Be Bullish/Mike Repole

[NTamm1215]

We definitely need people retiring healthy horses in this day and age. Considering our field sizes are so great and all.

[Sightseek]

So happy this was done!

The goal should be to retire a horse before they run their very last race and are still usable in other ways. Granted, Be Bullish will be at Old Friends, but there are many horses out there that should be retired, re-schooled and given a new job. Don't run every last bit of soundness (or worse, life) out of them.

[Jay Frederick]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

So happy this was done!

The goal should be to retire a horse before they run their very last race and are still usable in other ways. Granted, Be Bullish will be at Old Friends, but there are many horses out there that should be retired, re-schooled and given a new job. Don't run every last bit of soundness (or worse, life) out of them.

Don't think anyone is suggesting running every last bit of soundness out of them. There has to be a middle ground there somewhere.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

Don't think anyone is suggesting running every last bit of soundness out of them. There has to be a middle ground there somewhere.

Respectfully, in this instance, I think this is the middle ground.

Great post, Sightie... always nice when someone is able to convey the thoughts that I think a few of us here share.

I'm sorry to bring up something so sad and about an older warrior we all loved (or who at least was a fan and forum favorite), but maybe this is part of it...

I do not know Mr. Repole at all and am not trying to be presumptuous or attempt to psychoanalyze him but maybe this is relative (?):

Repole said he had considered retiring Caixa Eletronica at the end of both his 7- and 8-year-old seasons, but the horse was sound and seemed to enjoy running and training so much that he kept him going. Repole said he turned down offers from farms in Indiana, Oklahoma, and overseas to stand the horse as a stallion. Repole said his plan was to retire the horse to Old Friends in Saratoga.

“Growing up in Queens these are the horses that I fell in love with, not the Saturday horses, but the Wednesday and Thursday horses,” Repole said. “Caixa was that type of horse that turned into a special horse.”


http://www.drf.com/news/belmont-park...ining-accident

So that's why I think this is a win win and that this just might be the middle ground. If nothing else why not be a little more careful with an older horse...

Glad for all involved. Always nice to see a happy ending.

[Jay Frederick]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Respectfully, in this instance, I think this is the middle ground.

Great post, Sightie... always nice when someone is able to convey the thoughts that I think a few of us here share.

I'm sorry to bring up something so sad and about an older warrior we all loved (or who at least was a fan and forum favorite), but maybe this is part of it...

I do not know Mr. Repole at all and am not trying to be presumptuous or attempt to psychoanalyze him but maybe this is relative (?):

Repole said he had considered retiring Caixa Eletronica at the end of both his 7- and 8-year-old seasons, but the horse was sound and seemed to enjoy running and training so much that he kept him going. Repole said he turned down offers from farms in Indiana, Oklahoma, and overseas to stand the horse as a stallion. Repole said his plan was to retire the horse to Old Friends in Saratoga.

“Growing up in Queens these are the horses that I fell in love with, not the Saturday horses, but the Wednesday and Thursday horses,” Repole said. “Caixa was that type of horse that turned into a special horse.”


http://www.drf.com/news/belmont-park...ining-accident

So that's why I think this is a win win and that this just might be the middle ground. If nothing else why not be a little more careful with an older horse...

Glad for all involved. Always nice to see a happy ending.

Maybe it is the middle ground, I don't know. What I do know is what happened to Caixa Eletronica (a personal favorite of mine) could have just as easily happened to a 2 year old. Age had nothing to do with his accident. If we need to be more careful as they get older than maybe they shouldn't be running at all.

I am very happy to see Be Bullish go out a winner. I just think there is more to meets the eye here and that some of the people involved should look at how they run their own stables instead of trying to meddle in others.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

Maybe it is the middle ground, I don't know. What I do know is what happened to Caixa Eletronica (a personal favorite of mine) could have just as easily happened to a 2 year old. Age had nothing to do with his accident. If we need to be more careful as they get older than maybe they shouldn't be running at all.

I am very happy to see Be Bullish go out a winner. I just think there is more to meets the eye here and that some of the people involved should look at how they run their own stables instead of trying to meddle in others.

Sometimes i see a comment (and not usually on this site) that makes me wonder if the writer is a racing fan. We all know horses can go at any time, a day old to 30 years or older. A paddock accident, training, a gallop out, a van ride, foaling, etc. If a horse still enjoys racing and is healthy, let him have his fun.
We have to hope those handling the horse does the right thing....of course its not always the case, we all know that. So, you have to hope for the best. Theres no magic number agewise, or number of races wise...
I hope be bullish enjoys his retirement!

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

Maybe it is the middle ground, I don't know. What I do know is what happened to Caixa Eletronica (a personal favorite of mine) could have just as easily happened to a 2 year old. Age had nothing to do with his accident. If we need to be more careful as they get older than maybe they shouldn't be running at all.

I am very happy to see Be Bullish go out a winner. I just think there is more to meets the eye here and that some of the people involved should look at how they run their own stables instead of trying to meddle in others.

I appreciate your thoughtful and articulate response and yes, glad to see him go out a winner too.

You are right about Caixa... I do wonder if that haunts the man, you know? If deep inside he rationalizes doing this as a way of (wrong choice of words here, but )"making up" for that. Like he couldn't save one so he saves the other and believe me.. if anyone dumps on me for such an outrageous statement I totally deserve it but it's my thought and I am comfortable saying such a thing to YOU.

Again, I am no one to speculate on such matters but its a forum and all opinion and so that is my... that is what I wonder.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

Don't think anyone is suggesting running every last bit of soundness out of them.

But isn't that the history of the trainer for his last race? His post-race quotes show how much he doesn't get it.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

I've always wondered which side of my family had been responsible for my egomanical reasoning... Coulda swore it was the Irish

The more you know...

[Jay Frederick]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

But isn't that the history of the trainer for his last race? His post-race quotes show how much he doesn't get it.

For the most part yes. He and a lot of other trainers squeeze what they can and discard. I'm not defending Jacobson's history, because there is no defending it.

But let's remember how the events unfolded here. Repole claimed him a few months back to retire him. Made sure the media knew about how nice it was he was going to retire him. Then proceeded to not retire him and run him where he could claimed....which he was.

They tried to embarrass Jacobson once already. He should comply with them after that? Just being honest here, not sure I would have either.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by Jay Frederick

For the most part yes. He and a lot of other trainers squeeze what they can and discard. I'm not defending Jacobson's history, because there is no defending it.

But let's remember how the events unfolded here. Repole claimed him a few months back to retire him. Made sure the media knew about how nice it was he was going to retire him. Then proceeded to not retire him and run him where he could claimed....which he was.

They tried to embarrass Jacobson once already. He should comply with them after that? Just being honest here, not sure I would have either.

There's no embarrassing Jacobson. He showed his colors in the Tour of the Cat episode shortly after he returned to training, and his MO hasn't changed since then.

In just the last six months, we've seen the demise of nine year-old Cherokee Artist, and the retirements of Socialsaul and Be Bullish while Jacobson was racing them at or near the bottom. (As someone else on the site said, why is it always someone other than Jacobson who has to right by the horse?)

[Jay Frederick]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

There's no embarrassing Jacobson. He showed his colors in the Tour of the Cat episode shortly after he returned to training, and his MO hasn't changed since then.

In just the last six months, we've seen the demise of nine year-old Cherokee Artist, and the retirements of Socialsaul and Be Bullish while Jacobson was racing them at or near the bottom. (As someone else on the site said, why is it always someone other than Jacobson who has to right by the horse?)

You don't need to convince me about Jacobson. I agree with everything you say. I'm no fan of his. Some of his actions have been gross and he's made playing races in NY even harder than normal.

I just don't think he's wrong in this case. If they wanted to retire Be Bullish, they should have when they claimed him the first time.

I guess I find the attitude that it's somehow not dignified for him to be running in the races he is kind of odd. Did Be Bullish tell someone he's not happy? His performance on the track recently doesn't really look like a horse who isn't enjoying themselves. And how do we know he'll be happier not running?

I'm way more concerned about the older horses running up the track for the bottom at places like Mountaineer than I am horses running and winning for 16k in NY.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

We definitely need people retiring healthy horses in this day and age. Considering our field sizes are so great and all.

Not feeling your injuries is not necessarily healthy. All situations arent black or white. I agree healthy horses that slow down shouldnt be retired just because they lose a step. I have trouble believing he was a healthy horse and not a product of a healthy batch of whatever and lots a back class. He was recently on vet list and while this is anecdotal evidence of health or lack there of its has to be considered in light of the trainer and his lack of reputation.