Bay Meadows race 1

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

"I was trying to hold him together to the finish," Baze

Doesn't that mean he knew something was wrong?

said he thought Imperial Eyes went lame initially, but when the gelding started running again, he thought he had misjudged what happened.



doesn't baze deserve the benefit of the doubt? the owners are supporting him, doesn't that matter? with bazes long career--has their been any question of him in the past?

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by Danzig

said he thought Imperial Eyes went lame initially, but when the gelding started running again, he thought he had misjudged what happened.

So, what he is basically saying is that through all his experience he doesn't know when a horse has broken down.

What a pathetic excuse from a greedy man.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

So, what he is basically saying is that through all his experience he doesn't know when a horse has broken down.

What a pathetic excuse from a greedy man.

since he was on the horse, he's the only one who knows what the horse felt like. if he felt the horse bobbled but picked back up, how can anyone argue the point? looking at it is not the same as being on the horse. the owners aren't blaming him, so i don't see how anyone else can question him.

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by Danzig

since he was on the horse, he's the only one who knows what the horse felt like. if he felt the horse bobbled but picked back up, how can anyone argue the point? looking at it is not the same as being on the horse. the owners aren't blaming him, so i don't see how anyone else can question him.

Fact is, he hit the horse when it was clearly distressed.

I have no ideas as to who the owners are or what they are like, but what i will say is that if that happened over here Baze would be hung out to dry by the media.

When a horse takes a really bad step like that, and then throws it's head up in the air (as has been said in this thread) you don't need to have 3 days experience in the saddle to know that something very wrong is up with the horse let alone many years of experience.

What people are trying to say is that if this was a popular stakes performer, people wouldn't be saying move on and people certainly wouldn't be saying "oh it wasn't his fault"...... that is the part that disgusts me more than anything.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

Fact is, he hit the horse when it was clearly distressed.

I have no ideas as to who the owners are or what they are like, but what i will say is that if that happened over here Baze would be hung out to dry by the media.

When a horse takes a really bad step like that, and then throws it's head up in the air (as has been said in this thread) you don't need to have 3 days experience in the saddle to know that something very wrong is up with the horse let alone many years of experience.

What people are trying to say is that if this was a popular stakes performer, people wouldn't be saying move on and people certainly wouldn't be saying "oh it wasn't his fault"...... that is the part that disgusts me more than anything.

sad to say, you're right that some would only be upset if it was a big time horse. but i try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, including thinking that most of us here would be sad to see any horse, regardless of monetary value, literally give his all. but i also think baze should get the benefit of the doubt.
but like i said, if they find he was wrong, then yes he should be punished. i'm just not going to say that he did wrong, going by what he and the shermans had to say. it's not for me to say. the stewards met with him, and we'll know soon enough what they found.

[FGFan]

I didn't have to watch replays we slo-mo'd it on the DVR when it happened.
Frankly I found it disturbing from as seasoned a rider as Russel Baze. The horse stumbles and then he does right himself but in slo-mo it is obvious something has gone very wrong.
I might have felt a little differently if he hand rode him to the wire to get him out of the oncoming horses in order to offset further catastrophe. And it was obvious the horse was going to go down in the gallop out.
I feel strongly there should be some accountability for this mis-judgement by a jockey that has rode as many mounts as Russel Baze.
Although I think the animal cruelty is a bit much certainly there is conduct unprofessional and misuse of the whip.
However, I don't think Russel Baze should be crucified for bad judgement at 35 mph when you have seconds to make a decision, but something should happen.

[Danzig]

well, it's in front of the stewards, a decision pending. they had a hearing this morning, and no word when a decision will be made. i hope whatever they decide is fair. if he was found in the wrong, then yes, he should get the proper punishment.

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by FGFan

I didn't have to watch replays we slo-mo'd it on the DVR when it happened.
Frankly I found it disturbing from as seasoned a rider as Russel Baze. The horse stumbles and then he does right himself but in slo-mo it is obvious something has gone very wrong.
I might have felt a little differently if he hand rode him to the wire to get him out of the oncoming horses in order to offset further catastrophe. And it was obvious the horse was going to go down in the gallop out.
I feel strongly there should be some accountability for this mis-judgement by a jockey that has rode as many mounts as Russel Baze.
Although I think the animal cruelty is a bit much certainly there is conduct unprofessional and misuse of the whip.
However, I don't think Russel Baze should be crucified for bad judgement at 35 mph when you have seconds to make a decision, but something should happen.

Why not. Being a jockey is a profession, if you are not capable of making the right decisions in those split seconds, you're not right for the job.

If you are trading for a company on the stock markets and you lose a company thousands because you didn't make the right split second decision you get crucified for it.

Jockeys should know when a horse has gone wrong and they should know what to do when it's happened.

[MaTH716]

I wonder what the fallout would have been if it was any other jockey in the colony. I feel that because it is Russell Baze, that at this point it seems that he is getting a pass from a lot of people. We will see what the stewards say. That whole keep him together to the wire comment bothers me more and more. He never stopped driving that horse, and then when the horse was about to stagger across the wire he gave him the whip again. The more times I watch it, the worse it gets. If he really wasn't sure about the horse's condition, why didn't he just take him in hand after he veered out? He still had a 5 length lead. If he just took a bad step and was ok, he probably would have still held on to win. We already know the other scenario. The horse deserved better, gave his life to try to win an 8K claiming race. As far as Sherman goes, maybe he feels that if he hangs Baze out in the media he will lose the services of the top jockey out there. As far as the owners go, I have my own ideas. But I could also be way off base with those too.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

As far as Sherman goes, maybe he feels that if he hangs Baze out in the media he will lose the services of the top jockey out there.

That's what i was thinking too.

From DRF.....

Baze questioned in whip incident
By CHUCK DYBDAL

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Jockey Russell Baze met with Bay Meadows stewards for 2 1/2 hours Saturday to answer charges against him arising from Thursday's first race, when Baze struck Imperial Eyes twice with his whip after the horse broke down. Steward Darrell McHargue said Saturday afternoon that he and the other stewards were "in the process of deliberating their decison."

Stewards viewed films of the incident with Baze and his attorney, Brian Pitnick, a trainer in Northern California. Also testifying at the hearing were investigators from the California Horse Racing Board, assistant trainer Steve Sherman, who saddled the ill-fated Imperial Eyes, and his veterinarian, Dr. William Grantham.

"I really don't want to comment until the ruling, but we were able to present our side," Baze said.

The stewards have charged Baze, a 49-year-old Hall of Fame rider, with misuse of his whip, conduct detrimental to horse racing, and animal cruelty.

Imperial Eyes, the 3-5 favorite in an $8,000 maiden claiming race at one mile, had opened a seven-length lead in the lane before breaking down inside the sixteenth pole. After taking a bad step, Imperial Eyes seemed to right himself. He switched leads and then broke down just as Baze hit him with his whip. Baze then hit him a second time. Despite the injury, Imperial Eyes held on to finish second.

Imperial Eyes suffered a condylar fracture of the cannon bone above the ankle in his left front leg. He walked into the van that took him to the receiving barn. Sherman and Dr. Grantham were discussing the possibility of surgery when Imperial Eyes went into distress and was euthanized.

The case has attracted national attention. Jerry Lynn Hunter, Bay Meadows stable superintendent, said the track began receiving e-mails expressing outrage immediately after the race.

Sherman, who saddled Imperial Eyes for his father, Art, said neither he nor his father faulted Baze.

"I think Russell's getting a really bad rap," Steve Sherman said. "In my opinion and my dad's opinion, he did nothing wrong."

Other trainers and jockeys, though, have been critical of Baze's whipping the horse after he appeared to be injured.

Sherman recommended that critics of Baze's ride view the entire incident and not merely the clip of Baze applying the whip as Imperial Eyes broke down.

"When he took a bad step, Russell pulled up, but then he seemed to re-gather himself. When he took off again, Russell hit him with his whip just as he broke down," Sherman said.

[IrishofNDMan]

whoever said "if you can't make a split second decision, you're not right for the job" is crazy. Try telling me Baze is not right for the job. This thread is crazy!!! You think Baze really cared that much about winning this 8 K claiming race, I doubt it. And, if Baze knew something was wrong with the horse, why would he ride the horse out and take the chance of putting himself in danger?

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by IrishofNDMan

whoever said "if you can't make a split second decision, you're not right for the job" is crazy. Try telling me Baze is not right for the job. This thread is crazy!!! You think Baze really cared that much about winning this 8 K claiming race, I doubt it. And, if Baze knew something was wrong with the horse, why would he ride the horse out and take the chance of putting himself in danger?

I think you will find this post is crazy.

If Baze didn't know something was wrong when the horse took a very bad step and threw it's head up in the air, then he really shouldn't be a jockey, that is their job, to ride to the best of their ability and limit injury to themselves and the horses to a bare minimum. In my opinion, he has failed on both counts.

If he was any sort of horseman at all, he would have at least stopped riding.

I also agree about the comment made about the jockey's reputation. It works in the opposte way to the horse's ability which i duscussed in a previous post. If this had been a lesser known jockey, i'm quite certain he would have been slaughtered for his actions. It's the same over here. Horse Racing is so stuck up that it often cannot tell the difference between right and wrong.

[FGFan]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

Why not. Being a jockey is a profession, if you are not capable of making the right decisions in those split seconds, you're not right for the job.

If you are trading for a company on the stock markets and you lose a company thousands because you didn't make the right split second decision you get crucified for it.

Jockeys should know when a horse has gone wrong and they should know what to do when it's happened.

Uh, did you read my whole post. You are preaching to the choir here.

However I disagree with your analogy. Until stock traders are riding horses at 35 mph, and have to take into consideration what an animal underneath might do with other 1000+ lb. animals coming at them it really doesn't apply.

[DerbyCat]

FYI... Russell Baze was suspended for 15 days and fined $2,500 for this incident.

p.s. Russell said he was sorry

[my miss storm cat]

From BH.....


'Contrite' Baze Accepts 15-Day Whip Penalty, Fine
by Jack Shinar


An apologetic Russell Baze was suspended for 15 days by Bay Meadows stewards and fined $2,500 Aug. 26 for misusing his whip as the result of a complaint arising from an incident at the Bay Area track last week.

"I’m not going to try to defend what I did," said the Hall of Fame rider. "There is no way to defend it. I made a bad decision in the heat of the moment, and I am truly sorry. I made a bad decision, and I’ll take the punishment that was handed to me.

"Hopefully this will not be the defining moment of my career," added the 49-year-old Baze, North America's all-time leading rider who is closing in on 10,000 lifetime victories. "Hopefully, I’ll be judged on the right decisions I’ve made in the past and on the right decisions I’ll make in the future. In this day and age of athletes and public figures making public apologies, it can begin to ring hollow. I want people to know that I am truly sorry. Nobody knows how contrite I am in my heart."

The suspension runs Sept. 2-16, accounting for 11 racing days on the Bay Meadows racing calendar.

Baze whipped the 4-year-old gelding Imperial Eyes, who was breaking down in the shadow of the finish line during the first race at Bay Meadows Aug. 23. Imperial Eyes, a 4-5 favorite in the $8,000 maiden claiming event at one mile, was leading by seven lengths mid-stretch before taking a bad step near the sixteenth pole. The horse changed leads and resumed running for the wire, and Baze admitted trying to get Imperial Eyes to finish by using his whip. Imperial Eyes was later euthanized after suffering a condylar fracture of the cannon bone in his left front leg. He finished second in the race.

The action came after stewards reviewed films of the incident during a 2 1/2-hour meeting Aug. 25 with Baze and his attorney, Brian Pitnick, also a Northern California trainer. They also heard from investigators for the California Horse Racing Board, assistant trainer Steve Sherman, who saddled Imperial Eyes, and Dr. William Grantham, the veterinarian who treated the injured horse.

Stewards withdrew two other CHRB-initiated complaints against Baze arising from the incident -- for cruelty to an animal and actions detrimental to horse racing.

Pitnick said he felt the misuse of whip allegation "was overblown, especially after Dr. Grantham, the vet in the case, made it clear (the whip use) was not a causal factor" in Imperial Eyes' demise. He said he felt stewards were under "strong public pressure" to assign responsibility for the incident, which drew national attention.

However, he said there was little likelihood of making an appeal to the courts.

"Russell is a stand-up guy in every sense of the word," Pitnick said. "I think he just wants to take his medicine and put this behind him."

[my miss storm cat]

The DRF version.....

Baze suspended and fined for whip violation
By CHUCK DYBDAL

SAN MATEO, Calif. – The Bay Meadows stewards suspended jockey Russell Baze 15 calendar days (Sept. 2-16) and fined him $2,500 on Sunday for misuse of the whip while aboard Imperial Eyes in the first race on Thursday. Baze whipped the horse twice after he broke down near the wire.

The stewards – Darrel McHargue, Dennis Nevin and Randy Winick – dismissed charges of conduct detrimental to racing and animal cruelty, which they brought against Baze at a Saturday hearing.

Baze will miss 11 days of racing at Bay Meadows.

Baze has 72 hours to appeal the ruling, but said he probably would not.

“I think it’s a fair decision,” said Baze, 49, a Hall of Famer and the all-time leader in wins by a jockey.

“I’m not going to try to make any excuses. I don’t think there’s any excuse. It was the heat of the moment in the shadow of the finish line when I made what turned out to be a bad decision. Suffice it to say, I made a bad decision, and I’ll take responsibility.

“He was off, but I never felt in danger of going down. I think it looked a lot worse on replay than it seemed during the race.”

McHargue said the stewards would have no immediate comment on the ruling.

Baze was aboard Imperial Eyes, the 3-5 favorite, who was leading by seven lengths in the stretch in an $8,000 maiden claimer Thursday. The 4-year-old gelding took a bad step inside the sixteenth pole, but seemed to re-gather himself and then switched leads. He broke down in his left front leg, just as Baze hit him with his whip and then hit him a second time.

Imperial Eyes was found to have a condylar fracture of the cannon bone. He was vanned to the receiving barn and then was returned to his stall, but he had to be euthanized later in the day.

Dr. William Grantham, the attending veterinarian for Art Sherman, trainer of Imperial Eyes, said that he could not say whether Baze’s whipping of the horse caused the injury or made it worse.

Sherman’s assistant and son, Steve, who saddled Imperial Eyes, said neither he nor his father faulted Baze’s ride.

Said Baze: “Hopefully, this will not be the defining moment of my career. There are no do-overs. Hopefully, I’ll be judged by the right decisions I’ve made in the past, and the right decisions I’ll make in the future.

“I am sorry if I caused the horse to suffer or, in any way, I caused a bad light to be cast on horse racing. I truly regret that. In this day and age of athletes and public figures making public apologies, it can begin to ring hollow. I want people to know that I am truly sorry. Nobody knows how contrite I feel in my heart.”