If you trained Lava Man.....

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by sdjcom

Lava Man has obvious lost his edge in this class of races, so let's retire him and not embarass him because owners are f---ing greedy, and he is gelded.
turn him out to a comfortable life you greedy bastards. HOW MUCH MONEY HAS HE MADE YOU OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, YOU GREEDY THUGS!!!!!

He's probably still better than AP Arrow who at least has a tiny bit of breeding value. As long as a gelding is still better than a potential stallion you can't fault anyone for running him. Get him away from O'Neill and to someone that can milkshake him without the inconvenience of the detention park.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Since you're the only one (so far) who has suggested retirement. I'm just wondering... why not let him keep running?

I have mixed feelings... just curious to hear your thoughts.

At this point, where are you going to run him at where he can win? They tried state breds two and three back on both turf and poly and both were losing performances.

This isnt just some horse...this is lava man. This is a horse that has won his owners over 5.2 million dollars. This is a horse with a legacy. Why cheapen it?

If they are going to keep running him, they should try stretching him out and going long. The pace of the shorter races is just too much at this point and he is just not going to be competitive.

Personally, i think he has earned himself a nice retirement.

[geeker2]

Wadsworth Memorial Handicap then retirement....

[jaripeo]

Bob Buffer may do something with it. May win the Champion Older Male, for his 3 year in a rol (06-07- ?).
Why send him home, his is a gelding and his life is on the tracks. Is a warrior.

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

At this point, where are you going to run him at where he can win? They tried state breds two and three back on both turf and poly and both were losing performances.

This isnt just some horse...this is lava man. This is a horse that has won his owners over 5.2 million dollars. This is a horse with a legacy. Why cheapen it?

If they are going to keep running him, they should try stretching him out and going long. The pace of the shorter races is just too much at this point and he is just not going to be competitive.

Personally, i think he has earned himself a nice retirement.

Melbourne Cup is where he should go

[philcski]

Kentucky Horse Park.

[Lastkidpickedingymclass]

This horse is done.

And he's done enough for them that they should know when to say when.

[eajinabi]

I would have Richard Mandella train him

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

At this point, where are you going to run him at where he can win? They tried state breds two and three back on both turf and poly and both were losing performances.

This isnt just some horse...this is lava man. This is a horse that has won his owners over 5.2 million dollars. This is a horse with a legacy. Why cheapen it?

If they are going to keep running him, they should try stretching him out and going long. The pace of the shorter races is just too much at this point and he is just not going to be competitive.

Personally, i think he has earned himself a nice retirement.

Just went back and read the thread again.

Nice post.

[CSC]

+1 Retirement is well deserved.

[GenuineRisk]

I think legacies are for the owners, not the horses. If the horse still wants to run, they should keep running him, even if it means going to lower levels where he can compete. They owe him the best possible life they can offer, and if for him, it still includes running, then let him do it. If he makes it clear he doesn't want to run anymore, then they should retire him. And then, I would hope, look for something else for him to do. I thought Barclay Tagg was right on the money when he said he made Funny Cide a track pony because he said didn't want him spending his day standing in a field, bored out of his noggin. These horses are not elderly- they're still in the prime of their lives and need something to do. Retiring because he can't compete at Grade 1s anymore is for a human's ego, not a horse's emotional health.

I work at a zoo and see how much time and money and effort goes into trying to keep the animals there mentally active, because boredom is incredibly stressful. Retirement to a nice quiet place to live sounds great, but for animals it can mean a whole lot of long days with nothing to fill them.

[geeker2]

Interesting perspective GR...very good post

[CSC]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I think legacies are for the owners, not the horses. If the horse still wants to run, they should keep running him, even if it means going to lower levels where he can compete. They owe him the best possible life they can offer, and if for him, it still includes running, then let him do it. If he makes it clear he doesn't want to run anymore, then they should retire him. And then, I would hope, look for something else for him to do. I thought Barclay Tagg was right on the money when he said he made Funny Cide a track pony because he said didn't want him spending his day standing in a field, bored out of his noggin. These horses are not elderly- they're still in the prime of their lives and need something to do. Retiring because he can't compete at Grade 1s anymore is for a human's ego, not a horse's emotional health.

I work at a zoo and see how much time and money and effort goes into trying to keep the animals there mentally active, because boredom is incredibly stressful. Retirement to a nice quiet place to live sounds great, but for animals it can mean a whole lot of long days with nothing to fill them.

I agree with you partly GR, if the horse is still willing...Yes, however I don't think a horse of Lava Man's stature should be running at Mountaineer against 5k claimers just because he wants to run. That would be sort of like when Ali fought against Holmes and being beat to a pulp when he was clearly over the hill. It wasn't too pleasant to watch. I do understand your post from a humane point of view. It is a nice thought but like all of us with age we start to lose our faculties.

[ninetoone]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I think legacies are for the owners, not the horses. If the horse still wants to run, they should keep running him, even if it means going to lower levels where he can compete. They owe him the best possible life they can offer, and if for him, it still includes running, then let him do it. If he makes it clear he doesn't want to run anymore, then they should retire him. And then, I would hope, look for something else for him to do. I thought Barclay Tagg was right on the money when he said he made Funny Cide a track pony because he said didn't want him spending his day standing in a field, bored out of his noggin. These horses are not elderly- they're still in the prime of their lives and need something to do. Retiring because he can't compete at Grade 1s anymore is for a human's ego, not a horse's emotional health.

I work at a zoo and see how much time and money and effort goes into trying to keep the animals there mentally active, because boredom is incredibly stressful. Retirement to a nice quiet place to live sounds great, but for animals it can mean a whole lot of long days with nothing to fill them.

I agree...send Brett Favre to the practice squad.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I think legacies are for the owners, not the horses. If the horse still wants to run, they should keep running him, even if it means going to lower levels where he can compete. They owe him the best possible life they can offer, and if for him, it still includes running, then let him do it. If he makes it clear he doesn't want to run anymore, then they should retire him. And then, I would hope, look for something else for him to do. I thought Barclay Tagg was right on the money when he said he made Funny Cide a track pony because he said didn't want him spending his day standing in a field, bored out of his noggin. These horses are not elderly- they're still in the prime of their lives and need something to do. Retiring because he can't compete at Grade 1s anymore is for a human's ego, not a horse's emotional health.

I work at a zoo and see how much time and money and effort goes into trying to keep the animals there mentally active, because boredom is incredibly stressful. Retirement to a nice quiet place to live sounds great, but for animals it can mean a whole lot of long days with nothing to fill them.

Excellent post.

[migreen]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I think legacies are for the owners, not the horses. If the horse still wants to run, they should keep running him, even if it means going to lower levels where he can compete. They owe him the best possible life they can offer, and if for him, it still includes running, then let him do it. If he makes it clear he doesn't want to run anymore, then they should retire him. And then, I would hope, look for something else for him to do. I thought Barclay Tagg was right on the money when he said he made Funny Cide a track pony because he said didn't want him spending his day standing in a field, bored out of his noggin. These horses are not elderly- they're still in the prime of their lives and need something to do. Retiring because he can't compete at Grade 1s anymore is for a human's ego, not a horse's emotional health.

I work at a zoo and see how much time and money and effort goes into trying to keep the animals there mentally active, because boredom is incredibly stressful. Retirement to a nice quiet place to live sounds great, but for animals it can mean a whole lot of long days with nothing to fill them.

Excellent post.

Lets not forget that there are many careers for a Tbred outside racing . . some involve other forms of competition, and some do not. There are many ways for a loved horse to be useful. It takes some doing to retrain an off-the-track horse, but having said that, its done every day. Remember, 7 is old for a racehorse, but young in every other equine discipline. Even a 10 YO like Evening Attire is just approaching middle age in most equine pursuits.

So . . Lava Man, and horses like him, can retire from the track, and do a lot more than graze all day.