I respect and admire racing fans as much or more than anyone who's ever done what I do.

I make that crystal clear every day I'm on the air.

What about that day you lambasted Anthony about being fired from the Daily news?

That seemed like bullying to me.

I'm FAR from the first person who has accused you of bullying.

Tell ya what. I'll take back bullying.

Let's go with aggressive and hyper opinionated.

So much so that people on the air with you seem intimidated?

All I said was I think I could out handicap you even at NYRA and that our back and forth banter would be fun, interesting and not so one sided.

I think your skill set for the handicapping show is fantastic and well presented.

Our show with Nancy and myself is also well received.

I've long thought it would be fun to go toe to toe with you.

But, alas that's probably not in the cards.

Thanks for your input.

Let's say for the sake of conversation you're right. I'm a total self centered POS.

That you're right and you've exposed me.

What about the leigons of others on the forums that you're so hateful with?

What about them? You think they’re sitting at home crying because someone with the online moniker Dahoss said something they don’t like?

If they handed out an award for having no humility you’d win everyday Vic.

Don’t ever change

No I think they are racing fans just like you and me that would prefer to discuss the good and bad of our great game without being bombarded with vituperations.

I don't think they're crying.

Just disapointed.

Let’s talk about when you bullied Craig Braddock for having an opinion you didn’t agree with. Here you are…the announcer at Hollywood Park bullying an announcer at a lower tiered track for an opinion he had.

Then you cheered when he lost his job because his track was closing.

You’re in no position to lecture anyone.

First of all, and once again, the fact that others have accused me of bullying doesn't make it true. The lies that are told about me on social media are plentiful. People repeating these lies doesn't add to their truth. You using this as some sort of defense for you doing it is unfortunate and only adds to their destructiveness.

My exchange with Anthony that day was unfortunate and regrettable. I have stated that here and PA, as well as Twitter, and fully acknowledge that I was wrong and out of line. It's complicated, as most things are, but there is no defense for my behavior. Like most, I'm an imperfect person.

There are many people that wish they could be on Talking Horses. I consider this a compliment....however, it doesn't mean they will be coming on the show.

I'm right with you on making mistakes that are regrettable.

We both do live television and discuss a very passionate game.

I'm an imperfect person as well.

It should be considered a compliment that many people would like to be on Talking Horses with you.

It's an excellent show.

IMO you and I trading opinions could make it even better. But that's out of my control.

Thanks for taking time to share your views.

What does you take touch this mean ?

Nothing on your abhorrent behavior towards a fellow announcer?

Songbird never progressed ? You forget that she blew the competition away in front your own eyes that summer at Saratoga ?

Just a guess but I think Freddy was saying you "can't" touch this.

Yep.

Save, the Big A who is a wonderful person, all of Andy's partners have raised their game and become better at their job. While in a sick demented way I would love to see you and Andy do A show, I am not sure either of you or the audience would get much out of it save the entertainment value. We have enough gimmicks in racing.

Serling would have to pick up his game with a superior capper like Vic on the desk. If the Fox TV people were interested in helping the players, Byk and Vic are the 2 best around, and should be the first team.

The village idiot thinks I need to raise my game.

If only I had interrupted a busy Whitney Day to get him those Phish tickets. If I had just done that, he wouldn't make such a constant fool of himself all over the internet.

Anyone have a spare time machine?

You don’t think you’ve lost a step ? Still think you’re above handicapping the steeple chase races huh ? You don’t think all the hate for you out there is because you’re so good a capper ? Your personna on Fox as opposed to talking hosses is so different. You know that berating of mr. stabile would never fly on Fox. If you’re gonna play the villain, don’t be such a baby. Go block yourself .

Assuming you did "the work" all of the work regards to the present would be the most important topic.

Thank goodness I don't count on him to handicap he sucks 67.5% of the time maybe 64.7%. He doesn't make a living because he is a great handicapper he makes a living trying to be the best handicapper and helping others do the same.
Bro, I have two in section J for Whitney call me I got you

The idea that Stabile needs...or even wants Vic and Dan the Village Idiot defending him is laugh out loud funny.

Not as funny as thinking someone is above handicapping steeplechase races, but close.

You know me, I'm lazy and shirk my responsibilities. I guess admitting you aren't particularly good at something, and going out of your way to get someone better, means I'm above it.

If that guy ever gets even one thing correct it will be a miraculous accident.

Why would it be a gimmick Freddy? We're both good handicappers. I assume if pitted against each other we'd get even better.

One thing I think both Andy an I have in common is to teach rather than tout.

Explain how we got to the selections.

I think that would be beneficial to players who are looking to learn.

This is either the most elaborate troll job of all time or the worst way to try and get a job I’ve ever seen.

The funny thing is, what you’re really trying to do usurp Stabile. Which, as we know is something you’re notorious for.

But doesn’t that kind of make your “defending” of him make no sense?

Either way, I can’t imagine Tom Durkin doing all this schtick. He let his calls do the talking. He didn’t feel the need to pander and self promote non stop and everyday.

Imagine Durkin getting on a message board and telling people he thought he was currently calling better than at any point in his career? Imagine Durkin saying his calls have been clear, concise, accurate and exciting?

We get it Vic. You think a lot of yourself. Maybe if you took a break from telling everyone how great you are, others might feel the same way?

Just a thought.

One of the many things that make Tom Durkin the GOAT. Is he's much too smart to ever get involved in social media.

I on the other hand am not.

I've always enjoyed the banter.

Tina thinks I have a screw loose. She's probably right.

Since this thread is supposed to be about Secret Oath.

What do you think about the rider switch from Contreras to Saez?

Lukas made the switch one race too late.

Nothing against Contreras, but he's not Saez.

Take off a guy who had just won 3 in a row on her? Two of them Stakes. And worked her every time she breezed for three months?

I don't know any trainer that would make that change.

Steve Asmussen did with Echo Zulu.

After her race in the Honeybee I suggested right here on this board that her rider would eventually get her beat. He tried to get too cute in the Honeybee and almost got her in trouble. Now, I don’t think she was ever winning the Arkansas Derby but his inability to maintain position and getting beat to two different spots, coupled with the slingshot move prevented her from running 2nd IMO.

She deserves a top rider. Contreras isn’t one. It’s an easy choice.

Wayne's attitude has always been correct. He doesn't owe Contreras anything. He was always going to be one mediocre ride away from getting replaced. Why shouldn't he have been?

It's not like he has given Ethereal Road good rides in his last two races either.

I'm not disagreeing with the change now.

I'm saying that before the Arkansas Derby the was NO reason to make a change.

...other than giving the horse the best opportunity to earn points towards the Derby with an eye towards starting in the Derby.

Might not have been a popular move had he done so, but John Sadler did the same with Rock Your World last year in the big race itself.

Of course, that move might have actually been part of Sadler's grand plan of derailing the rest of the horse's career. If so, it was a master stroke given Joel Rosario's complete ineptness.

Actually, there was. If I owned her, I would have replaced the rider before he cost her a win. There's a lot of money at stake. It was nice of Wayne not to, but the actual right thing to do was to have moved on.

I get that it's unfair to Contreras in that situation, but every owner has the right to get the rider he or she is most comfortable with.

I didn't think the ride in the Arkansas Derby was that horrible. Seemed to me like he'd had it beaten into his head not to move to early. He probably waited too long. It could very well have cost him second. Nobody that's ever ridden would have got her up to beat CYBERKNIFE that day.

I don't even look at it as unfair to Contreras. He got paid for the wins. Loyalty in this business means nothing. Nor should it. Especially at that level.

I think they rode the rider they thought would give them the best chance on that day. And now they think Saez will give them the best chance in KY.

I DO NOT think she would have beaten CYBERKNIFE no matter who rode her in the Arkansas Derby. Could she have been 2nd? Definitely.

Could she have won? Not in my opinion.

It was a dreadful ride. He made the opposite move that Florent did when he effectively won the race on the backstretch, losing valuable position when the race was slowing down....and then rushing wide on the turn. He also gave up position around the first turn that ended up putting him in bad position thereafter.

She likely would have finished second, but there is an outside chance she could have won, and all of these things were the rider's fault. I'm not trying to crucify him, as these things happen, but to suggest his ride in Arkansas Derby wasn't poor is to fail to acknowledge what happened in the race.

I said that it wasn't horrible in that I didn't think she would have won.

I agree he shouldn't have given up the position he had at the half mile pole.

You can even hear in my call. I couldn't believe that was her 3 lengths last at the 3/8th's pole.

As I've said that struck me as a jock who had been told not to move too early and didn't think on his feet enough to change tactics when circumstances dictated.

Could it have been better? 100% yes. Was it a travesty? That in my mind would only apply if I thought he cost her the win which I don't.

It's not about resulting that she probably wouldn't have won, and it does matter that he absolutely cost her a placing ( look at the ride the eventual runner up got in relative terms ). The reality is it could very easily have cost her the race. That's what matters.

It was a poor ride in a number of ways. That's all that matters.

We both agree the ride was poor. But to varying degrees and different severity of the effect.

Less than 30 minutes ago you posted this....

So you have changed your mind. Nothing wrong with that.

"Not that horrible" means somewhat horrible. But not tragic.

There is no change in what I'm saying.

Tough weekend Vic.