I'm eagerly awaiting Byk's opinion on this, I got it at 1/2 that his head almost exploded as this was unfolding.

I think those were the ones, thanks!

No worries.

Bewildered Tom.. and then just disappointed how these embarrassments never end for the sport. Tina and I went downstairs for the race, so at ground level and without benefit of TV/audio, didn't know exactly what was going on until later. Here the vets were busy all morning looking for Saturday horses to scratch, but somehow are oblivious to a distressed horse on track that's one of the choices in one of the biggest races of the year. Great.

As I mentioned in a quick recap of yesterday in Selections, bad bookends to the day with some very nice things in between. But no matter how good the best portion of Day 1 was, the humiliating parts of the day will be get the focus (depending on what transpires today of course).

Steve:
Are you going to be at the track early today?
I would love to get some more insight into what they are doing to it today.
The rolling of the track you described yesterday sure didn't help the closers.

I have been going to the track for 30 years and I have never seen something like Life At Ten happen like that.
We have all had horses run poorly but she didn't run 2 feet.

Thank god I was watching the ESPN telecast and cancelled my bet on her.
She was my lock of the day and would have beaten the Mott filly if healthy.

I know fillies are very prone to tying up but that was too weird to believe. It was like someone TQ'd her before bringing her to the paddock.


Thanks for all the insight this week on the show.....it really helped me get a handle on the early part of yesterday's card.

It reminded me of Big Brown in the Belmont, except BB actually ran for a bit. LAT clearly was out of sorts.

Todd often watches big races from the horseman's office or similar areas. It's not strange. I do however get the impression that he knew LAT was not right but handed her off to JV, somehow washing his hands of her, placing the responsibility for her in John's hands. Yes, JV maybe should have pressed the issue more but he works for Todd and Todd works for the owner and if the two "higher powers" saw fit to send her out, what's he to do?

Vets on track can only do so much. They are looking for lameness, not uncharacteristic demeanor. I'm guessing that none of the vets there had ever seen LAT up close and thus wouldn't know her "typical" behavior.

I liked LAT because she stalked in the Beldame and thought she might get the same trip here, in fact I hoped to see her about where UB was. Inside was not great but I figured some of the speed would separate from the group (as it did) and LAT could ease out a bit.

G2W,

Thanks very much! Always glad to hear that the broadcasts contribute positively. Credit goes to Mig who pointed out that Butch Lehr was clearly tightening the track up.

Not rushing over there this morning actually. First relaxed a.m. in 2 weeks to be honest (though I've been up since 3:30 to get the Selections written.) Tina and I are going to breakfast and then packing up as we want to get to Columbus or so tonight after the races.

In terms of the surface, I'm confident the track will be no less fast than it was yesterday.

What you saw with Life at Ten was very frustrating and disconcerting. Even though the jockey dust-up will get all the publicity, the non SCR reflects much more poorly on the game. The danger to the horse and rider and the rest of the field is of course one part of the problem, but the indignity to horseplayers is inexcusable. We'll see what directions the fallout takes.

Good luck today!

got that right....with her out the next obvious horse is the winner...it was a definite bad deal for bettors. i'm glad they care so much about the horse and the betting public...of course i used her ...how could you possibly bet the 3 yo at those odds....blind luck....9-5...lol....lol. we done got screwed by the vets and stewards seeing that unrivalled belle never came within 2 lengths of life at ten (all year)...thanks churchill downs...everyone out there knew there was a problem except the officials. thats just dandy on the biggest day.....lol

I dont think it does, I think people who play the game are kinda used to this funny business with scratches/non scratches. I would have been MORE shocked had they scratched her.

I also dont think the fight means much to be people who play the game.

^^

I think Life At Ten should win the Eclipse for 3yo champion filly. I think beating older fillies and mares all year should trump what Blind Luck has done.

Kind of like the many of horses running at cheap tracks. Alot of those horses should be scratched and not allowed to run...but they are left to continually burn people's betting money on a daily basis.

I was pretty sure I posted this - Paulick on Life at Ten. If it disappears, I'll know for some reason it's not supposed to appear here. :confused:

http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/br...-ten-incident/

Do a search on "Ray Paulick and Life At Ten" and all his blogs will come up.:)

Here she is in the post parade. I didn't know anything was going on with her, but someone next to me said she looked like she was tranquilized. That is one lifeless filly.

According to the latest Paulick report, the possible " solution " to the LAT incident is to gag the jockey pre-race .

So, a problem in communication is " solved " by cutting off crucial communication .

So much for the responsibility to the welfare of horse and jockey and the wallets of those who wager .

So much for culpability and responsibilty .

Thus if the horse breaks down with your money on its back--everyone gets hurt, and the bureaucratic press machine will call it one those unfortunate things that happen in racing--part of the game .

Mind if we gag you pre-post?

Sorry, that was very much low-hanging fruit.

i think he was freaked out by the 'mug' on the outrider..yesh eat a lemon before the race?

Please agree with that decision .

It is a quality sentiment for horse and wallet .