Desormeaux

[art vanderlay]

Apparently what I am hearing is that all the horses Kent rides will have to be equipped with an alcohol ignition interlock device.

[JDank34]

I have come back to this "discussion" 4 times today and thought I would be prepared to provide a eloquent response each time. Finally, while this will be far from eloquent I would like to say that Kent Desormeaux is a friend, a VERY good friend at that. Kent is also a fantastic rider on turf, dirt, long or short. We all have a specific ride where he "cost" us due to one thing or another, but after getting to know Kent I truly believe he is worthy of his HOF credentials. He has ridden every horse I have owned, other than one when he was out of town. I realize I don't post often and will be ridiculed for days for this post, but the point is to say that we all have issues. We all have problems to deal with, be it financial, emotional, etc BUT as his friend I found it important that I do something even though I don't agree with his behavior last week. That said, Kent D is a good man, good father, good friend and great horseman. As gamblers, we want to blame him for every failure but until all of you sit on as many thoroughbreds (and win as many major races) as he has I will defer to his judgement.

Thank you all, especially Steve for providing a great forum for us to all discuss and exchange information on the sport we love.

[3kings]

Originally Posted by JDank34

I have come back to this "discussion" 4 times today and thought I would be prepared to provide a eloquent response each time. Finally, while this will be far from eloquent I would like to say that Kent Desormeaux is a friend, a VERY good friend at that. Kent is also a fantastic rider on turf, dirt, long or short. We all have a specific ride where he "cost" us due to one thing or another, but after getting to know Kent I truly believe he is worthy of his HOF credentials. He has ridden every horse I have owned, other than one when he was out of town. I realize I don't post often and will be ridiculed for days for this post, but the point is to say that we all have issues. We all have problems to deal with, be it financial, emotional, etc BUT as his friend I found it important that I do something even though I don't agree with his behavior last week. That said, Kent D is a good man, good father, good friend and great horseman. As gamblers, we want to blame him for every failure but until all of you sit on as many thoroughbreds (and win as many major races) as he has I will defer to his judgement.

Thank you all, especially Steve for providing a great forum for us to all discuss and exchange information on the sport we love.

Nicely stated, I hope he gets control of his demons.

[johnny rotten]

I agree with the last poster. I don't know Kent personally , but I used to work at the tracks in CA, and ran into him and chatted with him a couple of times. He was very cool. I could tell you a few stories about his kindness and genorosity towards others around the track. He obviously has a problem he needs to take care of. He is definitely a great talent when he has his head on straight. It is unfortunate, that his career has been derailed much as pval's, only not to the same extent. He is definitely a polarizing figure with gamblers. I don't see the point of kicking the guy when he's down though. If he retired tomorrow he'd still have a heckuva resume and much to be proud of. I think some of us are honest to a fault and that has hurt Kent's career. I wouldn't be surprised if his Derby ride/disappointment on Dullahan may have contributed to his recent problems. If he could have gotten that horse inside of Liasion turning into the stretch , he might well have gotten Derby number 4 and I think that bothered his as well as the owners, trainer ,bettors(not saying that he would have won for sure). If you remember, after the Paddy O' Prado Derby , was when Kent had his ill advised conversation on Steve's show.

[Calzone Lord]

Jockeys are brutally overrated.

A lot of jockeys have been very unfairly criticized for losing the Belmont.

If you look at the Moss pace figure that Randy Moss did going back to 1988 -- Real Quiet had the fastest Moss figure to the mile in the entire history of the Kentucky Derby. Real Quiet sired a horse like Midnight Lute who was a strong closing 2-time Breeders Cup Sprint winner.

They weren't going fast at all in the Belmont that year -- and Real Quiet's move came extremely late in the race for him if you're someone who looks at numbers. He probably would have been rank and pulling if Desormeaux kept restraining him any longer. He merely rated him the best he could and let him run his race. Real Quiet was never a star before or after the Triple Crown -- but he was always a good horse.

Big Brown had an issue with an unhinged shoe in the Belmont. It was visible in pictures. He put in a total non-effort. No one was going to win on him.

Smarty Jones was getting a perfect trip -- but suddenly had his hand forced by an insanely pre-mature move by Rock Hard Ten through scorching middle fractions. Rock Hard Ten was the only horse in the race who appeared to be any competition at all -- so he had to go with him. RHT was the one who got a truly stupid ride and that led to him getting crushed.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by JDank34

I have come back to this "discussion" 4 times today and thought I would be prepared to provide a eloquent response each time. Finally, while this will be far from eloquent I would like to say that Kent Desormeaux is a friend, a VERY good friend at that. Kent is also a fantastic rider on turf, dirt, long or short. We all have a specific ride where he "cost" us due to one thing or another, but after getting to know Kent I truly believe he is worthy of his HOF credentials. He has ridden every horse I have owned, other than one when he was out of town. I realize I don't post often and will be ridiculed for days for this post, but the point is to say that we all have issues. We all have problems to deal with, be it financial, emotional, etc BUT as his friend I found it important that I do something even though I don't agree with his behavior last week. That said, Kent D is a good man, good father, good friend and great horseman. As gamblers, we want to blame him for every failure but until all of you sit on as many thoroughbreds (and win as many major races) as he has I will defer to his judgement.

Thank you all, especially Steve for providing a great forum for us to all discuss and exchange information on the sport we love.

I can respect you defending your friend. I also agree he's a very good rider...when he has his mind on riding.

My opinion had more to do with his comments, which seem odd, considering the events of last week.

[johnny rotten]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I can respect you defending your friend. I also agree he's a very good rider...when he has his mind on riding.

My opinion had more to do with his comments, which seem odd, considering the events of last week.

Handling the press or reassuring the public with his often candid comments has never been Kent's strong suit. That said, Charles Howard would have kept him on Dulallan . Jerry Crawford, you sir are no Charles Howard !!!and Dale Romans you sir are no Tom Smith !!!!! Shame on you both.

[Indian Charlie]

i gotta stop reading these boards while stoned.

[clambeau]

We wish we still had the characters in racing we had in the old days....well folks, we're in luck....welcome to the interview loft...Kent Desormeaux !!!!

Nice post JDank.

I don't think it's been discussed yet but I believe Kent's drinking problem has been magnified the past few years due to injuries and bad pain management. Kent has some tough decisions ahead of him. He needs to rehab mentally and physically. Then he'll need to decide if he can manage the pain properly while sober and continue to ride at a high level.

We all grow old.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

i gotta stop reading these boards while stoned.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

well my 2c if you didnt just fail a breath test..pipe up kent say what you will. but you did so shut up get help and let time do its trick.oh and did i say shut up...

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

i gotta stop reading these boards while stoned.

Originally Posted by pointman

Seriously man, Johnny Rottens post really intensified my state of mind at that time. That post was really odd!

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by johnny rotten

Handling the press or reassuring the public with his often candid comments has never been Kent's strong suit. That said, Charles Howard would have kept him on Dulallan . Jerry Crawford, you sir are no Charles Howard !!!and Dale Romans you sir are no Tom Smith !!!!! Shame on you both.

Seriously?

[Danzig]

Preposterous to say kd should have kept the mount on dullahan. You want to be slated to run a horse in a classic race and have to worry whether a jock with alcohol issues will be available?
Plenty of good jocks out there without baggage.