racism | Horse Racing Free Tips

Guillot Horse With Racist Name Wins At Aqueduct, Sparks Outrage

After a horse reportedly named after a racist slur won the first race at Aqueduct Jan. 8, reaction on social media and throughout the industry was swift to denounce the name and trainer Eric Guillot, who had posted a picture of the horse and its name days earlier on social media.

The 3-year-old gelding by Uncle Mo, who won his debut Friday, was named Grape Soda, a racist stereoptype directed at African Americans. A Tweet on January 1 on Eric Guillot’s Twitter feed indicated that he had been named after a TVG announcer. It was clear on Twitter that most people believe Guillot was talking about Ken Rudulph, the only on-air African-American at the network.

“This colt will run next week and has unique name in honor of a TVG analyst,” Tweeted Guillot, with an emoji representing the Black Power fist. One of Guillot’s followers, Steven Kahn, Tweeted back at Guillot, “What’s his name??” Guillot responded, “GRAPE SODA.” He followed that up on January 2 with a Tweet that said, “GRAPE SODA breezed 49.3 smooooth a menthol Kool,” and an emoji with a Black hand giving the thumbs up symbol, and posted a gif of an African American man making a “shhh” motion.

After the race yesterday, Tweeted that he had named the horse after a fond childhood memory of drinking the beverage. “When I went home for Xmas my 88 year Mother got a kick out of me naming a horse after my favorite drink when I was little boy she always reminded me of it for years! I’ll send her a pic.” (Grammar and usage copied as is from Tweet.)

Reached by telephone, Guillot said that he would not comment on the issue. “I am not commenting on this stupid media-frenzied stupid (expletive) thing,” he told the TDN. “Is that what you called me about?” When the TDN said that it was indeed what we had called about, he replied, “I’ve gotten 10 calls and that’s what’s wrong with this country. I’m the furthest thing from racist. But if that’s what everybody wants to believe, go right ahead.”

The TDN subsequently asked Guillot if rumors that he had planned to retire before running this horse were true, and he confirmed that he had retired. “That was the last horse I ever ran. This has been something that’s been in the making for a while now.” At around noon on Saturday, he posted a video on Twitter which he said depicted his first day of retirement, spent “driving west” and drinking Starbucks.

The New York Racing Association was quick to ban Guillot from receiving stalls or entering horses at their tracks..

“Racism is completely unacceptable in all forms,” read a statement from NYRA President and CEO David O’Rourke. “NYRA rejects Eric Guillot’s toxic words and divisive behavior in the strongest terms. At this time, he will no longer be permitted to enter horses at any NYRA track nor will he be allocated stalls on NYRA grounds. In addition, we will review what further steps may be available to us. Our racing community is diverse, and we stand for inclusion.”

As of Friday, Guillot had four stalls at Belmont. They had been vacated by Saturday.

Aidan Butler, the Chief Operating Officer at the Stronach Group’s 1/ST Racing, said that Guillot would no longer be welcome at their tracks, either. “1/ST RACING stands firmly against the inexcusable actions of trainer Eric Guillot,” said Butler in a statement emailed to the media. “There is no place in the sport of Thoroughbred racing for racism in any form. Our company will not tolerate the use of hateful and divisive language or behavior. 1/ST RACING agrees fully with the New York Racing Association’s move to ban Mr. Guillot from racing and will take the same action. Mr. Guillot is no longer welcomed at any 1/ST RACING track.” Stronach tracks include Santa Anita, Golden Gate, Gulfstream, Laurel and Pimlico.

The Jockey Club issued a statement Saturday morning that said that the naming of the horse violated the harassment policy in the American Stud Book.

“The Jockey Club was notified yesterday that the name Grape Soda, which was approved for a 2018 gelding, was potentially offensive. Upon review we have confirmed that the name is ineligible under Rule 6.F.11. of the Principal Rules and Requirements of The American Stud Book, and we have begun the name change process in consultation with the current owner, which must be completed as soon as possible.”

Rule 6.F.11 prohibits using, “Names that appear to be designed to harass, humiliate, or disparage a specific individual, group of individuals, or entity.”

The horse was claimed in his start Friday by owner Lawrence Roman and trainer Rob Atras. Reached by telephone Saturday morning, Roman said he was very upset to learn what the horse’s name meant.

“I will absolutely change the horse’s name,” said Roman. “I had no idea this was a slur. I don’t want a name like that. I am very conscious of things like that. I will be calling my trainer immediately and doing whatever we can do to get his name changed. It’s despicable that someone would name a horse for those reasons. You don’t do that. We have enough problems as it is in the world. I promise you that that horse will not race again under that name.”

Roman later reported that he planned to rename the gelding “Respect For All,” and that he would donate 10% of the horse’s earnings to New York racing backstretch workers.

“I want to do this so something good comes out of something bad,” said Roman.

By 1 p.m., The Jockey Club had announced that they had approved the new name.

Before being claimed, the gelding was owned by Cypress Creek Equine. Cypress Creek’s Kevin Moody issued a statement through a spokesperson. “Cypress Creek Equine would like to denounce the actions of their former trainer Eric Guillot,” the statement said. “Mr. Guillot will no longer train for or represent Cypress Creek Equine due to his action on social media. Cypress Creek apologizes for any ill feelings and does not condone this type of behavior.” The spokesperson said that the horse had originally been named Kirkstetter, and a Jockey Club spokesman confirmed that the horse’s name had been changed Dec. 29, 2020.

Ken Rudulph told the TDN that he did not wish to comment directly on the story, but did engage in conversations on Twitter with some of his followers.

“The winner in race #1 from Aqueduct is the perfect example of my issue with horse racing,” he Tweeted Friday after the race had been run. “The winning trainer is a disgusting and racist man. But, if you want to make money in this game you have to be able to ignore that stuff. I can’t do it. But y’all carry on with your $11.” Grape Soda paid $11.20 to win.

In addition to many messages of support, Rudulph got some pushback on Twitter, including one person who wrote, “It was a horse. Let it go.”

Rudulph reacted Saturday. “Y’all sent lots of angry tweets and DM’s my way. Received text messages from friends and colleagues. Many viewers attacked and questioned my perspective. I told you that horse racing has a TON of racists hiding in plain sight. Now…what are you gonna do about it? Let’s go.”

Rudulph’s network, TVG, put out a statement as well from CEO Kip Levin, which read: “TVG commends NYRA for taking swift action on the matter involving Eric Guillot. There is simply no place in society for racism and we condemn his behavior, a deliberate attempt to slur one of our employees, in the strongest terms. Our network will no longer air races in which he has an entry. We also commend the action by new owner Larry Roman to change the horse’s name. We will continue to work toward making racing more inclusive and to attracting a new generation of fans to the sport.”

Joe Appelbaum, the head of New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, said, “Racism, whether overt implicit, has no place in our community. NYTHA is working with The Jockey Club and the new owner and we are hopeful that a name change will be coming shortly. What is wrong with people? It would be so much easier to just be nice to everybody.”

Additional reporting by Sue Finley

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‘Human Error’ Behind Filly Named With Racial Slur; BHA To Review Naming Process

A filly racing at Wolverhampton this Saturday ignited social media when fans recognized her name as a racial slur, reports The Guardian. The offensive name was apparently an innocent mistake made by her owner, Emma Evans: the filly is sired by Bungle Inthejungle and was named “Jungle Bunny” in reference to a child's computer game called Jungle Bunny Run.

The filly has since been renamed Jungle Bells.

Two hours after the filly's race, the BHA wrote on Twitter acknowledging that the name was “deeply offensive and should not have been permitted. It was not picked up by the team responsible for filtering names. This is a human process and this was a human error.”

The British Horseracing Authority plans to review the process by which it approves racehorse names after the racial slur slipped by the naming committee.

In addition, a BHA spokesperson said: “We reiterate the apology that was issued after the horse ran. Racist language is not tolerated in our sport, whether intentional or accidental. We are opposed to racism and prejudice in all its forms and are committed to making British racing an open, diverse and inclusive industry that is welcoming to all.”

Oscar De La Torre: Racism Within PETA Needs To Be Addressed

Oscar de la Torre, an activist and organizer who has led efforts to protect backstretch workers at Southern California racetracks, recently authored an opinion piece in the Spanish language newspaper La Opinión in which he said animal rights extremists have subjected Hispanic workers to openly hostile racism while protesting against horse racing at Santa Anita and Del Mar.

“Based on my experience over the last several years helping to organize largely immigrant Latinx workers in the horse racing community in California,” de la Torre wrote in an English language version of the article sent to the Paulick Report, “it is time for the animal advocacy extremists who oppose the sport to take a long look in the mirror and ask themselves some hard questions, too.

“At one demonstration,” he wrote, “a PETA supporter called us 'uneducated monkeys' and another told our workers to 'go back to their taco truck.' One white animal advocate inferred that a Latina woman on our side 'looked like a prostitute' and on that same day the San Diego County Sheriffs arrested a PETA activist for pushing and injuring a horse racing supporter.

“Unfortunately,” de la Torre added, “the reality is that these animal advocacy extremists are primarily privileged white people for whom animal welfare is a higher priority than the economic well being of their neighbors of color.

Following is the full translated version of the article.

Racism Within PETA Needs To Be Addressed
By Oscar de la Torre
Our country has reached a point of reckoning as it relates to racism. Mahatma Gandhi's celebrated quote, “we must be the change we want to see in the world,” couldn't be more relevant than today. George Floyd's tragic death at the hands of Minneapolis police was the flashpoint that inspired activism not seen since the days of the Civil Rights Movement. It has led to many companies, cultural institutions and other organizations re-examining their own commitments to equality and diversity. It has spurred a national conversation about systemic racism, inherent bias and unequal treatment of people of color — some conscious racism by people of ill will and some unconscious support of systems and institutions that need mending.

Based on my experience over the last several years helping to organize largely immigrant Latinx workers in the horse racing community in California, it is time for the animal advocacy extremists who oppose the sport to take a long look in the mirror and ask themselves some hard questions, too.

In the last 18 months, as backstretch workers have rallied to protect their livelihoods confronting animal advocates at California's race tracks and at public meetings of the California Horse Racing Board, our people have been subjected to openly hostile racism from those who demand a ban on horse racing. At one demonstration, a PETA supporter called us “uneducated monkeys” and another told our workers to “go back to their taco truck.” One white animal advocate inferred that a Latina woman on our side “looked like a prostitute” and on that same day the San Diego County Sheriffs arrested a PETA activist for pushing and injuring a horse racing supporter. Most recently on opening day at Del Mar one of their prominent leaders gave made an obscene gesture at us and pulled a full “Karen” by calling the police on some of our workers, claiming falsely that they were threatening to infect her with Covid 19.

Unfortunately, the reality is that these animal advocacy extremists are primarily privileged white people for whom animal welfare is a higher priority than the economic well being of their neighbors of color. What else can we conclude from their callous disregard of our livelihoods? The racist remarks and treatment we have experienced points to a deeper problem within these groups.

A quick Google search on “racism, PETA” produced a series of stories where PETA compares the enslavement of blacks to animal abuse. This isn't new for PETA. In one of its provocative ads, PETA compared eating meat to the treatment of Jews during the Holocaust. More recently, PETA operatives hijacked the Black Lives Matter movement to promote their rejection of “speciesism.” In an ad barred from airing during this year's Super Bowl, the organization depicted animals taking a knee while the national anthem played in the background. Perhaps a little sensitivity training is in order.

Unless I missed something, based on a review of its web site and recent annual reports, there is not a single person of color on PETA's Board or among its executive management team. I wonder if all those Hollywood celebrities (also exclusively white per the PETA web site) who lend their likeness and send donations to PETA would think twice if they knew how vastly under-represented Blacks and Latinos are there?

The people I work with know that race horses receive the best care possible. They are tended to round the clock and kept strong, fit and healthy. The animal advocacy extremists want racing banned, with no consideration for the consequences of that ban. A prohibition of the sport would create a humanitarian crisis, as it would end thousands of jobs for decent, hard-working people and put them at economic risk during a homelessness crisis throughout our state. And it would create an animal welfare crisis as these horses would face mass euthanasia without the income from racing that supports their care. Knowing this to be true, the California State Legislature and Gov. Newsom have implemented a series of reforms to strengthen the oversight and safety of the horses under our care and every worker I know welcomes the change as our jobs depend on horses living and thriving.

But put aside for a moment our vastly different points of view about horse racing. As the country reflects on systems and ideologies that oppress and marginalize people of color, it is time to call out the hypocrisy of those who espouse to advocate for animal rights while at the same time show blatant disregard for human rights.

Oscar de la Torre is an activist and organizer working to end systemic racism while advancing social, environmental and economic justice throughout California. He has served eighteen years on the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District Board of Education and is President of the California Latino School Board Association. He is the founder of the Pico Youth & Family Center, an organization credited with reducing youth violence and advancing peace, unity & social justice in LA's Westside communities. Currently, he is the lead organizer working to strengthen protections for backstretch workers in horse racing throughout Southern California. He can be reached at odelatorre16@yahoo.com

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VanMeter Extends Apology for Racist Comments

One day after his racist comments on social media were made public, Tom VanMeter sent the Thoroughbred Daily News a statement which he asked be published in the Tuesday night edition.

“Over the weekend, comments I made on a private page of a social media platform surfaced which have since come under scrutiny due to their racist nature. I will not attempt to deny that I wrote the comments, nor will I attempt to justify my actions. Certainly, I am frustrated with the current social situation in our country, however, what I wrote was unjustifiable. I was wrong and am disgusted by my actions. Contrary to what these comments might suggest, in no way do those responses represent my true feelings towards my friends and community members of color. Moving forward I am committed to listening and learning as to how I can be a better ally and advocate in my community and within the racing industry as to how we can better foster inclusivity for all. In the meantime, as a gesture of goodwill, I have made a donation to the NAACP in support of the important work this organization continues to do. I am hopeful all the industry stakeholders and the community at large can forgive me. I can and will do better.”

Monday, in response to a post asking people to retweet if they planned to boycott the NFL after they changed their policy to allow players to peacefully protest racial inequality in America during the national anthem by taking a knee, VanMeter referred to the National Football League, substituting an abbreviation of the “N-word,” a racist slur, for the word National. He also said of protestors, “Put em back in their cage!!!”

VanMeter’s son, Griffin, made his own post on Facebook yesterday, which was critical of his father’s behavior.

Griffin posted the following.

“Today, my Dad wrote racist comments on a racist post on Facebook. Luckily for him he got called out for it as he should have. I’m glad that it was public because his racism is a conversation I wanted to have with him for over 20 years but never had the courage to start. I am sorry to both of us and all of us for that. I care deeply about my dad, and also care deeply about fighting racism.

It hurts my heart for somebody I love to be so misguided. Yet, I understand how he got there. It hurts my heart to think about people reading those bigoted words. It hurts my heart to think of the generations of people who have been denied life and progress because of white supremacy and systematic racism. I hope my Dad can unlearn the racism that was taught to him and that he later taught to me. I hope that he can learn love, acceptance, and promotion of all people. As white people, especially overly privileged white people, we must do our part to change oppressive individuals and systems. Luckily, my Dad will have that opportunity and I will do my part to support him on his anti-racism journey. I’m not looking or need validation for this post. I’m looking for everyone to examine what we can do better to make this world more livable for everyone. Some of that might include deep reflection and reconciliation of our actions. Black Lives Matter.”

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