Quote:
Originally Posted by King Glorious
I am not a Baffert apologist but I have nothing against the cheaters because, as I've said, I've suspected that most everyone either crosses or goes right up to the line. Many times on here, I've expressed where I would like to see horses run and I get told how I'm very cavalier with other people's property/money. I get told that the job of the trainer is to pick the spots where the horse fits best and gives the owner the best chance to make money on their investment. The talk about Baffert cheating is not new. It's been talked about for years and years. Yet, owners keep sending their top stock to him year after year. So what does that tell you? They are willing to take the risks because the rewards are so great. The sport's governing bodies have never done anything to give Baffert reason to stop doing what he's been doing so in my opinion, he'd be a complete idiot to stop. Why? Cause some fans are upset that the playing field is not completely even? Is his responsibility to us or to the owners that give him their horses? Some of you need to get with reality. If he can do what he does and make himself more successful than any trainer in history while making tons of money and happiness for his owners and only suffer minor slaps on the wrist, i'm sorry but there is just no reason for him to stop.
I've bet this sport for many years always believing cheating was going on. If Baffert were banned for life tomorrow, I'd continue to bet just like I always have and I'd continue to believe that people in the game were cheating. To me, Baffert's just a bad cheater cause he keeps getting caught while others are good enough to know how to not get caught.
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He’s 0 for 8 since Mother’s Day when the overage news was leaked. Extremely small sample size sure, but interesting, no? He went from getting in front of every camera when this came out to not attending the Preakness and not answering any questions from the media. He was mocked on SNL and with the exception of a few fan boys has been pretty much universally criticized for among other things lying over and over again. For a really successful guy...his dumb routine did not go over well.
There are a few sacred things in this sport that you can’t mess with. The Derby, your HOY opinions, etc....and he pushed the envelope too far this time. Even if he and the horse are exonerated the damage is done. Spendthrift took one horse and if the horse gets DQ’d I’d bet more follow. His good guy reputation has been tarnished. This will follow him for the rest of his career.
You’re right that for most of us, it won’t change our betting one way or another. And sure, Baffert is one of many suspect guys whose results often seem not realistic. But I feel more confident betting races where Servis and Navarro don’t have an entrant. My guess is others do too.