Quality Road
 

I have the utmost respect for gate crews - it's a tough, tough job.

But what I think I saw today - and please note, I said "I think I saw" - was about the most awful job of loading a problem horse I have ever seen.

It quickly became clear Quality Road didn't want to be touched, or whipped, or even whip cracked on or near his hind end. He seemed to start bucking as soon as the first touch on his ass occurred.

I thought they had the situation under control when the backed him out and blindfolded him. It seemed he went straight back in with the blindfold and they closed the gate behind - and I figured he was in. But then it seemed the asst. starter cracked the whip at his feet twice after the door closed behind him and that's when he went off.

Assuming the asst. starter cracked the whip after the door was closed, why in the world did would he do that when the horse was in the gate and the door was closed?

Had to be one of the scarier things I've seen. And if my sequence of events is accurate, it had to be one of the most pathetic performances by an asst I've EVER seen.

It's a scary, scary thing when a horse flips out like that. Pletcher is going to have his hands full trying to build Quality Road's trust again.

I agree there was at least one other horse after him they could have loaded and walk him around and see if he would settle him down, they became so focused on the order of loading they lost sight.

But as you said that is a tough job and who am I just a guy on the coach watching. but it did seem they could have allowed some time for him though

I don't think they ever closed the back doors. He started kicking out those hind legs before they could close them.

They should have immediately took the blindfold OFF as soon as he was in.They left it on,and brought him out the front after the fiasco,and the blindfold was still on him and he was still freakin' out.He did not relax until finally someone reached up and pulled it off.Yes,it was a poor job by the starters.

What about the guy on the crew that grabbed the reins as QR took off out the front of the gate with the blindfold still on! If he doesn't grab the reins and QR bolts, I can't even imagine what a scared blindfolded horse does with a crowd like that in the stands - could have been very ugly.

I say we go back to walkup starts.

He went absolutely biserk. It even looked/sounded like he kicked the tire at the end of the gate. I wouldn't be suprised if he suffered some sort of career ending injury after that display. And agreed it was a terrible job done by the starters.

I'm not sure what they could have done differently. Karma is a bitch Mr Evans.

agree, come on. that horse was out of control.

i've seen horses go haywire, but nothing like that today-and especially not in such a big race. and like derby cat said, luckily he didn't break loose through the front of the gate. hopefully he comes out of that incident ok.

Cigar Mile!

agreed, i bet him, i was touting him all week. its a half a ton of wild animal against 200 pound men. they can't make him do something hes not willing to do without someone or the horse getting hurt.(when its that out of hand) no one got hurt and the horse was scratched. like someone said the outcome could of been ugly. no one got hurt and i got my money back. i can't complain.

Agree Cannon. was Jimmy Jerkens smirking wherever he was? Horse has thrived since leaving his barn.

His ears were pinned the whole time. The horse just wasn't going in the gate and the crew wasn't at fault from what we saw on T.V.

i agree, this guy deserves a medal or a raise...

I think he just didn't like the synthetic track!:D

:tro:

I think he threw the fit cause he knew PG was all over him.

:tro:

I think he just wanted to be the only top 3 year old colt that hasn't gotten his butt kicked by a girl this year. :D

Quality Road's going to the Cigar Mile and will face Vineyard Haven among others.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...down-on-horses

NT

i think he was pissed at pletcher for not entering him in the mile



full marks to the guy who grabed the reins, aint no way in hell would i have done it


-bt-

The guy that grabbed the blindfold was the gate starter.

I seriously hope Pletcher takes him back to starting gate school before this. That was a dangerous situation for all involved.

Turn on HRTV now if you can.

I can't, I'm at work. What's happening?

SA Asst starters are probably the best in the business...You're right..the guy that took ahold of QR deserves a round of applause...he could've saved that horse's life by doing what he did...Excellent and Brave work by that guy...Hats Off to him...my gosh that guy had to be strong to do that...dance with a 3yo colt...forget about Zenyatta's dance..How bout that guy's dance?

Photo of the starter reaching to grab the reins:

http://gallery.pictopia.com/bloodhor...:8614273/?o=19

Look at the expression on the guy who ultimately jumped up and tore off the blindfold:

http://gallery.pictopia.com/bloodhor...:8614272/?o=19

A calm Quality Road that I met this summer :) :
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...ualityRoad.jpg

Actually I used him equally with Zenyatta and with his scratch made out on the 50$ conso, on a number of different pick 3's.
I know at least 3 if not more well respected memembers of this website that beleive he was and still is the most talented 3yr old male this year. Keep having your fun though....

How do you think he will do in that spot?

It was an old show on life from the starting gate, I guess they pulled it to show to be smart and will be showing it all week.:tro:

I like how in the first picture one of the starters covers the eyes of Regal Ransom. "Nothing to see here!"

How about Midshipman in the Cigar Mile? He'd be a major handful.

In that 3rd picture he looks stoned or hungover or both.

:D He was a actually a pretty patient subject and came right to his stall door and stood for a long time with his ears up. I think I took like 40 pictures. He's built like a tank.

Thanks for posting this! I won QR's Breeders Cup halter in an auction at The Second Race (horse rescue group) and wanted to put it in a shadow box along with this photo. I've been looking all over for it and knew I saw it somewhere - DerbyTrail has everything! Thanks Sightseek!