Nice guy but this sport isn't about nice guys. He is winning at a 10% clip. He is pushing 45 years old. Why would anyone put him on their horse if there are decent riders available. Sure he could get some decent mounts, but the guy needs to start thinking about doing something else with his life.

Hate to see guys like Samyn hanging around winning at a 7% clip, but if these guys like it that much I guess there is no reason they can't keep riding. I just hope they aren't doing it because they need the money.

Alot depends on the trainers you are associated with, look at Garrett Gomez, I don't think it is a coincidence that as Pletcher's win totals dropped so did Garrett's.

And just to keep the rumor-mill alive Mig will get main host help from Joanne Jones, Dave Grenning and one of those Clancey Boys. Much much more:confused:

Much closer to the truth CapitalOTB will have all their experts lined-up with host analyst Jeanne Wood(s) whatever. Along with the Cusanos, Veitchs, Amellos and Klings of the world.;)

So Migliore isn't even a decent rider? If that's what you are saying, I won't even waste keystrokes responding to such a foolish statement.

People understand that his win clip is not going to make trainers want to ride him. There are only so many 15% and 20% riders and most of the time, you have a very tough time getting them. Regardless, far more importantly, those trainers that will consider giving him business -- they won't not ride him because of his win clip either. There are only so many Gomez, Prado, Johnny V, Coa, and Cornelio jocks. Everyone only rides one. Sure, there are trainers who will ride Prado before Migliore. Plenty of them. But there are still some who will ride Migliore before Prado -- and in those cases Migliore can ride with anyone. There are several reasons those trainers will ride Migliore before Prado.

Eric

Agreed. However, Gomez had more than enough business -- good business, quality business.

Do you think if Pletcher started out with another "bad" meet at the Spa, and it was going that way -- don't you think Gomez would have plenty of other trainers to ride for? Top trainers? First call horses?

Eric

I agree with that Eric but isnt that what happened last year? Yes, he got plenty of other trainers and he was getting plenty of horses for top trainers but he wasnt getting first call of the best of the best like you would expect from a Ron Anderson client. It seems like he was the guy in all of the barns but he wasnt getting the best of everything and leaving the rest for everyone else like he had been doing (or like he does out west).

Good question, there's plenty of competion for riders at Saratoga. When Gomez surfaced as a top rider again I believe or remember the Delmar meet being his coming out party. Perhaps that is part of his reason moving back there. Which pretty much assures Bejarano won't have things all to himself this meet.

I don't think it was that much different. I think the situation was very unique vis a vis Pletcher, Johnny, etc. Gomez has a different kind of business model as far as I am concerned. It's certainly a different model than Bailey. But, with that in mind, look at what happened when Ron took over Bailey's book. He took the top jock in the country -- where would you go from there? LOL. Think about what Ron did when he took on Bailey.

Anyway, I think the Gomez business model is successful. Without getting the top horse in the top barns, and of course that cuts both ways, he'll still be top 3 of money won or extremely close to it absent some distortions.

Eric

Yeah, that's certainly part of it. Gomez started riding well and got noticed a few important times winning a few important races. Little things go well for you, and then a big thing or two goes well, BANG! Momemtum is crucial in that part of the game. His real coming out party was getting a call Ron Anderson. With someone like Gomez, I wouldn't read too much into it. He would do super wherever he went.

Eric

.....and further more OTBNY could feature Mitch Levitas, Anthony Mormino, and maybe even a Czar of all horse racing:cool:

So in the minds of many on the board they would make perfect jocks.
There are quite a few athletes who are cerebral, hard working, and sit on the bench. I have not seen the guy ride as much as the majority of this board, but that would be the first question. Can he ride? You would like a jock to read the DRF of every race they are in, you would like a jock to know the horse he is riding well, you would like a jock to go out with some sort of idea what to do with a horse as situations arise.

Seen too many people work horses that require lots more work than jocks, lots of very specific type of training. Some of them look like they were born on a horses back. Others spend plenty of time on top, but its not the same.

So are some jocks just born riders, just totally fluid and comfortable in all sorts of situations with all sorts of horses? And others just doing it because they love the entirety of the sport but might not be big time riders? I dont know.

I do know what I observed with equestrian riders. Some very difficult, subtle crap went on. And some were masters but not teachers. And others were great at explaining why a ride was so good, but they could not reproduce the physical process.
Forget it, Im blathering.
If a guy is really a good rider, it makes no sense why he should not rise to the top (unless he pulls the Patrick Valenzuela routine.)

First, you took my quote out of context, which in and of itself doesn't make a difference; but to make your point (which I underlined)? OK, good one.

Second, I agree with much of what you said, albeit somewhat obvious.

I think the people who say Richie Migliore is a "not a good jock" or what commentary along those lines -- those are the people who will point to the next tactical error he makes, or even the next obvious mistake he makes, in order to support their arguement. They might even jump up and down and say "Look, I told you so" and will take pride in being right. Maybe they'll be tearing up some tickets as well. I wonder if that has something to do with it. Yeah, the whole thing, that's a real strong arguement.

Eric

Has Migliore had any mounts this past week at Saratoga?
Anyone know if he's riding or going to ride this meet?