The Mig ditching the left coast
 

http://www.drf.com/news/article/96354.html

mmmm interesting...........:rolleyes:

-bt-

Great news. NY could definitely use a good, consistent rider who cares about his mounts and always gives it his all. A welcome "re-addition" to the colony for sure.

NT

good deal now luzzie can stay home..

He seems to be a well liked guy around here so I'm just going to keep my trap shut and wish him luck.

Edit...

Did you see the price increases for parking and general admission? A 33% increase! Of all years to have a dramatic increase. I'll **** golden bricks if they have an increase in attendance.

Luzzi should stay home anyway.

uhhhhhhhhh he did stay home didn't he?

Doesn't it seem more like the guy wasn't all that successful out there compared to what he'll likely do here...the "family line" is certainly a great thing if he's being sincere but given the win percentage he had at the Wood and SA this year I have to say the coincidence is worth noting.

Come on, man, that's pretty weak.

I think the MIG would be perfect as a steward when he retires. Let's recruit him from now.

He certainly knows how to watch a race.

I think he was a bit caugt in the middle as an older rider. He is not young and up and coming like some of those kids out there and he does not have the rep that say a Solis, Nakatani or Smith have so it put him in a middle position to get good mounts. One thing that is very different from the east coast to a certain extent is that you have to work horses in the morning to get mounts, where your rep can do alot of that for you out west. I dont know how much he worked horses, maybe a lot, but that is one thing you have to do out west.

I'm going to guess that few, if any, spent more time out in the mornings than Mig.

I was just pointing out a big difference for top riders out east to west, how many does JV work? Bailey rarely worked horses, I mean 6-8 a morning.

Andy, don't even waste your time.

Eric

Absolutely! Many people have said this. Although, with his passion, people skills, and being an excellent horseman, he is one of the few who could become a trainer as well. It might not be a wise economic decision, but that's another discussion, LOL.

Eric

You never have to worry about Richie's work ethic.

Eric

I am not worried, just added a difference between the two places, notice the comment "maybe a lot".

Johnny works few horses, but that's because he has something that other jocks don't have -- his agent! Bailey worked plenty of horses in his day, for guys like Mott and Frankel. He wasn't out there working racehorses everyday as he wasn't riding a lot of them and those he was riding he didn't have to work.

I remember one weekend at the Spa, Bailey won something like two G1's, a G2, and maybe a G2 -- at the Spa, somewhere else and then back at the Spa. There he was Sunday morning, 5:30am or so, right at Frankel's barn getting up on horses.

Like him or not, personally, professionally, doesn't matter, I don't think what Bailey did or didn't do in the mornings defines what he did in the afternoons.

IMO, 6 to 8 a morning is a lot, relatively speaking.

Eric

that was my point, Bajarano, Nakatani, Solis, etc, you know the "made" guys have to do that out west. The last time Bailey worked six he was probably 25, the trainers dont care about who you are, to get mounts you have to work the horses.

Bailey worked horses, regularly, throughout his career. Maybe the last time you saw him work horses was when he was 25, but he worked a few after that. Maybe 6 to 8, but perhaps not much more, LOL.

Eric

I've been watching Richard Migliore ride since the high days when John Kimmel was in, and for the life of me I can't figure out why he doesn't get more quality mounts. I counted atleast 7 riders currently that are ahead of him in So Cal standings that if I owned a horse I can honestly say I would have him ride before one of those guys. This one's a mystery...

You are right, to many it is somewhat of a "mystery" so to speak. There are plenty of people who feel like you do. But there is a unique dynamic that exists in this game, specifically, in that side of the game. It's not always owners though. I won't get into all the details, but I don't always make the decision as to who rides. OTOH, I haven't owned any top stakes winning horses. But I know plenty of people who have and do. There is a lot that goes into that whole process, most of which might not count for squat, LOL.

Regardless, with trainers, they use certain kind of jocks on certain kind of horses, and with top horses, they must make every call count. It could be their last, LOL. They have preconceived notions, prejudices, etc. just like everyone.

Doesn't matter -- Richie is a guy who should get more quality mounts. It isn't for a lack of passion, desire, ability or work ethic. And, the guy is truly a student of the game.

Eric

The guy has a reputation just south of pure saint and it's not wrong to ask a legitimate question that will be asked by racing journalists across the country.

He goes to California approximately 20 months ago to see if he can make it out there after a horrible injury filled 2003-2006. He has a decent 6-9 (months) in California and then things start to slide, he isn't getting as many good mounts the last 6 months, he fires his agent a few months back and now he's coming home. If there are special family circumstances that would have this make sense ,okay could be, but I didn't see that in the story or anywhere else.

The man has four children that are approximately 16,12,10 and 6 years old. Two years ago when he went to California and like alot of fathers who's jobs take them away from home,myself included, he weighs his options and chooses to go west. I am sure he missed those kids and his wife in 2006, they missed him dearly the first time he was away Wed-Sunday and the same is true now.

It's not like looking at an athletes situation when they have announced they have decided to spend more time with the family is character assassination on the contrary I respect this very talented jockey who is a medical miracle
recovering from the injuries he has had winning just about every major award there is from the age of 17 when he won the eclipse for apprentices to multiple versions of jockey of the year in years gone by. What fan is not an admirer of this guy?

It was no secret that injuries took their toll on him the three years prior to going to the west coast.

From NTRA website...

A series of injuries over three consecutive years caused the number and quality of his East Coast mounts to decline. Most notably, broke his leg and injured his Achilles tendon in a paddock accident at Belmont Park nine days prior to the 2005 Breeders' Cup and lost the mount on Artie Shiller, who won the Mile. In 2004, rode Artie Shiller to a 12th place finish in Mile but was later diagnosed with a broken wrist, ribs and pelvis from a gate accident two days prior ... After 26 years of riding on the East Coast, moved West in fall 2006.

Given that the last 6-9 months in California were not as successful as Fall 2006 and his health is far less of an issue it makes sense to consider a previously very fertile environment where everyone respects the guy. It's even possible that both answers to the question are true but it's far from a cheap shot.

That was a thoughtful response Eric, thanks for that. Hopefully Mr. Migliore will get the mounts he deserves in the future, he can still ride from what I have seen of him. One can only reflect the guy has had some bad luck in his career, from being hurt during Artie S BC win to Hidden Lake having to run in the BC in So Cal and not out east where she was so dominant.

Migliore's stats at the recently completed hollywood park spring/summer meet:

130 mounts 19 wins 56 times in the money for percentages of close to 15 and 43.

Thats not bad. 13th in earnings that puts him slightly behind the likes of Martin Pedroza but ahead of the likes of John Court and Corey Nakatani.

I dont think the Mig was having a hard time finding work. Rather, I think that he was selective as to what he would ride and there just arent that many opportunities right now in So Cal.

The quality of racing will increase dramatically at Saratoga but Belmont was a craptacular of epic proportions on most days. The quality of horse couldn't have been much better than Hollywood...unless you hold turf sprinters in high regard.

now jamie
theriot will get even less crumbs..:mad: :wf

if The Riot gets bred crumbs then Elvis Trujillo might just be an exercise rider up there for 2 months

-bt-

There's a rumor floating that Richard will be analyst on the NYOTB show from Saratoga. Just a rumor..... :rolleyes:

what's the source of that one?? Has he ever done TV before in that capacity?

I dont know many owners who request they use a rider who are told no, maybe they cant guy they want but I hardly hear trainers just saying no.

That is weak. He is a family guy and the prospect of having a few owners who will run him is enough to bring him back. I'm not sure what I think about him but I think he is sincere.

He did the show the summer of 2006, if I remember correctly.

First, I have no idea what you are saying -- your statement is not at all what I said. Second, do you make the decison which jock will be offered the ride for every horse you own and for every race (regardless of whether or not your choice is open)?

Eric

Yes I make the decision, though I dont own many horses, and the rider I would use would almost never say no, unless there was some super star he was on that had to ride.

Great. And, as to my first question, again, your comment has nothing to do with my post. I didn't say anything even remotely resembling "an owner being told no" -- however, I can certainly see how you would misunderstand that given that you make the decision.

So the end result on your decision is that you call the shot and that's that. To a certain extent, that's kind of my point. A jock is relying on you to give him a call.

Eric

maybe as simple as he went west to strike gold only to come up with silver and thats no reason to stay 3k miles away from your family.

If SM says it, it's credible. He's done some guest spots on the NYC OTB show from the Spa in the past.

I think very highly of Mig and hope he gets some live horses. He's very popular around these parts.

He is popular but when he got injured it seemed to effect him when he returned. I saw him bail out more often than not when he was in close quarters on the rail. Not sure I wouldn't have done the same but the injuries did seem to effect him. He does care about the horses and if he is successful, he'll get alot of mounts. But the colony is awfully tough. Even without Go Go.