Russel Baze suspension
 

someone sent me a blurb about Russel Baze getting suspended for whipping a horse with a broken leg

Did anyone see it

was it as bad as they believe it to be?

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16215

I like Baze the way Russell stays after a horse to keep them going, but in this case he admitted it was a "Heat of the Battle" mistake.

It may have been a heat of the battle mistake, and to a certain extent I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. That being said, it sure looked bad, especially when he bobbled the first time and then he persevered with him.

They may want to investigate him for dog fighting.........

I was at Bay Meadows this past Saturday and was talking with a friend who is a retired jockey about the Baze incident - my friend watched the race in person and he said it looked "real bad, unprofessional" from his view point (he was sitting about the mid-point of the final furlong)... I watched the replay several times and it's pretty obvious that the horse was having a problem beyond just a "stumble" - I make no excuses for his actions but Baze has accepted responsibility and I'm fairly confident that we won't see that kind of response from Russell again when a horse falters so I'm willing to forgive him. I figure the Sherman's (father/son trainers) have forgiven him, so I am too.

I think Russell is a true and reliable rider who will always put his horse in the best chance to hit the board.

I'm not a training expert, but I do think I've seen more than a handful of races where Russell backed off on a horse with nothing meaningful more left to give to save the horse for another day.

I have no fault with Russell in one iota for the recent incident.

(did I get the first use of "iota" today?.....:-)....)

I hate that it happened, but after over 9,800 wins, and probably at least 40,000+ rides, he certainly has earned professional discretion and fan respect.

He's got mine.

Darn, Derby Cat....

You have achieved Del Mar ranking, and I'm stuck with Delaware Park?

:)

How many more fast posts can I make to change my track?

yecch!

It appears I post too much and need to get a life :o

At least my post total isn't in the 5,000+ range like some folks on here - unfortunately, I just don't have that much to say ;)

I'll be at Bay Meadows this Saturday... let me know if you can make it to the track, I'll save you a seat :cool: