Yikes! Rose Gets Six Month Suspension

[Barbaro06]

OUCH! Six months....I could argue for a whole year to work on those anger issues.

I heard, correct me if I am wrong, that a track, Colonial I think, is going to try an experiment and have the jockeys use crops. They are lighter and smaller than whips.

[gotpaints]

TVG mentioned whips that are quite long, and are felt tipped, or the end resembles felt (something like that) but its designed to have a flat, loud spanky effect and cause much less stinging. I hear its already in use in other countries. Seems like a useful implementation for U.S. racing.

The irony is that they are trying them out at Delaware Park where this happened. At least that's what thoroughbred times said in an article.

[pfrsue]

Felt-tipped or not, hitting a horse (heck, hitting anyone!) in the eye as hard as he did is going to cause significant damage...and hurt like absolute blazes. It's a wonder she didn't launch him into orbit. He'd have deserved it if she had.

[wilf]

Hey Ill bred I watch head on shots through Racereplays.com, where I have an account.

[dray33]

It's not worth the look-see. The replay is one of the most depressing things I have seen in racing. It shows absolutely and without question all that can be wrong with this sport.

[horsenuts]

It's not worth the look-see. The replay is one of the most depressing things I have seen in racing. It shows absolutely and without question all that can be wrong with this sport.

So Rose is human and lost his cool...... he's no different then the rest of us except we lead anonymous lives... and fortunately our indiscretions and moments of anger are not worthy of being broadcast. Rest assured many who are pointing fingers at Rose have done far worse. Every Sunday 10s of millions cheer on thugs a.k.a. NFL players who regularly beat and rape their wives and girlfriends and occasionally are even brought up on murder charges and the like....... and still the fans cheer. Horse racing is a great endeavor but all most of you see is the seedy side...... which is exactly the side being forwarded by some on this site.


I don't believe you are cut out for racing Dray and suggest you find another activity to pursue. Either that or turn your glasses around and let the light in.... you've been on the dark side for sometime now with your outlook and pronouncements regarding horse racing. If all a person wants to see is the bad side of life then that is all they will see.


Final note: PETA is a master at making people who work with animals feel guilty and look bad about doing so. Well I'm here to tell you they are FOS and it's past time to stand up to these radicals with agendas. They've swayed many of you but they haven't made any inroads with me. Only reason they have focused on racing is because people have no interest in the 1000s of dogs and cats that are euthanised everyday while tossed into our local landfills or simply go up in smoke. Meanwhile horse racing is still popular with many so they exploit it for their purposes and inflame the ignorant masses at every opportunity.

[steward]

Great post, horsenuts. The drumbeat of negativity on horse racing boards these days shows just how many people lack perspective; how many can't balance a little downside with the tremendous value that racing holds.

We are in the greatest era of prohibition that our country has ever experienced. It is fomented by unrelenting cranks and kooks. I don't care what the issue is, they are bent on controlling human society. Ban smoking, ban guns, ban plastic grocery bags, ban dams, ban transfats, ban plastic baby bottles, ban bottled water, ban fastfood/coffeehouse drivethrus (Madison, WI) ... you name it, some nuts want to ban it.

Horse racing is in their sights, and they are so close that they can taste it. On this site, as a parallel, it's as if vegans and organic growers took over the food industry.

[pfrsue]

So Rose is human and lost his cool...... he's no different then the rest of us except we lead anonymous lives... and fortunately our indiscretions and moments of anger are not worthy of being broadcast. Rest assured many who are pointing fingers at Rose have done far worse. Every Sunday 10s of millions cheer on thugs a.k.a. NFL players who regularly beat and rape their wives and girlfriends and occasionally are even brought up on murder charges and the like....... and still the fans cheer. Horse racing is a great endeavor but all most of you see is the seedy side...... which is exactly the side being forwarded by some on this site.

Not to be facetious. Maybe I really don't get your point. Are you seriously suggesting that because some football players have been guilty of domestic violence, it's okay that Rose belted that mare in the eye with his whip? Or that because other sports have negative attributes, horse racing shouldn't attempt to clean up its own act?

I guess I just don't understand this line of reasoning.

I also don't think what Rose did has ever been accepted or condoned by stewards at any racetrack at any time.

[dray33]

I don't believe you are cut out for racing Dray and suggest you find another activity to pursue. Either that or turn your glasses around and let the light in.... you've been on the dark side for sometime now with your outlook and pronouncements regarding horse racing. If all a person wants to see is the bad side of life then that is all they will see.

You may be right about that horsenuts, especially if things don't change. I disagree with your opinion my glasses are on backwards. I have not hopped on the recent bandwagon beacuse of Dutrow, Big Brown, or Eight Belles, this is not my "cause du-jour". In my own business dealings, I have tried to asses the situation and make changes where I see fit, on my own dime. As for focusing on the bad side of life, I guess I lean more towards Johnny Cash than I do The Spice Girls. I am no cheerleader. If there are wrongs, and I care enough to try and make things better, I do. If I see a wrong, and I can discuss it on a public forum, I will. If there is the potential to take something great, and make it greater, i am going to try, with or it without your help or approval... because it is where my beliefs guide me. If yours lead you elsewhere, as long as they don't hurt someone, I would fight for your right to pursue. You don't like my outlook on horse racing? No problem. Let me be clear: I refuse to gloss over events and incidents that harm our animals or hurt our sport. It can be better. THAT'S the side you can count me on.

Johnny Cash:
The Man in Black

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.

I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.

I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.

Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.

[dray33]

Oh, and I dont give a rats-ass about PETA. My opinions are based on ME-ta.

[FOS]

hi dray33...hi horsenuts

I suggest you don't watch the head on replay. Rose got off easy. If that was my horse, I'd whip HIM.

...
With all due respect dray33...after having seen the race replay...and read the Jeremy Rose commentary (explanation included) and apology (all unedited), plus trainer Howard Wolfendale's unedited comments (which included great respect for jockey Rose)...it seems to me that your response might more expose a short-fuse in the dray33 electrical system than a measured response re a bad result from what I view/perceive was likely (all things considered) a well-intentioned (although arguably ill-advised) action gone awry...very awry.

Even Howard Wolfendale (the filly's trainer) viewed it differently (apparently much differently) than you did. He did NOT accuse, imply, or allude (in any way, shape or form) that Rose was guilty of any intentional wrongdoing.

Seems to me the jockey's decision to hit his mount on the shoulder clearly misfired...but, unless I had/have doubts about Rose's integrity and character (which I do not) I cannot (at least based on what I've seen and read) support your position that (as you wrote) "Rose got off easy. If that was my horse, I'd whip HIM. "

To each his own...but, I am NOT in agreement with your stated position on this one. Even the filly's trainer (Howard Wolfendale) seems to be in complete disagreement with your evaluation re what occured. In case you haven't read it...

...following is unedited Wolfendale.

Statement Of Howard Wolfendale Regarding "Appeal To The City" Incident

I am the trainer of "Appeal to the City," who was ridden by Jeremy Rose in the 3rd race at Delaware Park on June 23, 2008.

As the horses were heading to the finish line, I saw Jeremy whip the horse and the filly throw her head. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but when the horses returned to be unsaddled, Jeremy told my wife that he may have accidentally hit the filly in the eye with his whip. Jeremy told me the same thing when I saw him prior to the 4th race and he apologized.

The filly was struck in the eye. She was taken to New Bolton Center for observation and she is fine. The damage appears to be superficial. Her eye was not seriously injured to the point where her vision is impaired. She is returning to my barn at Laurel Park today. Jeremy has been very apologetic and made clear to me from the onset that he accepted full responsibility for the horse's care and condition.

I do not believe for a second that Jeremy acted intentionally or sought to hurt my filly. I'm sure he meant to hit her on the shoulder. It was an accident and should be viewed as such. Jeremy has ridden for me for years. He is a gifted and highly respected rider. I know he feels terrible about this incident. I will not hesitate to use Jeremy again. Indeed, he was supposed to ride for me today.

I don't believe you are cut out for racing Dray and suggest you find another activity to pursue. Either that or turn your glasses around and let the light in.... you've been on the dark side for sometime now with your outlook and pronouncements regarding horse racing. If all a person wants to see is the bad side of life then that is all they will see.

Maybe dray33 has his glasses on backwards occasionally (then again, maybe not), but he is (from my perspective) a valuable asset (as are many many/countless others) to the industry (and not just from a dollars and cents perspective). I sense that maintaining a character and integrity beyond reproach is VERY important to him, and it does not surprise me that he has apparently set the bar VERY high re what he expects of the industry, which he is so passionate about.

Does that mean that dray33 knows/has experienced it all...absolutely not, but I get a strong sense that he's cut from quality cloth (if you will)...and has a passion and love for thoroughbreds and the industry, which he wants (as many of us do) to see evolve into something more special that it is already.

The industry is a work-in-progress, and each of us (in our own way) has an opportunity here to voice opinions (offer suggestions, perspectives etc).

Hopefully something worthwhile comes of it all.

Best.

Respectfully

[dray33]

With all due respect dray33...after having seen the race replay...and read the Jeremy Rose commentary (explanation included) and apology (all unedited), plus trainer Howard Wolfendale's unedited comments (which included great respect for jockey Rose)...it seems to me that your response might more expose a short-fuse in the dray33 electrical system than a measured response re a bad result from what I view/perceive was likely (all things considered) a well-intentioned (although arguably ill-advised) action gone awry...very awry.

Maybe... I would go as far as to say possibly. We've heard the trainers explanation. And the jockeys. The owners feelings are somewhat different I would assume. i KNOW the horses feeling a bit differently than "oopsy-daisy!". But the point is, it might have been an accident. Many would argue, but I am willing to give yardage here, and say "he didn't mean it". The point wasn't that JR is a bad man, or an evil man... I don't know the man. What I do know is that at this time and place, with all that is going on, with the eyes of the world upon us... the last thing we need is for some person to "accidentally" whip a horse square in the eye. Causing that amount of distress (which he has been found guilty of before) is just... damning. I have little experience, but I sat with an old timer of 40+ years experience. Even he cringed. Unfortunate? Bad timing? Accidental? Possibly. But well intentioned I cannot believe.

You may be right about the short fuse. I thought more about the horror of the replay than the players. As a newbie, I didn't like what it represented. So much happens in this sport that is disagreeable, but much of it we can manage. That one just went over the line to me, but maybe I need to be desensitized if I am to remain involved in the sport.

Thanks for the kind words FOS.

[going4stamina]

If those who are trying to improve the sport all left as fans, owners and other participants--there would be even emptier grandstands and fields of horses than there already are. Some of us care enough to try to make the sport more honest for honest horsemen (and even handicappers!) and less deadly and abusive to the fine athletes--horses and jockeys.

Time to address this instead of taking up the cause for abuse and exploitation--if you love the sport at all. No PETA here, just common sense, and a love of horses and horse racing. The common citizen won't abide cheating and animal abuse, that truth will be the bottom line for racing, unless a major overhaul and change of course happens.

[dray33]

Is Wolfendale the owner as well? It looks like he is. His daughter posts on another forum I read. I hope he still feels that JR was not trying to hurt his horse (although I cannot confirm). Maybe it was really bad timing, or kharma? Either way, it's a bummer.

[dray33]

Oh, one other question. Does this happen often... you know... is it a common occurrence in racing?