CD renames La Troienne (And now renames the Louisville La Troienne!)

[SniperSB23]

What I don't get is why they are naming the races after these horses at the tracks where they did nothing but die? If they wanted to name the Tropical Park Derby after Barbaro that would be fine, he actually won that race, why name one after him at Pimlico where he did nothing positive? I guess Eight Belles at least ran second in the Derby but she isn't getting the race renamed for that. The Fantasy or Honeybee would have been races more suited to renaming for Eight Belles. So, if they want to honor horses that broke down I'm fine for it, but not at the track they broke down. Rename it at a track they had success at.

[slotdirt]

I'd love to know what doping techniques were widely used and available in 1919.

[Echo Farm]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I'd love to know what doping techniques were widely used and available in 1919.

recipes for hop were as plentiful as recipes for corn bread and coming by ingredients wasn’t hard. Caffeine could be boiled out of black coffee. Strychnine (also used by human athletes for speeding up muscle contractions) was a common rat poison. Even cocaine, heroin, and morphine were legal for anyone with a doctor’s prescription to buy from a drugstore, until prohibited by the Harrison Act of 1914—and could be bribed from pharmacists long after that. But using those mixtures effectively was a fine art. Prudent trainers experimented during morning workouts, discovering the right dope and dose for each horse.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Echo Farm

recipes for hop were as plentiful as recipes for corn bread and coming by ingredients wasn’t hard. Caffeine could be boiled out of black coffee. Strychnine (also used by human athletes for speeding up muscle contractions) was a common rat poison. Even cocaine, heroin, and morphine were legal for anyone with a doctor’s prescription to buy from a drugstore, until prohibited by the Harrison Act of 1914—and could be bribed from pharmacists long after that. But using those mixtures effectively was a fine art. Prudent trainers experimented during morning workouts, discovering the right dope and dose for each horse.

DW,

I think what's being referenced in the earlier post's sweeping generalization, is the incident involving Johnny Loftus that grew out of Mad Hatter beating Sir Barton in November 1919 at Pimlico. Bedwell accused Loftus of taking money from Sam Hildreth to hold Sir Barton. Loftus, who had been aboard Sir Barton for his spring run through the Derby, Preakness, Withers and Belmont, never rode for Bedwell again.

A number of 'sporting journals' reported on the Bedwell-Loftus rift, and rather involved investigations took place publicly and privately that included August Belmont, The Jockey Club, Pinkertons, etc.. Loftus had also had a screaming match with Bedwell at Pimlico which included his claiming that Sir Barton didn't run the day in question because Bedwell hadn't given the horse his 'usual' hop.

Dorothy Ours talks about this incident in her wonderful Man o'War book.

[Echo Farm]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Dorothy Ours talks about this incident in her wonderful Man o'War book.

Yep, and I was neglectful in not providing a link to my statement:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Man.../9780641912528

For those readers, interested, click on the Features tab. There is a fairly long exerpt from the book.

I think "back then" a lot of substances were used, we just didn't have the scrutiny, testing and recordkeeping that we have today.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I'd love to know what doping techniques were widely used and available in 1919.

Heroin (called "horse" for a reason), caffeine, amphetamines, cocaine ...

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Riot

Heroin (called "horse" for a reason), caffeine, amphetamines, cocaine ...

I am a certified expert on this subject and Heroin wasn't called "horse" because of its past use in Horse doping.. Heroin isn't making anything move fast if at all. Heroin is not a drug that can be used to locally...It's a beautiful product when abused correctly please don't disrespect it..lol

[chucklestheclown]

. So now there's a La Troienne AND an 8 Belles?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

What I don't get is why they are naming the races after these horses at the tracks where they did nothing but die? If they wanted to name the Tropical Park Derby after Barbaro that would be fine, he actually won that race, why name one after him at Pimlico where he did nothing positive? I guess Eight Belles at least ran second in the Derby but she isn't getting the race renamed for that. The Fantasy or Honeybee would have been races more suited to renaming for Eight Belles. So, if they want to honor horses that broke down I'm fine for it, but not at the track they broke down. Rename it at a track they had success at.

exactly, altho i don't think winning those races should vault her to the level of having a stakes named after her. nor should breaking down.

[ArlJim78]

i prefer they don't change the names, now every time this Eight Belles race comes up I'm going to think "now what was this race called before?"
i like traditions. it also just seems too soon and in any case I would think Oaklawn would be a more appropriate place for an Eight Belles stakes race, and that doesn't mean we should have two Eight Belles stakes either.

[slotdirt]

Changing names is stupid. Just name a new race after Eight Belles and call it a day. Dumping the La Troienne name is just dumb, period.

[randallscott35]

Here's what you have to ask:

If she didn't die would she have gotten a race named after her for finishing 2nd in the Derby?

The answer is no.