Barry Irwin Speaks Out

[ELA]

The Pletcher delay was really a minor issue -- but I think it is reflective of much bigger issues. It certainly wasn't a horsemen issue. At least I don't think so. I don't know that Pletcher could create such a delay. By the way -- the horse was a claimer. Wouldn't it have been interesting if the horse had been claimed when he came up positive.

Anyway, I am not sure what brought about the delay -- racetrack management, state racing commission, etc.

The media certainly doesn't help.

By the way, and I am being completely serious -- if there was a national racing commissioner or czar, or a national governing body -- exactly what specific charges or infractions would Dutrow be banned for life for?

The positive test/wagering aspect always concerned me and I am surprised that there is not more vocal concern about it. The Woodbine/Dutrow/Borislow incident I thought would have created much more in the way of ramifications. However, I feel that it's not only the business, sport -- but the public and their money must be protected at all costs.

Eric

[cmorioles]

It seems pretty apparent Mr. Pletcher has forgotten how to train. He is invisible these days.

[cmorioles]

What is next? Will Dutrow call another trainer a cheater? Will a Jerry Brown horse run for blatant cheater Assmussen? Will Hank Goldberg pick a few winners on national television?

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

What is next? Will Dutrow call another trainer a cheater? Will a Jerry Brown horse run for blatant cheater Assmussen? Will Hank Goldberg pick a few winners on national television?

Will Hank Goldberg put together a complete, comprehensible sentence?

[Thunder Gulch]

Classic from Barry Irwin, a guy so concerned with his horses that he immediately looked behind Captain Bodgit at the end of the Derby because he was more concerned with who ran 3rd so he could catch the trifecta.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

It seems pretty apparent Mr. Pletcher has forgotten how to train. He is invisible these days.

It is amazing. I was talking to a buddy of mine about this the other day. It wasn't that long ago that, possibly with the exception of Contessa, Pletcher had far more starters than any other trainer in New York at this time of year. This year, Barclay Tagg and Christophe Clement have more starters at Belmont than Pletcher, and Pletcher has very few wins (and of those I think almost half are maiden claimers or NW2L claimers). He almost has as many starters at Churchill and Arlington, which used to be his second and third string.

I always thought that the cold spell that he had at Saratoga last summer was not coincidental given its timing. Did his owners know something that we don't, as he no longer trains for Melnyk, has lost many Peachtree horses (to Clement and Jerkens), and even Team Valor gave its pricey Saarland filly Collegiate to Hennig.