Tag: The Paddock

With the Hall of Fame induction ceremony of Beholder, Tepin Royal Heroine, and Hillsdale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., I would like to make a case for a forgotten champion, a filly from the early 1960s who has been on the ballot in the past but failed to garner enough votes. I am writing to make a case for her in the hopes she will sometime soon become enshrined.

I am speaking of the gorgeous filly Lamb Chop. She was a member of the first crop by Bold Ruler and his first champion. She was out of a daughter of Triple Crown hero Count Fleet and from the immediate family of Pilate, Cosmic Bomb, and Prince John. Lamb Chop was an elegant chestnut with a broad blaze and a gentle temperament around the barn but all business on the track. She was bred by Bull Hancock's Claiborne Farm and raced by William Haggin Perry on a foal-sharing agreement the two gentlemen had.

Lamb Chop raced 23 times and won 12 times. Her 3-year-old campaign saw her race from winter in California to Aqueduct in the late autumn. She made 15 starts that season and won nine. Her victory skein included the La Centinela Stakes, Santa Susana Stakes, Comely Stakes, Jersey Belle Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks, Monmouth Oaks, Gazelle Handicap, Firenze Handicap, and the Spinster Stakes. Five of these races would later be classified as Grade 1 at some point after the introduction of the grading system for American races.

For any horse to win the equivalent of five Grade 1 races in a single season is a huge accomplishment–something that even Beholder did not do.

Lamb Chop did suffer two heartbreaking nose losses in the Alabama Stakes and the Beldame Stakes, and she also was third in the Acorn and Mother Goose Stakes to a tenacious bay buzzsaw named Spicy Living, a daughter of Gallant Man (Bold Ruler's great rival) out of a full sister to Nasrullah. Lamb Chop took the measure of Spicy Living in the Comely Stakes, CCA Oaks, and Monmouth Oaks. These two fillies engaged in an intense rivalry that spring and summer of 1963.

Lamb Chop also displayed her versatility when she ran in the seven-furlong Test Stakes at Saratoga and then the mile and a quarter Alabama in her next start. She was second in both, but did not go down easily in either.

Fresh off her championship season, Lamb Chop took on the best older males in the San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita in the winter of 1964. She was second to the formidable Gun Bow that day. To give an idea of what an accomplishment that was, Gun Bow would win the equivalent of six Grade 1 races in 1964 and only Kelso denied him a championship.

Tragically, Lamb Chop broke down while attempting to take Gun Bow on again in the Strub Stakes and had to be humanely euthanized.

During her racing career, Lamb Chop won 12 times from 23 starts and was only out of the top three twice, and one of those was when she was fatally injured. That level of consistency is what makes terrific racehorses.

Over twenty years ago, I wrote an article on Lamb Chop and published in the old SPUR magazine. I had been fascinated by Lamb Chop ever since I purchased an original oil painting of her by Nancy Beldon at an antique shop over 30 years ago.

I even spoke to Lamb Chop's owner, William Haggin Perry by phone shortly before his death in 1993. He told me stories of her beauty, her personality, her courage, and his hope that she would one day be able to join Gamely, his other great filly by Bold Ruler, in the Hall of Fame. He even mailed me a photo of his own oil painting of Lamb Chop, done by Milton Menasco. Mr. Perry was such a gentleman, in ill health but happily talking to a young (back then) horse-crazy woman, sharing his memories of a filly I had never seen race (being a toddler at the time), but nonetheless was captivated by her.

Today, Lamb Chop is all but forgotten, except maybe as a trivia question as to who was the first champion sired by Bold Ruler. Lamb Chop does not rest under green grass and flowers as does Ruffian and Go For Wand. Lamb Chop's grave is located on the Santa Anita backstretch, out of sight from racetrack visitors. She, along with Roving Boy and Quicken Tree, lie under old, worn, and faded Astro-turf, with a water pump and track equipment nearby. I did get to see her grave many years ago, when on a dark day, I just drove to the track and begged a security guard to let me visit it. Since I was a harmless, horse-crazy woman, he kindly took me to see the graves.

Lamb Chop was a terrific champion. She deserves to have her racetrack accomplishments recognized with enshrinement in the Hall of Fame and I hope her day comes someday soon.

Elizabeth Martiniak, Janesville, Wisc.

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The post Letter To The Editor: Lamb Chop Deserves Hall Of Fame Consideration appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The recent release of the information that Medina Spirit was negative for betamethasone on a pre-Derby test, while demonstrably positive on a post-Derby test, is being waved about as a stunning mystery. Has no one on either side ever been around a real live horse before?

This new revelation is not likely evidence of a nefarious plot to nail Bob Baffert. The new revelation is not likely evidence  of dirty deeds and an effort to cheat by anyone in the Baffert barn.

How could he be treated the same way with Otomax every day, and only the post-race test be positive??? All that had to happen was for Medina Spirit to have acted like a normal horse, at just the wrong moment, just after an application of Otomax to his rash.

Discard all the wild theories and just go with the one explanation that fits ALL of the facts we know. Shortly after the Otomax was applied, Medina Spirit reached around and scratched his itchy backside with his teeth. He therefore got a mouthful of Otomax at a point close to the race. Possibly the day before the Derby, maybe the day of (though it is against the rules to use any topical containing a steroid on race day). We can't tell. It probably does not happen very often, hence why is is commonly, and legitimately prescribed by vets. (As was done in this case.) Should Bob Baffert have known that Otomax contained betamethasone? Maybe, but he had probably been using it without issue for years. Even his vets did not realize it could give a positive test.

This is an entirely likely scenario and explains everything:
1) How Medina Spirit could test positive in a post race sample, after the Kentucky Derby.
2) How Medina Spirit could test negative while on the same regime, before the Kentucky Derby.
3) Why Bob Baffert was so certain that Medina Spirit had not had any joints injected with betamethasone, resulting in his disastrously vociferous public denials of betamethasone use.
4) Why the special Baffert ordered lab tests (even if perhaps not sufficiently validated) showed betamethasone valerate and no betamethasone acetate or sodium phosphate.

Horses are horses, and do not read rule books. There are obvious ways after the fact, to prevent a positive test from occurring after use of Otomax. But no one had to do anything nefarious or odd, to simply explain what most likely occurred to cause all of these problems.

The blind “haters” do not have evidence of blatant cheating, the blind “defenders” do not have evidence of anyone out to get Bob Baffert. Bob Baffert in complete innocence had something fall through the cracks, and the results have been obvious.

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What should be done? That is tougher. The KHRC list of banned substances just lists betamethasone in the substances not allowed to be found in a post-race sample. There is no distinction made regarding the form of betamethasone. Testing is not widely available to distinguish between chemical forms. The KHRC used the only available test for betamethasone. Yet their only detailed information on use of betamethasone does specifically distinguish the forms of concern as betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate — forms not apparent in Medina Spirit's samples. These are withdrawal *recommendations* directed specifically at preventing injection of joints in the two weeks prior to racing. This restriction is critically important to reduce catastrophic breakdowns. Systemic use of betamethasone gets a toss comment, that systemic use of betamethasone might result in longer withdrawal times. The pubic also needs to understand that these recommendations are only that, and DO NOT protect a trainer who follows those recommendations and still gets a positive test.

If one goes by the rules, as written, are the rules no matter what, then the disqualification is inevitable. The nature and amount of any suspension or fines, is not, and the board has discretion.

If one goes by the primary intent of the rules – to prevent joint injections close to a race – it is pretty clear that did not happen.

Respectfully,

Sarah McCarthy, DVM

Veterinarian/breeder/owner

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The post Letter To The Editor: The Medina Spirit/Otomax Theory Really Isn’t That Complicated; It Also Doesn’t Nullify DQ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Earlier this year, two federal judges dismissed lawsuits filed in Texas and Kentucky alleging the federal legislation that created the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority was unconstitutional. Both cases are being appealed.

On Tuesday, a federal judge in Louisiana issued an injunction that prevents the Authority from enforcing its rules in West Virginia and Louisiana, two states whose racing commissions were among the plaintiffs filing a suit in late June hoping to stop HISA from leaving the starting gate nationwide as scheduled on July 1. They failed to prevent the nationwide start-up but have succeeded in getting an injunction blocking HISA in those two states by convincing a judge that they will suffer harm in a variety of ways under HISA rules.

One of the plaintiffs in the Louisiana lawsuit is the Jockeys' Guild Inc., whose attorneys are interpreting the judge's order in a way, they believe, that exempts all of its members from having to follow HISA rules anywhere.

In his order, U.S. District Court Judge Terry A. Doughty from the Western District of Louisiana's Lafayette Division, enjoined and restrained HISA from implementing racetrack safety, enforcement and assessment methodology rules against the following plaintiffs: the states of Louisiana and West Virginia; the Louisiana State Racing Commission; Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association 1993 Inc.; Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association; Jockeys' Guild, Inc.; West Virginia Racing Commission; and five individuals – Louisiana HBPA president Bernard Chatters; Louisiana HBPA executive director Edward Fenasci; veterinarian Dr. Larry Findley Sr.; LTBA president Warren J. Haran III; and jockey Gerard Melancon.

“It is further ordered,” Doughty wrote, “that the geographic scope of the injunction shall be limited to the states of Louisiana and West Virginia, and as to all plaintiffs in this proceeding.”

That last phrase, “and as to all plaintiffs in this proceeding,” reportedly has led the Jockeys' Guild to tell its members throughout the country they no longer have to follow HISA's rules limiting them to a maximum of six strikes of the riding crop to the hind quarters in increments of two or fewer strikes and allowing at least two strides before using it again.

“Should HISA, or any of its designated representatives, attempt to enforce any of the enjoined rules against a Guild member in any state, the Guild intends to take immediate action to ensure compliance with the Court's order,” Kate Swearengen, general counsel for the Jockeys' Guild, said in a statement.

Not so fast, said HISA.

“HISA will continue to enforce its rules in all applicable jurisdictions, with the exception of Louisiana and West Virginia,” a HISA spokesperson said. “Outside of those states, the court order applies only to the five individuals specifically named in the case.”

Stewards have been notified to continue enforcing HISA rules.

Attorneys for HISA believe the listing of “Jockeys' Guild Inc.” as a plaintiff does not mean every Jockeys' Guild member is a plaintiff. They concede that Gerard Melancon would be exempt from HISA rules wherever he rides – unless, of course, an appeal of Doughty's injunction is successful.

In other words, if the Jockeys' Guild wants to back up its contention that all of its members are exempt from HISA rules nationwide, they'll have to go to court and prove it.

I have to wonder if the Jockeys' Guild and the organizations in Louisiana and West Virginia who brought this lawsuit have really thought this through all the way.

For years, Guild leadership has raised concerns about the absence of adequate medical staffing and concussion protocols as well as the quality of emergency equipment at some racetracks. HISA has adopted rules that will eventually mandate that all tracks provide properly staffed and equipped Advanced Life Support ambulances. Tracks will also be required to hire a medical director to oversee medical care of jockeys and adhere to a 13-point plan outlined in HISA regulations.

This looks to be a significant benefit to the health and safety of jockeys, one that was not going to happen without HISA.

One of the issues raised in the Louisiana lawsuit is the so-called Assessment Methodology Rules, which we'll simply refer to as “who pays how much?”

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act calls for the cost of the Authority to be shared evenly among racing states, with assessments based on the number of starts per year by “covered” or HISA-registered horses. Reacting to concerns from tracks and horsepeople in states with a large number of races but relatively low purses, the HISA board came up with a blended assessment formula that takes into account both starts and purses.

Two of the states that benefited from the blended assessment formula are, you guessed it, Louisiana and West Virginia. If the assessments have to be changed to starts only as a result of this lawsuit, Louisiana and West Virginia will have a significantly higher assessment.

Like the Jockeys' Guild, Louisiana and West Virginia may be hurting their own cause by going down this road.

That's my view from the eighth pole.

 

The post View From The Eighth Pole: Jockeys’ Guild Hurting Their Own Cause In HISA Lawsuit appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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