Tag: People

For the second consecutive season, Tampa Bay Downs jockey Pablo Morales has been sidelined as a result of a freak injury.

But after fearing he could miss as many as eight weeks of action with a broken left wrist, the 35-year-old rider received good news today from Tampa orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Creighton.

“I went there not too hopeful because I had a lot of swelling and it was hurting a lot,” Morales said. “But (Creighton) said the fracture is small and the pain is probably from tendon and ligament damage, and that it probably won't be too long” before he can return to action.

Morales was fitted with a removeable cast he needs to wear until his next visit to Creighton in a couple of weeks. Morales does not want to put a timetable on his return, but an optimistic forecast is that he could return late next month.

“I'm in a better mood than I was (Monday),” said Morales, who won on three of his 11 mounts during the opening week of the 2023-2024 Oldsmar season. “(Creighton) said he expects me to bounce back in a few weeks, but we'll see where we're at” in mid-December.

Morales was preparing to work a horse Sunday when the horse reared and then stumbled, launching the rider forward as he clung to the reins. When the horse landed, Morales twisted his left wrist hard on the back of the horse's neck, resulting in the fracture.

A preliminary X-ray taken Sunday revealed the injury, causing 48 hours of worry.

“I was pretty excited the way the meet started because it looked like I was opening up some opportunities, and now I'm not going to be able to do anything about it,” he said Monday. “It affects your mind, but I have no choice but to wait and come back when I'm ready.”

On March 19 last season, Morales was aboard a horse in the starting gate before a race when the horse to his outside bit his right pinkie finger before rearing and landing on her haunches. The bite nearly severed the finger, and surgery was performed that night by Creighton to reattach the pinkie using a pin and a wire.

Despite missing the last seven weeks of the meet, Morales still finished third in the Oldsmar standings with 53 winners and was able to return to action on May 15 at Presque Isle Downs, where he rode 106 winners to win his fourth title there in a row and ninth overall.

Tampa Bay Downs horsemen, as well as fans and handicappers who value his overall talent and his skills on the track's turf course, will be heartened to learn he should not miss much time.

“I've received a lot of well-wishes online and on social media, and it means a lot to have people supporting me through these tough times,” Morales said.

The post Pablo Morales Sidelined With Broken Wrist After Morning Training Incident At Tampa appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Saffie Joseph Jr. had good reason to celebrate when he successfully defended his Championship Meet training title over Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher last season. The 36-year-old Barbados native, however, was denied the chance to savor those back-to-back titles at Gulfstream Park's prestigious winter session.

Following the sudden deaths of two horses in competition at Churchill Downs less than a month later, Joseph was suspended by the Louisville, Ky. track May 4. Joseph-trained Lord Miles, the Wood Memorial (G2) winner, was not allowed to run in the Kentucky Derby (G1) two days later.

Joseph was subsequently reinstated by Churchill Downs following a Kentucky Horse Racing Commission investigation that found no conclusive causes for the deaths of the Ken Ramsey-owned horses.

“It broke me,” Joseph said of the emotional toll of dealing with the tragic deaths of two horses and Churchill Downs' subsequent action against him, “but it made me stronger, if anything. I give all the credit to our team and all the owners who have supported me.”

Although C2 Racing Stable LLC continued to support Joseph, their 2022 Florida Derby (G1) winner White Abarrio was moved to trainer Richard Dutrow in New York. White Abarrio went on to win the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga and the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita.

Joseph prefers to look to the future rather than dwell on the past while gearing up for his quest for a Championship Meet three-peat that gets underway Friday.

“I just want to get better – that's always my goal,” Joseph said. “This year we've had a lot of adversity, and everyone stuck together. It taught me all about life.”

Stable stars Skippylongstocking and O'Connor are being pointed to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 27.

“They're going to the Pegasus, and I think we have a good shot to win. If everything breaks right, I think we have two strong contenders,” Joseph said.

Skippylongstocking, a multiple graded-stakes winner, is coming off a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita. O'Connor returned to winning form in his most recent start in the Fayette (G2) at Keeneland.

“O'Connor, it was good to see him finally have a good race. I always thought a lot of him. He was impressive in his debut and then he disappointed in the Harlan's Holiday and ran bad in last year's Pegasus,” Joseph said. “It gave him confidence. It gave us confidence. He's probably going to run in the [Dec. 30] Harlan's Holiday (G3) before the Pegasus.”

Joseph hopes to get off to a fast start with a stakes victory on opening weekend, when he is scheduled to saddle undefeated R Harper Rose for a start in the $300,000 My Dear Girl, the 1 1/16-mile final of the fillies division of the 2023 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes.

Joseph prevailed over Pletcher in the win column, 47-41, last season to defend the first Championship Meet title that he won over the Hall of Famer, 58-46, during the 2021-2022 season. Following a second-place finish for the 2020-2021 Championship Meet, during which Pletcher won his 18th consecutive title at the prestigious winter meet, Joseph has won eighth consecutive titles at Gulfstream Park, including the recently concluded Sunshine Meet title in which he tied Victor Barboza Jr.

Joseph had early success in Barbados, where he became the youngest trainer to sweep the country's Triple Crown with Areutalkintome in 2009 at the age of 22. He ventured to South Florida two years later with lofty goals that have driven his success.

The post ‘It Broke Me, But It Made Me Stronger’: Saffie Joseph Ready To Move Beyond Adversity Of 2023 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Blue Grass Farms Charities (BGFC) is proud to announce the Dr. Herb Riddle Dental Fund, beginning in 2024. This fund will ensure that horsemen and women who do not have dental insurance, or additional income for such need, can request assistance for examinations, and routine/emergency procedures.

Dr. Tom Riddle has heard many stories of farm workers dealing with oral health issues. He also knows that the cost involved for dental care continues to be overwhelmingly expensive for them. In 2019, Dr. Riddle's brother, Dr. Herb Riddle, DMD, passed away. Dr. Riddle and his wife, Margaret, wanted to honor Herb by establishing a dental fund.

“Margaret and I both want to do something to honor my older brother who passed  away too young. We thought of honoring him by establishing a fund through the  Blue Grass Farms Charities in which we would pay for dental care for horse farm  workers in Kentucky. Blue Grass Farms Charities does a great job providing for the  horse community in our area and thus, we can support a charity which we strongly  believe in and honor my brother with a dental fund,” stated Dr. Riddle. “Many horse farm workers view dental care as optional. They do not realize the importance of taking care of their teeth to their overall health. It is Margaret's and my hope that the establishment of the Dr. Herb Riddle Dental Fund with Blue Grass  Farms Charities will be an encouragement to visit their dentist regularly.”

For the past four years, the charity has received the Delta Dental of Kentucky grant, which provides emergency and routine procedures designated for the horsemen. This grant has become an essential part of the charity's healthcare assistance since emergency extractions were the only procedures covered. Currently, farm employees may apply for dental care by meeting the criteria of employment with a farm or track facility. This grant has 'opened the flood gates' for so many in need of dental care and has been the charity's number one requested assistance.  The Delta Dental grant money regularly runs out before year-end because of this great need.

Therefore, the Dr. Herb Riddle Dental Fund will be vital for the increased asks for dental  assistance.

“When Dr. Riddle called to say that he and Margaret wanted to establish a dental care fund for the workers, the Board of Directors and I were overjoyed. In our discussions, we agreed that Bluegrass Community Foundation would be the ideal platform to manage the Fund,” stated Julie Kwasniewski, Executive Director at Blue Grass Farms Charities. “Our partnership with Delta Dental and now the Dr. Herb Riddle Dental Fund, allows the charity to continue making healthier smiles for the Central Kentucky horsemen. We are grateful for the Riddles and their support.”

If you would like to contribute to the Dr. Herb Riddle Dental Fund/Blue Grass Farms Charities, you  may do so directly to Bluegrass Community Foundation, 499 E High St STE 112, Lexington, KY  40507. 499 E High St STE 112, Lexington, KY 40507.

Blue Grass Farms Charities' mission is to provide health and human services to those who work in Central Kentucky's Thoroughbred Industry. Visit www.bgfcky.org; email info@bgfcky.org or  call 859.219.0910 for more information, or check out on www.facebook.com/bgfcky or X at  https://twitter.com/BGFCharities

The post Blue Grass Farms Charities Announces Dr. Herb Riddle Dental Fund appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Golden Gate Fields has hired Bill Downes as track announcer for the upcoming 2023-2024 Winter/Spring meet. Downes has called at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash., for their last two race seasons and comes to Golden Gate with over two decades of experience in the announcer's booth.

“We look forward to having Bill call our races,” said Golden Gate Fields Vice President and General Manager David Duggan. “He has called all over the country and provides viewers and listeners with an accurate description of a race.”

Along with his stint at Emerald, Downes has also described the on-track action at Beulah Park, Ellis Park, Indiana Grand, Presque Isle Downs, and River Downs. He began his race calling career at Arapahoe Park in 1999. A Chicago native, Downes grew up attending Arlington Park with his father, which quickly culminated into a lifelong passion for Thoroughbred racing.

Santa Anita track announcer Frank Mirahmadi will be calling the final two weeks of the Golden Gate Fall Meet, which ends on Sunday, Dec. 10. The Winter/Spring Meet begins the day after Christmas, Tuesday, Dec. 26, and runs through mid-June on a Friday through Sunday basis.

The post Bill Downes Named Track Announcer For Upcoming Meet At Golden Gate Fields appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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