crucify seems a bit strong for stating the fact he caused the accident.

That's not what was said. What was said was:

"He knew Douglas had more horse. He saw a spot open for Douglas. Knew he would win if he took it. So he made damn sure he couldn't take it"

and i know for a fact that hospital bad..dr.nick from the simpsons could have been on call...

I don't know about that, I didn't think Douglas was going anywhere with that horse.

Fine. "Crucify" is too strong. How about "call for his head?"

And I know for a fact it's a terrific Level One trauma center. I was a paramedic out of that hospital system for years and I'll defend it against comments such as yours. I'd chose that hospital out of several in the NW suburbs if I had to. Your comment about "on call" shows you don't even understand how that ER is staffed.

So you, too, think Theriot deliberately took his path?

i think he went for a path without making sure it was a clear one. i don't know that cutting off douglas was intentional, but it turned out to be disastrous.

From Blood-Horse:

Theriot was given 30 days for, “... permitting his mount, Sky Mom, to jostle another horse during the running of the (Arlington Matron)… causing the jostled horse to clip heels and fall, injuring both jockey and horse.”

"My thoughts and prayers go out to Rene and his family," a tearful Theriot said May 25 in an interview with The Blood-Horse. "I really, truly, feel horrible about what happened. I've never been put in this kind of situation. I feel for his wife, his kids, himself ... Every time we put these boots on, all of us don’t know what’s in store, but I never thought I would be part of something like this. I really, really hurt inside over what happened."

1) Don't we have "aggressive jocks" who straddle the line between aggressive and insane rides on all the major circuits. Plug in a name in New York, KY, or So Cal and you'll find riders who try to alter the laws of physics.

2) Chicago is one of the 3 or 4 best cities in the country for trauma care. Most Level 1 trauma centers work two rotating teams on 24 hour QOD call for the trauma service. The ED does initial assessment but the trauma team on call is aware of an incoming patient before they hit the door and assumes care almost immediately.

The whole thing is tragic but Rene may have been exceedingly lucky because of the city it happened in. Sometimes the outcome of an act determines how we view the intent.

http://www.hbpa.org/HorsemensJournal...on=3&key1=3853

As far as "Cajun" riding goes, it refers to a comment made by Eddie Martin when he won the biggest race of the Claiming Crown. He fouled, and they let it go(big f'n surprise.) Then, after the results became official, Eddie Martin said to send Tyler Baze down to Louisiana for some schooling. Not only that, but in the Delta Jackpot, Garrett Gomez and another jock (Calvin Borel I think) sandwiched a horse badly. The stewards saw fit to simply ignore that, and Gomez n' Borel split the top prize(deadheat.) There is a history of ignoring infractions in Louisiana, and I do not see it as a coincidence that the rider who fouled Douglas has ridden most of his career in Louisiana. This is the state that gave a license to ride to a coke head that was so drunk he couldn't keep his car straight (in line)when trying to get some fast food at a drive thru.

like they say, it's a fine line between bravery and stupidity.

sounds like the chrb.

I think in your own convoluted way you've FINALLY hit the nail on the head: it's not about the jockeys but the stewards. There's rough riding all the time, and the stewards choose to ignore it. For example, HERDING is allowed at just about every track. And, herding is every bit as dangerous, if not more so, than what Theriot is supposed to have done. Riders are going high speeds, in tight packs, with hard to control/predict animals, and a bunch of jerkoffs are in charge of policing them. Of course, they do have their degrees from STEWARDS SCHOOL. :rolleyes:

In watching the replay, I saw a jock going for a hole that closed when Desormeaux come in when he entered the stretch, and another jock that was too close to the action to be able to recover in time. I thought Kent was every bit at fault as Theriot. In other words, I blame neither for what happened. I just accept it as a negative part of this type of event. This type of **** happens. It's unfortunate that someone was injured (and a horse was killed) but those participating know the risks. Everything else is just post event rhetoric.

http://www.nmh.org/nmh/specialtiesan...ncymedical.htm
You can try and judge the place for yourself off of this. I've been there and won't be back, God willing.

Dougless did not have any horse IMO, he was tiring and the rider got impatient on the horse who had saved all the ground.

What are you talking about? I was defending the guy. One of these armchair stewards said my use of "crucify" was too strong. If they're not trying to crucify Theriot, then at least they're "calling for his head."

Nevermind. I'm on the rider's side. Terrible, freak accident. I don't think Theriot was out there tradin' paint intentionally.

so they just have a spinal surgon/specialist sitting around in case he is needed..that is what on call means..

Very nice piece on Rene and his early days along with lots of videos

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/racin...d-caltech.aspx

Not for anything whatsoever, but blame, fault, coming in, getting out, had horse, didn't have horse -- none of this matters now at all. Not at all.

Let's all just keep hoping for the best for Rene and his family.

Eric

Neuro surgeon on site 24/7 for trauma call is the definition of a Level 1 trauma center.

Truth is the entire team, which includes multiple docs from a general surgical residency are dedicated to being on call every other 24 hour period for an entire month so when your on those services, every morning you wake up you are on call because you don't get any sleep when you work a busy trauma service most days.

The ED folks are the first wave of docs and nurses that function to stabilize a patient's airway and circulation in ready for the OR. In a lot of facilities it is possible that a transfer from hospital to hospital for an OR procedure or surgical exploration for a bone fragment may never actually stop in the ER for care on arrival to the facility but go straight to the OR.

excellent article

"Far too often, these incidents pass without any warnings or repercussions to the jockey. No harm, no foul, the thinking goes."

"Theriot was only riding the way stewards in too many racing jurisdictions allow him to ride. Watch the replays from any track on any given day, and you’re likely to see similar moves by other jockeys — some with less experience, others with more — than the 30-year-old Theriot."

Pretty much what happened.

It's the kind of incident you almost never see on dirt because the fields aren't as bunched up as they are on turf of synthetic.

I think the entire field was seperated by just 2 or 3 lengths at the fairly late stage of the race where it happened.

For what its worth Douglas would do just about anything to win a race including putting someone else in a spot. It is what made him a leading rider. Despite what you read or hear, race riding is not nearly as cutthroat as it was in the past. While the overall quality of stewards has certainly slipped the fact is that there is one popular, HoF ex-jock that would intentionally put favorites in bad spots when he was on dead horses and then try to get the mount on the horse he screwed. Another, Craig Perett told me that when he was a bug the older riders told him that if he even thinks about coming up the rail on them they would drop him.

If you watch the 2nd and 3rd races on the ARL card that day .. Douglas had a short priced horse breaking from post 1 in both instances .. in both instances appeared loaded with no place to go .. and in both instances managed to find a seem very late and win without resorting to making his own room.

I have no problem with how Theriot rode his horse in the stake .. he saved all the ground through the turn on a 13/1 shot and appeared just before the incident to have a little more horse than what was outside of him and in front of him .. the field was just extremely bunched though and a real major accident happened.

I'm sure Theriot was far from the only rider who would have tried to force his way out. Maybe Douglas would have as well .. but he rode those two earlier winners much cooler when in a similar situation.

So all tracks should be like SoCal tracks,where if you even LOOK at another horse,you get taken down??? I remember a few years ago this was happening at the Hollywood summer meet.Seemed like there was an inquiry every race.Everyone complained. Sounds like it will be real good for handle.

i don't think that's true at all. besides, i was referring to the paulick article in which he says that when it's not a horse finishing in the money that's impeded, generally nothing is said. that if you have rough riding, whether there's an injury/inquiry or not, they should speak to the riders. i'm not arguing that sometimes bad calls are made, or not made...i'm agreeing with mr. paulick when he says that the thinking of 'no harm' doesn't necessarily equal 'no foul'.

i agree with others as far as theriot and other jockeys making that type of move many times without consequence. the problem is, this time it was made with awful results. perhaps, as paulick said, they shouldn't let this go repeatedly, just because it didn't affect a horse hitting the board-because if you push long enough, someone ends up injured.

The stewards do speak to the riders and do hand out punishment without an inquiry or objection being lodged. When the riders walk into the jocks room after a race if they have done something wrong or just rode with their head up their azz the clerck of scales will tell them they are on the films list for the next day. That means they review the race or races with the stewards , they ask the jockey for their thoughts after the film is shown and then the stewards tell them theirs. After films you leave the room while the stewards decide your fate , then they call you back in and let you have it or not. 9 times out of 10 the stews have already made up their mind before you leave the room .

your joking right? Pval and Victor have made a living riding carelessly there the past decade. Nakatani is no better.

I dont believe that the jock tried to drop Rene , it was not intentional on his part , perhaps poor judgement but nothing on purpose. Riders ride races everyday and beat other riders to holes , its part of the race and once in awhile something tragic happens. As a rider you never want to see someone else get hurt .

Not everyone saw that episode of "Jockeys".

or any of them for that matter...

Good stuff. Sorta. Is there any new news on Mr. Douglas?

i doubt they have anything for another week or so...not til swelling subsides, etc

Unless he has a positive breakthrough and moves a lower extremity. The 10-14 day timeline is the period the edema would last. If the swelling ablates and he is still without feeling or movement it means that the blood flow to that nerve bundle or cord was too low for too long or both leading to permanent injury. This is the difference between ischemia and infarction....so if there was news earlier it would likely be positive.

ah, i see. if no movement beforehand, it could be due to pressure...but if nothing by then...

here's hoping for early, positive news.

I didnt either , what happen?

I believe he is refering to the episode/episodes where you saw some of the process that goes on between the jocks and the stewards. Basically if the stewards saw something that they didn't like, the jocks name would go up on a chalkboard in the jocks room. Then the jock in question had to meet with the stewards the next day.

I don't think anyone believes the jock tried to drop Rene. He's not supposed to come out unless he's clear of other horses. A big problem we have is that a lot of people don't have an issue with the way he rode right there. I guess there saying that this Thursday it's acceptable for another jock to have a career-ending spinal injury.