The casual fan doesn’t want to hear “ everything is being done” and “ the horses are treated like royalty” when they’ve tuned in 2 weeks in a row with a casualty near the finish line. I know I’m not going to convince anyone I know otherwise. Not that it’s any less tragic, but these breakdowns weren’t at a 2’nd race track with 8 or 9 year old horses running.
I feel everything is being done to prevent catastrophic breakdowns and casualties. Because of human nature, I’m sure not every trainer at Saratoga doesn’t try to get an edge.
I have no answers. Like some, I didn’t bet the rest of the card on Saturday or the card on Sunday. I needed time to process, mourn and express myself. I’m a gambler, not a horseman. A line I live by, from the New York movie Pope of Greenwich Village is “ Let’s stick to what we know here” ( making cheese is what I know😂
. I know I enjoy handicapping immensely and putting my money on my opinions. I’ll be back at it on Thursday for Toga and Kentucky Downs. I don’t like Wednesdays card.
In closing, no one (yet!) in my small circle of friends has asked or suggested that I give up what I enjoy because of recent events. When it’s been brought up on the past, I’ve allowed anyone to speak their mind to me. I don’t have to defend what I do or the sport. My reply to anyone that has suggested the sport is inhumane or cruel; I don’t argue. I simply say “ horses will break down and I’ll be at it again soon” Anything further, it’s “ what I do isn’t your business “ and “ if you know how to fix what’s wrong, you fix it”. Like everything else in life, everyone has an opinion and they think they’re right.
“ if loving you is wrong, I don’t want yo be right” Luther Ingram
https://youtu.be/F9vEKTRLnUI?si=mwcbUWU64BuL7uOg