IHA To Lead Belmont Post Parade

[TJ]

Can you believe this!! I lost all respect for O'Neill and his crew after this one. Leading the field on to the track like an outrider and his pony? He will be sharp....he will be on his toes, he will have Mario on his back, there will be a large crowd there. What if he gets spooked....dumps the rider and runs off, what if he just takes off with Mario just because he's a race horse?? They dodged a bullet with this horse and they aren't satisfied....they have to take a final shot at blowing that tendon out completely....really does he even need weight on his back at this point?? TJ

[Toccet02]

that does seem very crazy. and adds to the suspicion that there IS no in jury

[Prairie]

I agree. IHA is a competitor. Who knows how he's going to react to being led off the track and back to his stall? He already has tendonitis--do they really need to take a chance that he's going to to be pacing and acting up in his stall or developing a stress colic?

Despite all of O'Neill's issues, I have loved how he and the IHA team have played up to the general public--very down-to-earth, friendly and kind. I'll Have Another was so available, and the Lava Man story was so touching! But, having IHA lead the field onto the track could have a detrimental effect on the horse.

I hope they change their minds.

[Strategic Maneuver]

I also hope the powers that be change their mind because this has to be one of the stupidest stunts I have heard in a long time.

[casallc]

“I’ll Have Another’s ability to lead the post parade for tomorrow’s Belmont Stakes is an illustration of the character of his injury," said Dr. Larry Bramlage, on-call veterinarian for the Belmont Stakes. "It is absolutely of no concern for sub-maximal exercise, but would be a concern at a mile-and-a-half at full speed. Therefore, I have no concern for his appearance on the racetrack at the head of the Belmont field.”

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... z1xEy8seH6

[karenkarenn]

Umm there isn't any indication that he will be riden............. All they need to do is tranq him and walk him.......


Whats wrong with hand walking him.......................

[bdw0617]

Dr. Larry Bramlage i kinda feel bad for him. no matter how outlandish something is it's his job to explain it.

[TJ]

Any vet that says it is OK to allow a horse who was scratched out of a race because he is unfit to run in it and will now lead that field onto the track...would need a refresher course in common treatments and procedures for acute tendon injuries. Tendons are dangerous issues and this is not the prescribed treatment....at the most he may walk the shedrow but in most cases he should stay in the stall. I don't care how minor it is. He doesn't need the stress or the weight on his back one day after they announce this injury unless they are hoping for a more serious tendon issue to appear. From what Bramladge says here, doesn't sound like he's giving his blessing either way? TJ

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/def ... 7Cfeatured

[TJ]

Umm there isn't any indication that he will be riden............. All they need to do is tranq him and walk him.......


Whats wrong with hand walking him.......................

Have you ever hand walked a race horse onto the racetrack in front of 80,000 cheering people, tranquilized or not.....that would be worse than what they intend to do....it's not an indication, it is a fact...Mario will be on board I'll Have Another leading the field to the track for the Belmont Stakes. Hopefully, as long as they are dead set on doing it...it will come off without a hitch. TJ

[karenkarenn]

Yes T J I have

[TJ]

Yes T J I have

Hi Karen,
We've all led horses from the paddock to the track to race and handed them over to the pony guy or girl......but not onto the track in front of 80,000 cheering people leading a field of race horses to the post? No way you're gonna keep that horse on the ground. TJ

[Cree]

I'm so confused by this.

Is there actually an injury?

If there wasn't an injury, why the scratch???

[pfrsue]

Who the heck are they doing this for? To show the crowd the Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Triple Crown winner? To try and look better after the security barn shuffling boondoggle?

Sorry, but all I can see here is creating a serious and absolutely NEEDLESS risk to a very fit racehorse who is going to go out there expecting to run. The last thing he needs is to get all worked up and stress that tendon. Yes, I know he's pretty sensible, but he's still a racehorse, he's still fit, and it's going to be a high stress environment.

I just can't believe that anyone...vet/trainer/owner/stewards is okay with this, and yet they apparently ALL think it's a marvelous idea!

[Laurierace]

They are trying to appease the people who were only coming to see IHA. As if this is remotely the same thing. I think they all need a lobotomy because their brains are not working right.

[erhrdt3]

this whole thing is turning into a circus...

Can any of you comment on some of the statements made on tv, etc. etc. etc. about this being more of a "paperwork" problem with O'Neill, as if they are indicating this is more of a problem with the TRAINER's shenanigans as opposed to IHA's "injury"? I had also heard (sorry can't remember which channel) said to them that they need to pull the horse due to trainer issues against NY rules???

They also said that D. Wayne Lukas has called Doug O'Neill, DRUG O'Neill.

And now, the VERY next day, the poor horse is going to be out on the track, thinking he's going to run, and as others of you pointed out, with weight on his back. Now I'm not a trainer, I'm an owner, but something sure does not make sense here to me.

I could not wait to get online to hear all your opinions on this. IS there something going on behind the so called injury??? Inquiring minds want to know, and a big thank you to every one that responds.