstrated, in any species.

(CLICK HERE if you want to read about why I wouldn't bother with acupuncture.)

Some folks assert that the twitch works by triggering the release of endorphins from the horse's brain. Endorphins are sort of like the body's very own morphine, and they've been credited with all sorts of effects, including calming (which is something that narcotics generally do to people, and which is one reason why they are popular in drug abuse circles). I'm not at all persuaded by that explanation either, because there are all sorts of things that cause endorphin levels to rise in the horse, such as putting them in a horse trailer and driving them around. Horses that are being hauled in a trailer do have high endorphin levels, but there certainly don't stand there as if in a daze.

None of the above three reasons makes much sense to me.  Here's what I think.

I think a twitch works because of a phenomenon known as tonic immobility. Tonic immobility is a basic defense strategy in many species (including many mammals, and including humans). Tonic immobility is an adaptive response demonstrated when one individual – usually prey – does not think that it can possibly escape from, or win, a fight. Predators tend to react to the movement of their prey, but if the prey doesn't move (instead of struggling or fighting), it can increase the probability that it will ultimately escape. If the prey doesn't struggle, the predator cam become distracted, and even temporarily release the prey, sometimes giving the prey enough time to run away.

Tonic immobility is characterized by pronounced physical immobility, trembling, muscular rigidity, sensations of cold and numbness or insensitivity to intense or painful stimulation. It's caused by things such as fear and physical restriction, but the most important aspect may be the perceived incapacity to escape.  That's what I think is happening when a horse gets twitched.

If you haven't used a twitch on a horse, don't just run out and try it, or think of it as some sort of a fun parlor trick.  You'd like to learn about twitches with an experienced person helping you out. Putting a twitch on a horse is something that does carry the potential for some adverse consequences.  For example, I've seen poorly-applied twitches come off in the middle of procedures (to explosive effect), and wooden handled twitches whirling around in the air after having been let go of by an inexperienced handler. Trust me, the things hurt when they hit you. It's a useful tool, but not one to be used unless you have some experience.

Anyway, that's what I think about twitches.  What about you?

Dr. David Ramey is a vocal advocate for the application of science to medicine, and—as such—for the welfare of the horse. Thus, he has been a frequent critic of practices that lack good science, such as the diverse therapies collectively known as “alternative” medicine, needless nutritional supplementation, or conventional therapies that lack scientific support.

This article original appeared on Dr. Ramey's website, doctorramey.com and is reprinted here with permission.

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Lanwades A Study In Thoroughbred Excellence

Kirsten Rausing experienced a season to remember last year, with triple German Group 1 winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), G3 Albany S. and G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. victress Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) and the dual Group 1-placed Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) the highlights of a handful of talented fillies and mares on the racecourse. All three of those train on in 2022, and Rausing has plenty to look forward to in her stallion ranks at Lanwades Stud, too; Sea The Moon (Ger) stands for £25,000, his highest fee yet, while Study Of Man's first yearlings are catching the eye. Bobby's Kitten has a couple of talented 3-year-old fillies to look forward to this year, while Sir Percy, the elder statesman of the stud barn at 19, has a pair of Classic contenders.

Rausing is known to support her stallions at Lanwades heavily, especially in their early years, and therefore Study Of Man in particular will get a huge boost from Rausing's broodmare band in his third season. The TDN's Kelsey Riley caught up with Rausing to discuss her mating plans, her stallions and the horses she is looking forward to on the racecourse this year.

TDN: Study Of Man's appeal as a stallion prospect is pretty obvious, he being a beautifully bred son of Deep Impact who won the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, but tell us in your own words why you wanted him for Lanwades.

KR: It's hard to find a better-bred horse anywhere. It's a lovely female family with Miesque as his second dam, and it's a family I've known a very long time since the 1970s through [Miesque's dam] Pasadoble. For me it was very important that Study Of Man is by Deep Impact; we have no other such horse in Britain and only Saxon Warrior (Jpn) in Ireland and as good as he was, Saxon Warrior is out of a Galileo (Ire) mare, which in some ways makes him a bit more difficult [to mate] in terms of the prevalence of Galileo in the mare population.

I've had a long-standing and very good working relationship with the Niarchos Family, especially Maria Niarchos. Her father, Mr. Stavros Niarchos, was a shareholder in Niniski in the early 1980s when I first came to Newmarket, and with that share in Niniski they bred champion Hernando (Fr), and eventually from him champion Sulamani (Ire). Study Of Man is the third horse from the Niarchos's we have stood at Lanwades.

It's absolutely marvellous to have a son of Deep Impact here because he will suit a whole lot of mares in Europe and internationally. The Deep Impact sons now, with the early loss of the sire, have increased scarcity value and any mare with Kingmambo in her pedigree, such as my own mares by Archipenko (GB), will enjoy a reinforced line with Miesque, which will be very interesting to say the least.

TDN: What are your impressions physically of Study Of Man's first progeny?

KR: In the early stages what we have are short yearlings and foals, and I'm thrilled with them. It's probably incidental, but he looks to be a pure-breeding bay, which is of academic interest, but people like it. I think they're very representative of him and also Deep Impact; they're medium-sized, pretty correct, whole colored bay or with a few markings, no chestnuts and no grays. They're very good movers and as far as we can tell with excellent temperaments, as he has himself.

TDN: Sea The Moon stands his eighth season for his highest fee yet, £25,000. He stood his first six seasons for £15,000 and was £22,500 last year, and is widely regarded as an excellent value sire. Tell us a bit about his trajectory.

KR: Sea The Moon has surprised a few people-external people. He stood for £15,000 for his first six years and he has since increased in fee in 2021 and again in 2022, but even so he compares very favourably to the main stallion population in Europe. People understand that we are not trying to over-egg the pudding by increasing his fee exponentially, but he's done well enough to merit his fee.

Like Study Of Man for Deep Impact, Sea The Moon is the only son of Sea The Stars (Ire) at stud in England, and one of actually quite few sons of Sea The Stars at stud in Europe to date. He was an exceptional racehorse himself and anyone who saw him winning the German Derby by 11 lengths would not likely forget it. I was already in negotiations with his owner/breeders Gestut Gorlsdorf at the time, and we eventually landed him here in Newmarket at Lanwades. I think quite a few people were surprised by this addition, but he was pretty well instantly booked full and has been ever since.

He has attracted, for obvious reasons, a whole lot of mares from Germany, but we also get a lot of mares from France and Ireland here, so it's an international book that he covers, which I think is attractive to breeders as well because it means you have the yearlings spaced out at different sales; you don't get 40 yearlings by the same stallion in one sale. He has been very commercially attractive in all the European markets. For him he had a relatively quiet year last year but he has started very well this year with Pretty Tiger (Ire), who won a listed race at Cagnes about a week ago, and he won a Group 2 last year. There are some interesting-looking Sea The Moons that are now 3-year-olds coming through, but it's early days. I'd like to think that my own Allada (GB), trained by Tim Donworth in France, might be good enough to figure in major contests, and no doubt there are plenty of others waiting in the wings.

TDN: Bobby's Kitten has a couple exciting 3-year-old fillies for this year, while Sir Percy, despite breeding smaller books now, has a pair of Classic hopefuls.

KR: I'm thrilled with the success of Bobby's Kitten having Sandrine, and [debut winner] Heat Of The Moment (GB) looks quite promising too.

Old Sir Percy has come up with two Classic candidates; not only [the listed-winning] Kawida (GB), but also the Lanwades-bred Lucellum (GB) in France. He's trained by Andre Fabre for Sheikh Mohammed and he is a French Derby aspirant. It's pretty good of old Sir Percy with nowadays narrow representation and small crops to come up with two such good 2-year-olds last year.

TDN: You've typically kept a few mares in Kentucky, too. Is that the case again this year?

KR: Sadly, for the first time in 35 years, I don't have a mare in Kentucky. I usually have between two and four mares in Kentucky, and I've always mated them with a view to the produce coming back to Europe. I found very, very good value in the old days in Kentucky; I could not afford the Nureyevs and the Blushing Grooms of this world, but in the layer beneath that the Irish Rivers, Rivermans, that sort of horse, were exceptionally good value for Europe and I used them and indeed also Kingmambo with the help of the Niarchos Family. Smart Strike I used many times. Stormy Atlantic was one of my favourites and he's done me very, very well. Lookin At Lucky and Nyquist were the younger horses I used, but unfortunately the two industries have become more and more divergent. I brought my Lookin at Luckys and my Nyquists back here and people said, 'who are they? We've never heard of them.'

I have one mare in foal to Hard Spun this year and she's come back here, but sadly I am fresh out of mares in Kentucky for the first time in 35 years, which is a regret to me, but I just cannot find stallions within my reach in Kentucky that are suitable for European racing.

I think what is interesting is that there were so many American purchases of yearlings in Europe last year. It's good that the American industry is replenishing with European pedigrees, because 30 or 40 years ago the traffic was all the other way. It would be infinitely attractive to international buyers if pedigrees were again more interactive.

TDN: You have some very exciting fillies and mares to look forward to on the racecourse this year. Tell us about how they're wintering and what the plans might be for the season.

KR: It's early days yet but they've all had their winter holidays and they're all back in training and so far so good. But if they aren't alright at this time of year, they never will be. At the moment all my geese are swans, but we need to see what happens later in the spring.

We might not even run Sandrine in a trial race, but if we do there are two obvious races over seven furlongs, the Nell Gwyn and the [Fred Darling]. I think Andrew Balding would be quite keen to run her first time out in the 1000 Guineas.

I wouldn't say Allada is an early-season mile type. At present we plan to run her in the Listed Prix Rose de Mai on Mar. 10, which I think is the first black-type race for 3-year-old fillies in Europe, and we'll see where we go from there.

Heat Of The Moment might well go in one of the Classic trials at Newbury or Newmarket, but we have an idea of the French 1000 Guineas for her.

It's going to be very difficult for Alpinista to maintain her success at Group 1 level. She's done her bit in Germany, so we have to think of Group 1s closer to home now. Most all of them, other than the Yorkshire Oaks, she would have to meet the colts, and there are some very good colts in training not least Godolphin's two Derby winners. But that's the idea. Albaflora, the idea with her is to try to win a group race of some description and hopefully a Group 1. She's shown she's well up to Group 1 standards. She needs to probably meet the colts and we'll possibly look at opportunities in France and Germany for her.

Lanwades Stud 2022 Mating Plans

ALEA IACTA (GB) (m, 10, Invincible Spirit {Ire}-Almiranta {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}), visits Study Of Man (Jpn)

Alea Iacta is a great-granddaughter of world champion 3-year-old filly Alborada. The winner herself of the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon, Alea Iacta's first three foals are all winners, including Aleas (GB) (Archipenko), who won the Listed Glasgow S. Alea Iacta's fourth foal is a yearling colt by Study Of Man (Jpn), and she is due to Sea The Moon (Ger) this season.

ALOE VERA (GB) (m, 6, Invincible Spirit {Ire}-Almiranta {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}), visits Study Of Man

Aloe Vera is a black-type winning full-sister to Alea Iacta and likewise visits Lanwades's resident G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Study Of Man. Her first foal is a colt by Wootton Bassett (GB).

ALYSSA (GB) (m, 9, Sir Percy {GB}-Almiranta {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}), visits Study Of Man

Alyssa, a G2 Park Hill S.-winning half-sister to Alea Iacta and Aloe Vera, also visits Study Of Man and is due to Kingman (GB). Their half-sister Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), who was second last year in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 British Champions Fillies and Mares S., stays in training this year with Ralph Beckett.

Almiranta has had just one colt, which was unraced, from her first eight foals, and her first four fillies-Alea Iacta, Alyssa, Aloe Vera and Albaflora-are all stakes winners. Her 4-year-old is the Bobby's Kitten filly Alambrista (GB), and she has a 3-year-old Sea The Moon filly named Allemande (GB) and a yearling filly by Study Of Man. Both Almiranta and her listed-winning dam Alvarita (GB) (Selkirk) are due to foal to Study of Man, and their 2022 matings have not been confirmed.

ALL AT SEA (GB) (m, 11, Sea The Stars {Ire}-Albanova {GB}, by Alzao), visits Study Of Man

All At Sea is a daughter of the multiple Group 1-winning Albanova. A multiple French listed winner herself, she is a sister to three stakes winners including Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), the dam of last year's triple Group 1-winning filly Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Two of All At Sea's first three foals are winners, including the listed-placed A La Voile (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and the promising Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), and she visits Study Of Man after foaling to Lope De Vega (Ire).

A LA VOILE (GB) (m, 5, Invincible Spirit {Ire}-All At Sea {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), visits Zarak

“A La Voile visits Zarak for her first covering,” said Rausing. “Her very promising half-brother Eldar Eldarov is by Dubawi, as is Zarak, and Zarak and the mare herself both trace back to the Aga Khan's great Mumtaz Begum. The family diverged and some of them became 'ALs' and some of them became 'Zs' in the Aga Khan's stud book. But it will make a pretty pattern when you look at the hopefully resulting foal. Whether it will work only time will tell, but it will be an interesting one anyway.”

ALGARADE (GB) (m, 18, Green Desert-Alexandrine {Ire}, by Nashwan), visits Sea The Moon

Algarade, a granddaughter of the great producer Alruccaba (Ire) (Crystal Palace {Fr}), is the dam of promising 3-year-old Allada (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), and will return to her sire after foaling a Bobby's Kitten. She has a yearling filly by Time Test (GB).

ALWILDA (GB) (m, 12, Hernando {Fr}-Albanova {GB}, by Alzao), visits Frankel (GB)

Alwilda is a half-sister to All At Sea and is the dam of German champion and triple Group 1 winner Alpinista as her first foal. She has already produced a filly by Iffraaj (GB) this year and returns to Frankel.

LADY JANE DIGBY (GB) (m, 17, Oasis Dream {GB}-Scandalette {GB}, by Niniski), visits Study Of Man

The Group 1-winning Lady Jane Digby has produced seven winners from her first seven foals. She has a filly foal by Sea The Moon and visits Study Of Man, as do her winning daughters Aventuriere (GB) (Archipenko) and Dame Freya Stark (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). A third winning daughter, Francophilia (GB) (Frankel {GB}), is in foal to Study Of Man and visits Sea The Moon.

HERE TO ETERNITY (Stormy Atlantic-Heat Of The Night {GB}, by Lear Fan), visits St Mark's Basilica (Fr)

Here to Eternity's first two foals are the G1 Hong Kong Cup winners Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) and Glorious Forever (GB) (Archipenko). Her 2-year-old Davideo (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is with Ralph Beckett, she has a yearling filly by Dubawi (Ire) and is currently in foal to Study Of Man. She visits Coolmore first-season sire St Mark's Basilica.

HEAT OF THE NIGHT (GB) (m, 20, Lear Fan-Hot Thong {Brz}, by Jarraar), visits Study Of Man

Here To Eternity's dam has a promising 3-year-old for 2022 in Heat Of The Moment (GB) (Bobby's Kitten), and she will visit Study Of Man, having already foaled a filly by him this season.

LEADERENE (GB) (m, 11, Selkirk-La Felicita {GB}, by Shareef Dancer), visits Sir Percy (GB)

A mating with Lanwades elder statesman Sir Percy for the stakes-producing Leaderene will result in a full-sibling to Lucellum (GB), who is a G1 Prix du Jockey Club candidate for Godolphin and trainer Andre Fabre.

LUISA CALDERON (GB) (m, 10, Nayef-La Felicita {GB}, by Shareef Dancer), visits Cityscape

Luisa Calderon is a half-sister to Leaderene and a full-sister to the G1 Prix de l'Opera winner and group producer Lady Marian (Ger) (Nayef). She has a 2-year-old colt by New Approach (Ire) with Ralph Beckett and visits Cityscape, who is by Leaderene's sire Selkirk. “I always use Cityscape and I'm sending two mares to him this year,” Rausing said.

MADAME CHIANG (GB) (m, 11, Archipenko-Robe Chinoise {GB}, by Robellino), visits Siyouni (Fr)

G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. winner Madame Chiang has three winning fillies from three foals of racing age, including the listed-winning and multiple group-placed Oriental Mystique (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Madame Chiang has a 2-year-old Galileo (Ire) colt with Ralph Beckett, a yearling filly by Study Of Man and visits Siyouni this season.

ORIENTAL MYSTIQUE (GB) (m, 5, Kingman {GB}-Madame Chiang {GB}, by Archipenko), visits St Mark's Basilica

While her dam is bound for Normandy to visit France's leading sire Siyouni, Oriental Mystique visits his world champion son St Mark's Basilica at Coolmore after foaling to Study Of Man.

KESARA (GB) (m, 17, Sadler's Wells-Kaldounya {GB}, by Kaldoun {Fr}), mating TBD

Kesara is the dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), and her 2-year-old filly Zaakara (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) has joined Sir Michael Stoute. Kesara is in foal to Study Of Man with a 2022 mating yet to be confirmed. Her winning daughter Kandahari (GB) (Archipenko) also visits Study Of Man, as does Arriviste (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), a granddaughter of Kesara.

STARLIT SANDS (GB) (m, 17, Oasis Dream {GB}-Shimmering Sea {GB}, by Slip Anchor {GB}), visits Mehmas (Ire)

Starlit Sands is a descendant of Lanwades's foundation mare Sushila (Ire) (Petingo {GB}) and has produced six winners from her first seven foals including Sablonne (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a winner at two last year. She visits Mehmas, the third time she has been mated with a Royal Applause-line sire, the others being Expert Eye and Acclamation.

“Starlit Sands hasn't really worked with Royal Applause yet, but I'm hoping I'll get it right at the third attempt,” Rausing said. “Maybe I'm pushing this too far by trying a third time, but you never know.”

SEYCHELLOISE (GB) (m, 10, Pivotal {GB}-Starlit Sands {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}), visits Frankel (GB)

A daughter of Starlit Sands, Seychelloise is the dam of two winners from two to race headed by last year's G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. and G3 Albany S. winner Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten). She visits Frankel after foaling to Sea The Moon.

SANDS OF TIME (GB) (Bobby's Kitten-Starlit Sands {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}), visits Ardad (GB)

Another winning daughter of Starlit Sands, Sands Of Time visits one of the standout members of last year's first-season sire crop in Ardad at Overbury Stud. “With Sandrine's three-parts sister Sands Of Time, I'm trying to stay with a sprinting outlook, so that's why she goes to Ardad, who has done exceptionally well with his first crop,” Rausing said.

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Pennsylvania 500, Pocono Raceway

Kurt Busch dominated at the beginning, surged back to the lead late and raced to his second win of the season in the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway.
The defending NASCAR Nextel Cup champion, favorite on all the Sportsbooks odds, led 110 of the first 150 laps on the 2.5-mile triangle and kept his fifth-place spot in the points standings with six races left to decide the 10 drivers who will race for the title.

The “Chase for the Cup” began at New Hampshire International Speedway on Sept. 18. Busch passed second-place finisher Rusty Wallace coming out of Turn 3 with 17 laps left and held on to the lead even as four cautions came out before the end, which forced three extra laps and the green-white checkered flag
Pocono’s unique 2.5-mile tri-oval has hosted NASCAR’s races since 1974 when the first cup was run up there. The Mattioli family, owner of the track, has been through some ups and downs while battling to make the triangular racetrack a success.

Soon after the first Indy Car race at Pocono, the Schaefer 500 in 1971, Hurricane Agnes hit the area. The ensuing economic crunch and energy crisis threatened Pocono Raceway’s and many other tracks didn’t survive. Pocono Raceway owners Joe and Rose Mattioli considered selling out.

“We were almost bankrupt two or three times but were too dumb to realize it,” Joe Mattioli said. “We were on the verge of selling the track when we received a telephone call from Bill France Sr., who asked us to meet with him in New York.”
“At the meeting he tried to convince me not to sell the track, to stick it out and stay the course. He gave us moralsupport and a lot of good advice.”

“He and his wife, Annie B., came to the race the next two years to show their support for Pocono Raceway. Shortly thereafter he and his son, Bill Jr., gave us our second NASCAR race and as they say, the rest is history.”

“Had it not been for Bill France Sr., Annie B. and Bill Jr., Pocono Raceway would not be here today.”

Since getting that second Cup date in 1982, the track has continued to grow. The Mattiolis welcome nearly 100,000 ticket holders to their home in the Pocono’s twice each year. On the track, Bill Elliott, Rusty Wallace, the late Tim Richmond and Darrell Waltrip are among the track’s standouts.

Letter To The Editor: ‘What Has Happened To My Favorite Sport?’

“We had faces then.”

That immortal line Gloria Swanson, as aging Norma Desmond, says to William Holden in Sunset Boulevard about the heyday of her early film career. What has happened to my favorite sport? The faces of horse racing's magnificent history have been overshadowed by those of unscrupulous so-called horsemen who have dragged the sport I love through a steaming pile of drug-riddled muck.

The names have been coming at such a regular clip. Dick Dutrow, suspended for a decade; Jason Servis, indicted along with 27 other people by federal authorities on charges related to manufacturing, procuring, distributing and administering illegal substances to racehorses. Then there is Jorge Navarro, sentenced by a federal judge to five years in prison for his role in a performance-enhancing drug scandal, a man so proud of his drug-induced cheating, that he kept a pair of shoes in his barn emblazoned with his nickname–Juice Man. The beautiful XY Jet died while under Navarro's tutelage and the brilliant Shancelot's reputation tarnished under the suspicion his wins came with the assistance of chemical aid.

In the last week, we have seen Chip Woolley, trainer of 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, suspended for six months for having illegal possession of a needle and syringe in his Arizona barn; Juan Carlos Vazquez suspended for two positive tests of a drug that metabolizes into central nervous system stimulants. Of course he is appealing.
We saw Marcus Vitali, handed a twelve month suspension for a meth positive in one of his horses, only the latest in a years-long series of drug infractions from Florida to Pennsylvania.

Then there is the disgrace of Bob Baffert. Nearly 30 drug positives during the course of his career, multiple sudden deaths that have never been fully explained  and a history of denials, shirking responsibility, blame games, and outlandish excuses — poppy seed bagels, cold medicine, pain patches, contaminated hay, skin cream. I work as a teacher's aide at an elementary school, and I am used to hearing wild excuses for unfinished or missing assignments, but Baffert takes the cake.

And what can I say about poor Medina Spirit. He was, for a week, the feel good story racing needed — a modestly-bred colt born to a tiny breeder in Florida and sold for a pittance who ran his heart out literally. With his drug positive, his Derby win may be taken away, and even if it is allowed to stand after all of Baffert's legal maneuvering, the brave little colt's victory, and his reputation, will forever be tarnished.

It makes me so angry when television commentators and print journalists call Baffert the “Face of Racing.” NO!! He and these other men have hijacked the face of racing. To me, they represent greed, egotism, and a cheater's mentality to win at all costs without a care for the horses in their charge.

The face of racing is and always has been, the horses–Man o' War, Citation, Secretariat, Dr. Fager, Buckpasser, Seattle Slew, Ruffian, Affirmed, John Henry, Forego. Personal Ensign, Zenyatta, American Pharoah, and my favorite of recent years, Elate. These are magical names and there are so many more. These are the faces of racing.

If they could speak, these horses, now overshadowed by the problems faced by racing in recent years, can look back to a time when they were the names on everybody's lips and say, “We had faces then.”

—Elizabeth Martiniak
Turfwriter/fan 
Janesville, Wisc.

If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, please write to info at paulickreport.com and include contact information where you may be reached if editorial staff have any questions.

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