Irwin Clarify's His Comments

da hossman · Postby **da hossman** » Wed May 11, 2011 2:15 pm

I agree with you KarenKaren, he was not required to give Albarado anything and it was good that he did. Likewise John Velasquez did not have to share but he did, and possibly his action promoted Barry's. Maybe those actions will make the Paulick Report "Good News".

I also support Irwin's decision to remove Albarado as his jock when Velazquez became available. I do think it would have been better to discuss it with Albarado first. The Derby is tough enough when horse & rider are 100%, and even though Albarado won the G1 Humana Distaff on Derby Day, I think Robbie would admit he was not 100%.

TJ · Postby TJ » Wed May 11, 2011 2:21 pm

karenkarenn wrote:And yet he gives to ALbarado, generously, might I add.
But yet no one comments on that-- people here have to look at the negative.
And that s why the media does what it does--- people like to talk about the negative and rag on someone that has a winning horse at the top of their game instead of saying," that was a fine thing that he did, I'm sure Albarados family appreciates it, or how many people do that."

The owner of Mucho Macho Man gave 10% to Maragh and an additional 10% to Coa who was hurt weeks before, when his horse won the GR II Risen Star
Jockey's don't work horses unless they're going to ride them or had a previous understanding.....Robby worked the horse perfectly and gave them the confidence to run in the Derby, as they wanted and needed Robby's opinion. Robby had the call, Robby made it to the Jocks room on Derby day and won a Grade I stake.....and Irwin switched riders because he didn't think Robby would meet his obligation.....under such circumstances Irwin should have to pay a double rider's commission. In Coa's case he didn't have the call on the horse, that's class. In Irwin's case he was only matching what Johnny V gives to Robby from his 10% and is actually saving a few bucks. TJ

TJ · Postby TJ » Wed May 11, 2011 2:44 pm

ratherrapid wrote:Irwin is a little prickly to be sure. Been a while since I've been on a backstretch, and so, would ask T.J.--true or false:

trainers are telling owner's they're galloping horses daily when the truth is they are not.

trainers are sending horses to the race track while they are back in the stable area mucking stalls (instead of watching and gaging the training)

trainers are injuring everything in their shed row, mostly within 1 year.

trainers try to hide injuries from owners.

my q: is this the sort of thing to which Irwin was referring?

Hi RR,
I honestly couldn't tell you why he said 40 of his 42 trainer's were liars. Yet I doubt from this sampling of trainer's that 95% were liar's....but maybe Irwin had a bad run of luck? I could see some of what you mentioned as possible reason's any owner would get peeved at a trainer. This guy is in the big league so I doubt any trainer's he hired would be mucking stalls.....I could see some of the other things you mentioned. The guy is where he belongs now, short of taking out his own trainer's license. He has a top notch private trainer off the race track, who will spend the time on the phone with him....one thing Irwin said was he has a great crew and that I know. I feel Motion deserves this victory and I also believe he's a bit uneasy over Irwin's comments.....Graham keeps a low profile and that's because he prefer's it that way....an owner like Irwin bringing controversy to the greatest win in Motion's career doesn't make for a happy victory.....I wonder if this owner/trainer relationship will stand the test of time? TJ

majxmom · Postby **majxmom** » Wed May 11, 2011 3:37 pm

Since Animal Kingdom was removed from Wayne Catalano and given to Graham Motion, when I heard that comment, I just assumed that Irwin was talking specifically about Catalano, but lumped in every other trainer he'd ever had. Then he goes and says later that Catalano was excluded from The List. That surprised me. What exactly was on his mind when he blurted that out? Very curious....

It reminded me a lot of Chip Woollery and how cranky he seemed right after Mine That Bird crossed the finish line: "Now maybe you people will ask me about something other than how I hauled him here!" I wondered, "What does it take to make this guy happy?" But the next day Chip brought the roses over to the Barbaro statue and seemed like a lot nicer person. Maybe some guys don't take well to a lot of adrenaline.

If I ever had the good fortune to win the KY Derby and accidentally blurted out something ungraceful on my way to the winner's circle, I would hope that I would have the good manners to say "I want to clarify something I just said..." the next time I have a microphone in front of me.

NorthStar · Postby **NorthStar** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:58 pm

TJ wrote: Maybe he can't get along with anyone and needs to take out his trainer's license. TJ

I know a trainer like that. He thinks all owners are the problem. He cannot stand to have anyone even express a concern about something. That is "complaining" or "*****ing" to him.

Trainers hate owners and owners hate the trainers. Makes for a really fun time!

TJ · Postby TJ » Fri Jun 03, 2011 4:09 am

NorthStar wrote:
TJ wrote: Maybe he can't get along with anyone and needs to take out his trainer's license. TJ

I know a trainer like that. He thinks all owners are the problem. He cannot stand to have anyone even express a concern about something. That is "complaining" or "*****ing" to him.

Trainers hate owners and owners hate the trainers. Makes for a really fun time!

Hi NS,
Maybe you're right....but after going through 40+ trainer's you have to consider taking out your own license.....if nothing else he would have peace of mind. TJ

Shammy Davis · Postby **Shammy Davis** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:27 am

I've never met Barry Irwin, but I know a couple of fellows who have. They described BI as a little "eccentric."

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:04 pm

I thought, at the time, the comment was edgy given the moment but after he clarified that he was not talking about Pletcher or Catalano, his last two most recent trainers, I thought the comment was flip and not relevant..

NorthStar · Postby **NorthStar** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 8:46 am

TJ wrote:
NorthStar wrote:
TJ wrote: Maybe he can't get along with anyone and needs to take out his trainer's license. TJ

I know a trainer like that. He thinks all owners are the problem. He cannot stand to have anyone even express a concern about something. That is "complaining" or "*****ing" to him.

Trainers hate owners and owners hate the trainers. Makes for a really fun time!

Hi NS,
Maybe you're right....but after going through 40+ trainer's you have to consider taking out your own license.....if nothing else he would have peace of mind. TJ

Why do that, when it is so much easier to stand in judgment of someone else and have a built-in excuse for why things don't work? :wink: