what is up with roman??

[dylbert]

Mr. Roman only proves that a rich fool and his money can be foolishly parted. He is one of those owners who believe that they know what is best for racing and can shape the game because what they have moolah. Digger will be another "vanity also-ran" so Mr. Roman can boast that he had starter in 2007 Triple Crown series.

Earlier today, I heard John Pricci suggest over/under for beaten lengths is 50! I will take a Benjamin on the over...

[Danzig]

small field, chance for a payday, it's not like the horse will be in physical danger, altho getting his ass handed to him may not help mentally....
don't understand it, i wouldn't do it, but it could always be worse...

[Riot]

Kasept, I beg of you, score the entertainment coup of Belmont week and get Mr. Roman on ATRAB, please!

Those were pretty weird statements but Borel should be up there riding on that day anyway with all the stakes money available. Who would turn down $10K to ride a horse anyway. That is the equivalent of winning a $150K stake race.

[ELA]

Originally Posted by Danzig

small field, chance for a payday, it's not like the horse will be in physical danger, altho getting his ass handed to him may not help mentally....
don't understand it, i wouldn't do it, but it could always be worse...

That's not really the problem -- the problem is Roman and his stated intentions. It's not about his horse. It's more about what he has inferred or potentially he might do to other horses.

This is an aside to the comments directed toward Tafel, Nafzger et al. I found this offensive and insulting.

Eric

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by ELA

That's not really the problem -- the problem is Roman and his stated intentions. It's not about his horse. It's more about what he has inferred or potentially he might do to other horses.

This is an aside to the comments directed toward Tafel, Nafzger et al. I found this offensive and insulting.

Eric

yeah, i know, the whole thing is whacky....if you just consider, as i did above, the affect on the horse (since some thought there was a safety issue), i don't see a reason to be worried.

BUT...his comments since deciding to enter--and his efforts to get borel or pino, well it just doesn't make sense to me, or many others for that matter! can't help but wonder exactly what his agenda is here.

ego a part? probably...
i just don't see why he's going to offer his horse up as some sort of sacrifice for whatever it is he's trying to prove. that is what i have a problem with.

altho i'm disappointed that street sense skipped the race, i can't say that i'm surprised. i doubt anyone is. it's what this sport has become for the most part, which is a shame. but i don't get what roman is trying to accomplish here.

[ELA]

Originally Posted by Danzig

yeah, i know, the whole thing is whacky....if you just consider, as i did above, the affect on the horse (since some thought there was a safety issue), i don't see a reason to be worried.

BUT...his comments since deciding to enter--and his efforts to get borel or pino, well it just doesn't make sense to me, or many others for that matter! can't help but wonder exactly what his agenda is here.

ego a part? probably...
i just don't see why he's going to offer his horse up as some sort of sacrifice for whatever it is he's trying to prove. that is what i have a problem with.

altho i'm disappointed that street sense skipped the race, i can't say that i'm surprised. i doubt anyone is. it's what this sport has become for the most part, which is a shame. but i don't get what roman is trying to accomplish here.

OK, that's fine, however, I immediately looked beyond the horse and looked at Roman's stated intentions.

This is outlandish.

Whatever Roman may be trying to accomplish -- running the horse, not running the horse -- is a fallacious arguement. It distracts from the real danger and real concerns -- his stated intentions.

Eric

[theiman]

Originally Posted by ELA

OK, that's fine, however, I immediately looked beyond the horse and looked at Roman's stated intentions.

This is outlandish.

Whatever Roman may be trying to accomplish -- running the horse, not running the horse -- is a fallacious arguement. It distracts from the real danger and real concerns -- his stated intentions.

Eric

Explain to me what you think is the danger of him running this horse in the Belmont.

As for what he might be trying to accomplish, a chance of a lifetime to race in a Grade 1 race at his favorite T-Bred track and hopefully pick up part of the purse.

He is the guy who gave back, supposedly over $1M on the sale of his horse Lawrence The Roman after he performed bad at the Big A this winter.
Name someone else with that integrity in this cut throat sport.

[ELA]

Originally Posted by theiman

Explain to me what you think is the danger of him running this horse in the Belmont.

As for what he might be trying to accomplish, a chance of a lifetime to race in a Grade 1 race at his favorite T-Bred track and hopefully pick up part of the purse.

He is the guy who gave back, supposedly over $1M on the sale of his horse Lawrence The Roman after he performed bad at the Big A this winter.
Name someone else with that integrity in this cut throat sport.

Your points about what Roman has done in the past, are irrelevant here -- in this case and on this issue. It is not about integrity -- it is about motive and intent, which Roman himself stated, not you might I add. You appear to be blindly defending a friend, and I respect that. However, in doing that you turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the real issue at hand.

Mr. Roman himself said that the horse would be make his presense felt early on, even though he felt he wouldn't be anywhere in it at the end. There was also commentary that Hard Spun should "watch out" or something along those lines.

He wants to run his horse -- great. Beat the field fair and square -- great. But what about costing another horse the race -- when taken in the context that you admit you really don't stand a chance?

Your blind support of a friend is superceding your common sense.

Eric

[JDank34]

this is lunacy by Roman...Borel in no way, shape or form will jeopardize his relationship with Carl Nafzger for a mere 10,000 to ride for an owner and trainer that he will never ride for again.

[theiman]

Originally Posted by ELA

Your points about what Roman has done in the past, are irrelevant here -- in this case and on this issue. It is not about integrity -- it is about motive and intent, which Roman himself stated, not you might I add. You appear to be blindly defending a friend, and I respect that. However, in doing that you turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the real issue at hand.

Mr. Roman himself said that the horse would be make his presense felt early on, even though he felt he wouldn't be anywhere in it at the end. There was also commentary that Hard Spun should "watch out" or something along those lines.

He wants to run his horse -- great. Beat the field fair and square -- great. But what about costing another horse the race -- when taken in the context that you admit you really don't stand a chance?

Your blind support of a friend is superceding your common sense.

Eric

How does he cost another horse the race?

Doesnt a rabbit, as part of an entry, also cost another horse a race? Havent they been part of racing since racing has been around.

What about the job they did on Cigar at DM, didnt that cost him the race? There were horses literally crawling in that race on the last turn.

If the horse isnt sound than I agree. However, every day I see sprint races with 12 horse fields and horses who cant run more than 2F race out to the lead and then back through the field. Isnt that the same "Dangerous" analogy implied here? Those horses that cant make a 6F race alter the course of those races too? Yet we dont see complaints about that?

Each year arent there about 10 horses in the KY Derby that have no chance and lose by over 25 lengths, the same horses are backing through the field as you anticipate Romans horse too. Yet they allow 20 starters in that race.

I am a long time friend of Larry's, although since moving to California I havent seen him in aboout 15 years. But as a fan of racing, if someone else had done the same I would support them the same. I would rather support Larry for racing than anyone who retires these horses way too soon.

[ELA]

Thanks for the comments -- they prove my point. It's abundantly clear that you don't get it.

Eric

[hockey2315]

I can't believe you're equating Digger to a rabbit. . . Who's he the rabbit for? What gives Roman the justification to enter a horse to purposely impede a another in a race where he has no other interest other than sabotage? He needs to mind his own business. . .

[The Bid]

Too bad the guy doesnt have a decent horse, he has the moxie to make it interesting.

There are only so many ways for millionaires to get a rush. You can only have so many 50 foot yachts and 800 square foot homes. The only thing left is to buy a horse at Charlestown and enter him in the Belmont stakes.

[theiman]

Originally Posted by ELA

Thanks for the comments -- they prove my point. It's abundantly clear that you don't get it.

Eric

Actually my statements prove my points. You just didnt have an argument to stand on so you come back with a short one liner.

Might as well have walkovers in racing because obviously only the winner belongs and nobody else.

Now I hope he scratches the horse, because anything else will be a "See I told you so response"

Go root for all of the connections that spew the same garbage talk pre derby than duck a TC grade 1 race because it now doesnt fit our schedule. Strange how a head loss changes so much.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by theiman

Actually my statements prove my points. You just didnt have an argument to stand on so you come back with a short one liner.

Might as well have walkovers in racing because obviously only the winner belongs and nobody else.

Now I hope he scratches the horse, because anything else will be a "See I told you so response"

Go root for all of the connections that spew the same garbage talk pre derby than duck a TC grade 1 race because it now doesnt fit our schedule. Strange how a head loss changes so much.

Sure let's just ignore the self esteem and psychological well being of this horse I guess. Putting a horse in over it's head can potentially ruin the horse. In the face of it, some horses never put in a try ever again. As for the other horses, say he does cook Hard Spun in a duel (not that I buy into the idea that HS would engage) at the end you'll have to wobbly horses flying backward into the face of advancing traffic which isn't going to be huge (it's not as if it's a 20 horse Derby field) but still anybody in the first couple paths has to deal with going around them. What could it do to the other horses? A variety of things. This one may be extreme but excessively tired horses have flat out fallen down. They've also caused another animal to clip heels or any other number of racing accidents. I personally prefer my races without the equine edition of Frogger. I guess if Digger ends up vanned from the track after being eased, no harm no foul right? I mean who else did he hurt? (He could of course come out of it just fine and even do well but the odds are seriously against him, that's the point. If he wants a G1 race better suited to the horse, there are others he could take a stab at. It's not sporting to take an animal over his head just to do it. You need to at least think there's a chance which they don't appear to.)

[theiman]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

Sure let's just ignore the self esteem and psychological well being of this horse I guess. Putting a horse in over it's head can potentially ruin the horse. In the face of it, some horses never put in a try ever again. As for the other horses, say he does cook Hard Spun in a duel (not that I buy into the idea that HS would engage) at the end you'll have to wobbly horses flying backward into the face of advancing traffic which isn't going to be huge (it's not as if it's a 20 horse Derby field) but still anybody in the first couple paths has to deal with going around them. What could it do to the other horses? A variety of things. This one may be extreme but excessively tired horses have flat out fallen down. They've also caused another animal to clip heels or any other number of racing accidents. I personally prefer my races without the equine edition of Frogger. I guess if Digger ends up vanned from the track after being eased, no harm no foul right? I mean who else did he hurt? (He could of course come out of it just fine and even do well but the odds are seriously against him, that's the point. If he wants a G1 race better suited to the horse, there are others he could take a stab at. It's not sporting to take an animal over his head just to do it. You need to at least think there's a chance which they don't appear to.)

Maybe he becomes a tougher and braver horse by racing against tougher horses? Can you say he wont for sure? How many times have we as humans seen our kids or even ourselves step "up" to the competition level of more experienced people at sports we play. I play alot of racquetball. When I play against the guys that are much better than me my game picks up. Can you say that Digger wont show up when the time comes?

As for your analogy of a weary leg animal causing confusion a potential problems, I dont buy it. Every day we see horses backing through 12 horse sprint races after 2F. This is the same danger that I assume you mean that Digger might cause. Why has there been no arguments over this danger. I cant think of a more dangerous race in the USA than the Derby. A 20 horse cavalry charge to the first turn and then 1/2 the field is going backwards into the second turn.

What Larry Roman has said as an owner is one thing, but he doesnt ride the race and the jock will. The horse is eligible to race in the Belmont and deserves a chance.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by theiman

The horse is eligible to race in the Belmont and deserves a chance.

Thank God most people don't believe this kind of nonsense. Even Larry Roman apparently doesn't and has said as much.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Thank God most people don't believe this kind of nonsense. Even Larry Roman apparently doesn't and has said as much.

That is my biggest issue with it. If they thought Dutrow had straightened some things out with the horse and saw the short field in the Belmont and took a shot I wouldn't have a huge problem with it. The horse has gone nine furlongs three times so it isn't like throwing an unraced horse into the Arkansas Derby, My issue was Roman's comments that he was basically entering the horse to make a mockery of the race because Street Sense wasn't going and that his horse had no shot. That is indefensible in my opinion.

[theiman]

I will guess that if Rags to Riches is racing that Digger wont.

I havent spoke to Larry either, just a guess.