If you trained Lava Man.....

[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

[DogsUp]

Why not race him. Find 4 races a year for him and see what happens. Heck, Evening Attire just won the other day and he is like what....10? No reason why Lava Man couldnt earn $100k a year. Maybe that is high, but you get the point.

[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

[miraja2]

Ask KRIM to watch the videos of his recent races and tell me how sound he is.

[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.

[FGFan]

Originally Posted by CSC

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.

I agree with GR, particularly as to the humans egos and what they want to do, it's really about what he wants to do.
Even though he lost yesterday, he still is game to run.
As to 5k at Mountaineer I don't think that would happen.
There are certainly viable, competitve races in CA that he could run in, even if it's a 100k optional claiming, just don't put him in for the tag, even just some stake races doesn't have to be graded.
Still competitive, he would remain in training, be at the track and be happy.
I for one would like to see him keep running, the Kentucky horse park can come later in his life.

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by FGFan

I agree with GR, particularly as to the humans egos and what they want to do, it's really about what he wants to do.
Even though he lost yesterday, he still is game to run.
As to 5k at Mountaineer I don't think that would happen.
There are certainly viable, competitve races in CA that he could run in, even if it's a 100k optional claiming, just don't put him in for the tag, even just some stake races doesn't have to be graded.
Still competitive, he would remain in training, be at the track and be happy.
I for one would like to see him keep running, the Kentucky horse park can come later in his life.

I agree with FG who agrees with KG who agrees with GR if think..unless KG does think LM belongs in KFC...

[CSC]

Originally Posted by FGFan

I agree with GR, particularly as to the humans egos and what they want to do, it's really about what he wants to do.
Even though he lost yesterday, he still is game to run.
As to 5k at Mountaineer I don't think that would happen.
There are certainly viable, competitve races in CA that he could run in, even if it's a 100k optional claiming, just don't put him in for the tag, even just some stake races doesn't have to be graded.
Still competitive, he would remain in training, be at the track and be happy.
I for one would like to see him keep running, the Kentucky horse park can come later in his life.

There aren't as many choices for geldings as there are for colts and fillies. If there is a horse heaven, the geldings got stiffed.

[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.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Excellent post.

yeah, but did you say earlier in the thread that you thought he should be served as meat at a fast food restaurant?