Belmont Park: History..Ghost And Fame

I have been to Belmont Park on numerous occasions, paid my dollars to enter, got a racing program, listened to Tom Durkin announce the scratches, then I would quickly begin my handicapping. Along the way I took bathroom breaks or swallowed down something quickly to eat, only to quickly go back to my racing program with hopes of hitting a score. On this visit to the park something was different. There has been several attempts to win the triple crown and I have witnessed more than a few failed tries. Could it be I was feeling that California Chrome was going to do what so many others have failed to accomplish? I strolled around the track and embraced the history that looms throughout. The big picture of Secretariat with his magnificent performance  in the Belmont Stakes has always been there, but I never really paid much attention while putting my voucher in the machine and selecting my picks. The hanging picture of all the great jockeys that rode at the track has always been there as well. I wondered how many people really notice anything at the track. History sits at the doorstep and I wanted to enjoy the quiet that comforts a race track on a Thursday afternoon.

I stood in the back and watched the horses parade around hoping to catch anything that would give me an edge. The jockeys walked out the jockey room and found their trainers, quickly getting into small conversations before getting a leg up for the race. The small assembly shouts out words of encouragement while the horses passed them unto the track. The statue of Secretariat watches all quietly. An EMT worker stood by the statue of Secretariat as his colleague snapped his picture. Maybe he was feeling something special is about to happen on Saturday as well.

Will California Chrome put on a performance in the Belmont Stakes like what we saw Secretariat accomplished in 1973? There is a strong possibility that we may witness something very special on June 7th. There has been eleven triple crown winners over the years. The first winner of the triple crown, Sir Barton completed the feat in 1919. The next winner of the triple crown did not happen until eleven years later when Gallant Fox performed his magic in 1930. It was another five years until the next winner, and then in the forties we were blessed with four winners, starting with Whirlaway in 1941 and ending with Citation in 1948. There wouldn't be another triple crown winner for twenty five years, when Secretariat demolished the competition in 1973. His win was followed by Seattle Slew and Affirmed who completed the hat trick in 1978. It has been thirty six years of waiting for the next great horse to achieve this monumental task.  In 1981 I had my heart broken as a kid when Pleasant Colony didn't do the job. I followed this horse as a little boy hoping to see this magic take place that so many adults were talking about. He came home third that day, and I have never rooted for another triple crown winner until Real Quiet came onto the scene. He was cut from the same mold as California Chrome, the type of horse you believed the average man could have owned. I yelled when he turned for home that day, and when he hit the wire, I hoped and hoped until Victory Gallop's number flashed on the board. I felt robbed of the moment. That wasn't how the script was supposed to  play out. This was the every day man's horse that was to make us all feel a part of the occasion. I gathered my belongings, and with my friends, we all strolled back to the vehicle disappointed and sad. I never again bet on a horse attempting the triple crown.

California Chrome has all the tools in his shed to make this special moment happen. He comes into the race as the best three year old in the country. However, there is something about Belmont Park that humbles great horses. The track swallows greatness and then laughs at the patrons leaving. The three year olds will attempt to navigate a mile and half for the first time, and for most, this will be the only time. This requires something special from the animal. He must be a runner that can take a deep breath throughout the race, refilling his lungs for the drive home. He must be a horse that can with stand the fury of horses that will be able to get the distance of a mile and half. He must be a horse that can settle and glide around the track unaware of how big the moment is. The jockey must not be able to hear his own heart beat during the race. He must be a jockey that is cool under pressure when the real running starts.

California Chrome's journey on Saturday is not the just the race track. He must fight all the ghosts and history that walks with a big stick at beautiful Belmont Park. He will have to fight the loudness of New Yorkers on a late Saturday afternoon after a few beverages have been consumed. The New York experience will be different from any other he has had on this journey. He must overcome all the obstacles that will be thrown at him during this race.

There is a reason only eleven horses have completed this magical moment. It requires a special type of animal to win all three legs of the triple crown. California Chrome should be a fresh, rested horse coming into the race. He has had three weeks off and should have recovered lovely from the  Preakness, but so many others are chomping at the bit to come after him. They have had five weeks between races and are jumping out of their skin.

Will the triple crown ghosts give him a pass on Saturday and let him do what so many others have failed to do? If he is worthy for the club then admission may be granted, otherwise many will be ripping up tickets, packing their belongings and walking quietly to the LIRR or their waiting vehicles.

A Triple Crown Winner Would Be Nice...But..

There are those who say we need a triple crown winner to help the sport of horse racing. Horse racing hasn't seen a triple crown winner since 1978 when Affirmed ran his heart out to win the final leg of the triple crown series. Over the years we have had close calls, but the sport has carried on regardless of a triple crown winner. Would having a horse win the triple crown be a major event for horse racing? Absolutely it would be, but there are more pressing issues that need racing attention that not even a potential triple crown winner like California Chrome can solve.

HBO Real Sports brought the unfortunate side of horse racing to a national audience in its documentary series. The program picked up where the Peta controversy left off, adding fire to the fuel. They showed horses going down on the track and highlighted trainers Steve Asmussen and Bob Baffert. Steve Asmussen whose stable was infiltrated by Peta was asked once again to answer questions about his barns throughout the country, and the comments made by his former assistant Scott Blasi. Asmussen tried his best to answer the questions regarding the drugs Thyroxin and Clenbuterol, which was given to Finesse, a horse trained by him. The horse died on the track, and the Real Sport series showed him falling pass the wire. In addition to Finesse, the program also showed other horses going down on various tracks and being euthanized as a result of life threatening injuries.

Bob Baffert was mentioned in the program because several of his horses died after the drug Thyroxin was administered to them. As a result of his horses dying, Baffert, according to the program no longer administers this drug to his horses. The program also showed a former exercise jockey who went down after a horse he was working broke down on the track. The horse didn't survive the incident and the exercise jockey who will never walk again requires around the clock assistance from family and friends. That exercise rider's life didn't have to be ruined if proper measures were taken with the horse. Years later the revelation that the horse was hurt prior to going out to work makes the incident sickening and sad. Two lives forever changed.

The drugs Thyroxin and Clenbuterol are two drugs that are banned in Europe. Why is it that the European racing industry can have a handle on horse racing and in this country we are so backwards? On the HBO program, Dr. Mary Scollay said, "When the purse is worth more than the horse, the horse becomes a commodity." What an indictment on the state of affairs in the sport of horse racing! There are trainers who are willing to sacrifice the animal for a hefty purse and are also willing to put the life of jockeys at risk for money. I have been watching this sports since I was a child, and unfortunately I have seen countless horses go down and put to sleep on the track. I have seen many jockeys fall only to have their lives destroyed as a result of a fallen horse. Not all incidents on the track are due to horses breaking down, but several of the cases I have witnessed are a direct result of this type of accident. Were all these horses injured prior to going to the track? Were their injuries masked by powerful pain killers? I would say definitely not, but the doubts can't help but sit at the doorstep of one's mind.

There are many outstanding trainers in the game of horse racing. I have seen trainers and owners claim a horse just so they can give him/her a proper home. They didn't want the horse to compete anymore. Unfortunately those type of practices weren't exposed in the Real Sports series.

A triple crown winner would be tremendous for the sport of horse racing come June 7th but it would not help the sport in the immediate future. The sport needs an overseer who can help bring it under one umbrella. I have said in the past and will state once again, the sport needs a commissioner, no different from the NFL or NBA. We need to bridge the divide between all these varying jurisdictions. If the New York Racing Association can quickly get rid of a stupid nasal strip rule to accommodate California Chrome and his owners and trainer, then why are we so slow to change other things in the sport that are very pressing. These drugs that are given to horses need close inspection. If horses are dying and evidence leads to one culprit, then the time is ripe to get rid of that culprit. Veterinarians who are administering drugs to mask injuries need to have their license revoked. Dr. Kate Papp, a veterinarian at Penn National, was also featured on the Real Sports program. She stated, “One injection takes two seconds and makes you $30. And if you multiply that times ten in one day, that's $300 for five minutes worth of work.” This is a sad commentary on her profession and colleagues. How can people and their decision making be so callous when animals and people's lives are at stake is beyond my comprehension.

Right now horse racing is safe from major public scrutiny because major networks haven't made their ignorance a priority. They are given some negative spotlight but nothing that has provoked the average Joe to pay attention. That can all change in a flash and once that barrel starts to roll down stream then we all better get out of the way. Some tracks are ghost towns during the week, resembling abandoned cities after the gold rush dried up. Horse racing could permanently become a ghost town if sweeping changes are not made. Greed is not good, and will eventually kill those in its path.

California Chrome may bring home the jewel come June 7th, but I hope along with his possible victory, those who are in places of power will love their pay checks and notoriety enough to bring help to the sport, making it a safe for both horses and jockeys. Like California Chrome we can all hope.

Two Dollars Versus California Chrome

There is nothing more exciting than standing in the midst of madness on Belmont Stakes Day with the possibility of a triple crown winner coming home to the joyous crowd. I have stood and watched on a few occasions hoping to see history made. I saw Chris Antley jumping off Charismatic and holding his leg while Lemon Drop Kid and Jose Santos celebrated with his brother-in-law Herberto Castillo Jr. who rode Vision and Verse to second place. Both Jose Santos and his brother-in-law weren't thinking about history when they ran down Charismatic in the stretch. They were thinking of winning an American Classic and collecting that hefty pay day. Jose Santos would feel the sting of defeat four years later when Empire Maker and Jerry Bailey ripped the triple crown from New Yorkers and played a funny joke on them. I watched that mud fest and was thoroughly entertained. Of all the Belmont Stakes I have watched over the years, Real Quiet and his defeat was the most enjoyable and continues to rank as one of the best races I have witnessed in person. Turning for home my friends and I shouted at the top of our lungs as the horse gasped down the stretch. Kent Desormeaux, the jockey on Real Quiet did everything he could to get the horse to the wire. He shook the reins vigorously, and later when I watched the replay on television you could hear him shouting at the horse to keep him going. Victory Gallop came under Gary Stevens and gave the full house at Belmont Park the saddest ending to any story. It was a great race and one I have watched repeatedly. I saw Smarty Jones mugged in the stretch by Birdstone in 2004. I played Birdstone that day and while the wet New Yorkers were saddened by the defeat, I got in my car with my cashed ticked and got out of Long Island a happy New Yorker.  War Emblem was another triple crown chance that I had the privilege to see in person. The horse didn't show up that day. He lost all chances when the gate flew open and he stumbled, and a charge trained by Ken Mcpeek named Sarava stole the show.

The Belmont Stakes can be a good return on your hard earned two dollars. When War Emblem failed to win the Belmont Stakes, my best buddy shouted with happiness because he had his two dollars across the board on Sarava. How did he come up with Sarava is still a mystery! I believe he plucked it out of the air though he claims good handicapping. We will forever disagree, and what was important was that he cashed and we celebrated. Playing the favorite in the Belmont Stakes is suicide, and that is why no matter who lines up against California Chrome this year, I will be looking for a 
profit on my dollars.

There are those who think it is wrong to root against California Chrome in the Belmont Stakes. They believe that if you are against the horse then you are not for the sport or you don't love the sport as much as they do. California Chrome has proven to me that he is a beast of a horse. He has in his arsenal the weapons necessary to win the triple crown. He has natural speed which allows him to stay out of trouble and get in the game early. He is a versatile horse who can stalk the lead or take them all the way if he desires. The Chrome has that burst of acceleration which enables him to separate from others when the real running begins. These qualities may prove too much for his competitors come June 7th, but the race is not run on paper but on dirt. Ask Big Brown if he agrees!

If the triple crown was a forgone conclusion and everyone wants a triple crown winner, then the starting gate for the Belmont Stakes would only have one horse. That isn't the case this year or in the past. Trainers and owners want that prestige, and if it comes at the expense of a possible triple crown winner then so be it.

 I thought I had the right horse in the Preakness, but Ride On Curlin couldn't get to him before the wire. Come June 7th my two dollars will comb through all the angles possible for a horse player. I will look at training over the Belmont strip, and observe which jockeys and trainers are heating up during the week of June 7th. I will pay close attention to the words leaving trainers' lips over the next coming weeks, especially those escaping from Art Sherman's mouth. Then I will check if Nick Zito decides to run something at the last minute. Zito is New York's version of Wayne Lukas. He will walk his barn area until he finds someone COMMENDABLE to run. Have anyone seen Spot lately on the track?

We all want to see a triple crown winner in our lifetime. When California Chrome hits the Belmont dirt on June 7th, and the starter lifts the latch and send them on their way, make that loud New York noise, however, invest your two dollars elsewhere. This is New York and anything can happen in a New York minute.

California Chrome's Connection Shouldn't Be A Dumb-Ass Partners with Horse Racing

California Chrome wrote a powerful message to all those who plan to challenge him in New York. His jockey Victor Espinoza gave all the jockeys in the race a master class on race riding. It was very exciting to watch the veteran jockey show his horse racing intelligence throughout the running of the Preakness. Often times jockeys are criticized for making wrong moves during a race, but on this occasion there was nothing but praise for the Mexican born jockey who already owned a victory in the Preakness on a much different type of horse.

At the start of the race Espinoza quickly shifted his horse outside and you can observe the jockey making calculations in his head as the race progressed. Ria Antonia was given a chance to make some noise in the race when jockey Calvin Borel sensing his only chance was to put her on the lead, to see how far she could take them. She didn't do much and was a sad mistake at the back of the pack when the race was completed. Ria Antonia's move surprised many but didn't alter Espinoza's plans. He held his position and put Luis Contreras the jockey on Social Inclusion in the position of thinking. Contreras decided to stay put and not press the lead, hoping to have the fight when they turned for home. He fought for a second then backed up to finish a well beaten third. Ride On Curlin, the horse whom I believed would give California Chrome the most problems came into the stretch full of run but still wasn't any match for the impressive California Chrome. The horse deserves much of the credit but if this horse goes onto to win the triple crown, jockey Victor Espinoza and his decision making in the Preakness will be one highlight talked about for years to come.

A day after the Preakness came word through social media that Art Sherman, the trainer of California Chrome was thinking about scratching the horse if he isn't allowed to race with a nasal strip in the Belmont Stakes. I thought the entire thing was a joke until later on in the day I watched a reporter on ESPN talking about this matter. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Horse racing was ready once again  to shoot itself in the foot. The problem with horse racing is there are way too many cooks in the kitchen. There are several jurisdictions with varying rules that complicate the sport, thus tainting it for  the public. If we had a governing body with rules that applied universally then this debacle wouldn't even be a debate a day after a stunning victory by California Chrome. Should New York and its racing commission be the villain in this matter? Absolutely not! These are the rules that are in place for their house. What is the big deal about a nasal strip? Did the nasal strip move California Chrome up since wearing them? I think the man sitting on his back is the reason this horse has moved up. Victor rode the horse masterfully in the prep races leading up to the Kentucky Derby, and when he got to the big show he gave his horse every chance to compete and be successful. In the Preakness he once again showed why he is the best pilot for this horse. How many other jockeys would have lost that race on the horse? I think many would have done something other than what Victor did and compromise the horse's chance. All jockeys are not cut from the same cloth.

The idea that the sport of horse racing wouldn't see another horse who won the first two legs of the triple crown compete in the Belmont Stakes to me is very nauseating. I'll Have Another came into the Belmont Stakes looking like a sure thing but was scratched leaving an empty feeling in the gut of horse lovers, and the occasionally viewer who tunes in when something major is happening in the sport. California Chrome should compete and compete within the guidelines set by the New York Racing Commission. This is the triple crown not some grade two event taking place at some nondescript track on an uneventful Saturday. The world is watching this event, and if he is to do what has not been done in thirty six years, then he would rightfully place himself in the conversation of those who have done it. Art Sherman is a lovely man and this moment that is being loaned to him by the racing gods shouldn't be provoked by nonsensical talk. The triple crown and all that it means to the sport is much bigger than Art Sherman and the hard working owners of this magnificent animal. Horse racing is bigger than all of them and a nasal strip. If New York was to loosen its grip on its rules simply because a trainer and owners are second guessing their participation in the sport's most prestigious event, then New York would be less than credible. Let the horse do the talking with Victor Espinoza on his back. Allow California Chrome to show all the competitors who are showing up regardless of the impressive win in the first two legs of the triple crown races that he is the best.

Give the sport what it needs and not some petty talk over nasal strip. Leg Victor Espinoza up on Belmont Stakes day. Let The Chrome come onto the track with New York, New York, glaring in the background, and let him put on a show. Then relax and enjoy the moment loaned to you by the racing gods.

If California Chrome Is In A Bad Mood..Then

"You go into these races thinking that your horse is really going to perform good but racing luck means so much you know what I mean. I don't feel really anything until he gets into the gate, that is my biggest concern is the first seventy yards leaving there. I think it's so important to any racehorse to get away from the gate without getting knockdown and impeding in any which way and getting behind horses where you can't have no place to go you know. We seen the best horse get beat many of the time with bad racing luck. All I do is hope he has a good trip then I feel really well," words spoken by California Chrome trainer Art Sherman. Can California Chrome get beat in the second leg of the triple crown? This is horse racing and anything is possible. These magnificent animals have a mind of their own, and if they are not up to running or not feeling well, then anything is possible. What if California Chrome decides not to show up on Saturday in the Preakness? What if the racing gods are playing with our minds one more time?

I have seen some fine Kentucky Derby winners who I thought were sure lock for the Preakness who came up empty when the jock press the go button on them. Last year Orb looked beautiful winning the Derby but in the Preakness when Rosario pushed the button he came up flat. Animal Kingdom appeared to be a monster in the Derby. His win was one of those powerful moves that leave you thinking about the possibilities, but in the Preakness, Shackleford got the jump and his speed allowed him to hold on. Another horse that I thought had it in the bag was Street Sense. The gorgeous colt trained by Carl Nafzger, corralled the Derby glory but was outdone in the Preakness by two time horse of the year Curlin.

Barbaro was another powerful winner of the Derby with Prado in the saddle. However, in the Preakness, the world saw an unfortunate part of this beautiful sport when the talented horse had to be pulled up due to an injury. Sadly, Barbaro's career would come to an end and the what if's loomed in the minds of many. There are other horses that won the Kentucky Derby whom I took a stand against in the Preakness because I just didn't buy their victories, and my play against was on point. Monarchos displayed a fast Derby victory but I wasn't impressed with his win. The eventual winner of the Preakness, Point Given was the better horse going into the Derby and he showed it on Preakness day. Giacomo and Super Saver are two other Derby winners that were less than impressive in winning the prestigious race. I wanted more after the race. It was like eating a delicious plate of your favorite Chinese foods, and then feeling a sense of immediate hunger. Super Saver finished eighth in the Preakness, and Giacomo finished twelfth behind the best three year old Afleet Alex. His win in the Preakness made me stand up in damp weather at Belmont to experience his beauty in the Belmont Stakes. He shone like a superstar on that Saturday In June.

California Chrome's Kentucky Derby victory was impressive. It wasn't one of those wins that came out of nowhere leaving you doubting his performance. He was considered by many to be the best three year old going in the Derby, and he rewarded his backers with a lovely win. I'm hoping that he displays a similar type of performance in the Preakness, giving us something to talk about for the few weeks leading to the Belmont Stakes. If he decides he doesn't want to play along with us, then I think Ride On Curlin will be rewarding Joel Rosario with the Preakness victory he should have had last year.

Ride On Curlin is the hard knocking son of Curlin whose heart is just like his daddy's. Ride On Curlin has made ten starts thus far, and in eight of them, he has produced in the money type of efforts. It has been said that his try in the Kentucky Derby was marred by a bad trip and trouble finding running room. I watched the Derby a few times and sure there were some problems for most runners, but that is the nature of a larger than normal size field. Some horses enjoyed a smooth sailing like California Chrome while others suffered from their running style and position in the race. Ride On Curlin should have been closer to the pack. He was dragged to the fence and cruised around the track in last place until Borel asked him. He came running but the pace and traffic was a double whammy for him on Derby day.

The Preakness is half the size of the Derby field and he will be ridden by Joel Rosario, all ingredients that could lead to some good home cooking for the connections of the horse. Ride On Curlin should sit just right off the speed in the race. Social Inclusion, Bayern, Pablo Del Monte, Ring weekend, General A Rod, Dynamaic Impact, and the Derby winner should all be in the first flight of horses when the initial call is made. Ride On Curlin, Kid Cruz, and the filly will be taking notes and strategizing from the back. I expect Victor to keep California Chrome on the outside of Social Inclusion and Bayern, while Pablo Del Monte, and Ring Weekend decide that they don't want to play anymore. Joel will shake the reins of Ride on Curlin a bit and get him closer to the game. Kid Cruz will start to gear up but he just isn't fast't enough. The filly just doesn't want this level of competition. Social Inclusion will hold his spot, Bayern will start to think of California sunshine and begin to back up, and the determined Dynamic Impact will try to fight but not today. General A Rod will last just because Castellano in my opinion is that good, but even the skills of Castellano will not be able to get the last juice out him. Social Inclusion will eventually bite the dust, and California Chrome will then take his spot. If The Chrome isn't up to his game, this is where Ride On Curlin will tackle him and it could be game, set, match, leaving us wondering how much longer before we see a triple crown winner.

My selfish desire is  hoping for California Chrome to produce a win. I love this game and the beauty of it, and there is nothing more exciting than the prospect of a triple crown winner. Horse racing is dependent on whether or not the animals want to run. They don't talk but sometimes their body language can tell us all we need to know. They are like babies who can't communicate but you know when something isn't right with your young one. All signs point to The Chrome producing a better win in the Preakness than in the Derby, though his Derby win was impressive. If he blows a tire and doesn't ride the low rider to victory, then jump on Ride On Curlin and celebrate while waiting until next year for another triple crown opportunity. We have waited this long thus far, another year won't hurt.

Ria Antonia..If I Could Talk

She broke her maiden in her second start at Woodbine, then took on the boys in the Swynford and lost to Conquest Titan. She then came to New York and tackled her own sex only to finish off the board in the Grade One Frizette. That didn't stop the dreaming, she boarded a plane and landed in California amongst Hollywood backdrop scene stealing atmosphere and produced a win, when the judges awarded her a gift. She boarded another plane and flew down to the land of blues and jazz only to be thoroughly dismissed by a woman who exposed her.

She was then given another alibi and changed stables, landing on the shore of the trainer with the silver mane and golden touch. California dreaming played once more with a hall of fame jockey, the new maestro on her back with his left hand talent couldn't get her past a fashion plate of a woman. Encouraged by her latest effort, the Oaks and its glory shouted from the land of bluegrass and breeding honey. The woman whom she tried to dethrone in Louisiana waited  for her and all the competitors. Ria Antonia was just another queen in waiting when the sun began its slow descent to the bottom of the earth. Her sixth place effort didn't write any memorable scenes but another alibi was found a few days later, an alibi that required a new handler of this woman.

Tom Amoss became the latest chapter in this never ending saga. He is the new trainer with the magic touch that will write the proper middle story for this queen in waiting. The word came a few days ago that the bank rollers of this queen was considering the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown. California Chrome and his impressive, albeit slow effort didn't quiet the chorus that came from this queen in waiting camp. They wanted to do what Untapable, the reigning queen decided not to do, take on the boys. Tom Amoss whom one wouldn't categorize as bashful said a decision on the Preakness would be made after her work. We all knew the decision was already made. The work was a formality and when the word came on Monday that the queen in waiting would take on the boys, it didn't shock me or anyone who has been following this Game Of Thrones.

I have a ten year old son who plays baseball.  Every season I sit there and cheer my son on not because I believe he will be the next great baseball player but because I want him to compete and build his confidence. After a bad or good game I always find a teachable moment for him to hold on to. It is about growth and becoming a different person every time he puts on his uniform, but then there are those parents who believe this is their moment to achieve something they didn't accomplish. They push their kids hoping to cash in on dreams their talents or lack thereof didn't deliver.

What if Ria Antonia could talk? What dialogue would she have with those who are feeding her and paying her medical bills? Well it just so happens that I speak horse.

"This circus that I am a part of is one of the biggest shamble I have ever seen. People are laughing and making jokes of me going from trainer to trainer. I never know where I am going to lay my head down to rest. One day I am in Canada, the next day I am in New York with some fine people, then I am in California with the smell of champagne and caviar breathing throughout my bedroom. I was getting use to that scent each day but now I am in Kentucky, and I am starting to miss that champagne, glass tapping wakeup call I would receive each morning. Who is this new man that is looking after me? He has a voice that is strong and he only wants to talk LSU football. He is griping about some quarterback that wasn't drafted high. He is showing me pictures of California Chrome with the face of a man who coached some football team in Alabama. By the way, why am I running against California Chrome and all those boys? Shouldn't that other woman Untapable, who had all those pink flowers the other day be doing this? You know she is laughing her behind off. She knows I have absolutely no chance. The other morning I saw her and she yelled while galloping, "Soften him up for me until I get him in the Haskell." I wanted to tell her something inappropriate, but I know she is the reigning queen. Why must I take on this cause when she is clearly the better horse? I just think this whole thing is unfair. I am going to run and do my best because that is what I do, but I really wish I could use this LSU T-shirt that this trainer of mine has hanging around here and tie myself to my stall. These legs of mine won't do the trick. Damn! Oh here comes that man again yelling something. I am going to turn myself around so he could see my backside as he walks by. Wish I could put some lips on them so he gets the message."

California Chrome should win the second leg of the Triple Crown much easier than he did in the Kentucky Derby. The new shooters in the Preakness are some nice horses, but the only danger I see is Social Inclusion and he is troubling to me. Even though he scratched from his last start due to foot issues, he miraculously became well enough and is ready to take on The Chrome.  If his foot issues are better..wink wink, and he isn't rusty from the layoff, then his run could be interesting.

Ria Antonia unfortunately will not hit the board. If they listen to their own desires instead of the horse then this is one case where the horse may never be the same again. She needs her confidence and maybe an allowance race would help her in that department.

Jockey Rene Douglas Still Standing Tall In The Saddle

He was a fearless, strong, rider whom you knew would always leave his heart and soul on the racetrack. Fans at the track called him a money jockey because Douglas went to work always committed to get the best out of his horses, thus their hard earned two dollars invested in him would get a good return.  A product of Panama, Rene Douglas brought his immense riding talent to the United States in 1983 and quickly became another strong addition to the legacy of terrific riders that originated from this country.

I became a huge fan of the jockey and his skills after watching him ride in the Wood Memorial in 1999 aboard a horse named Cliquot for trainer John Shirreffs.  Cliquot wasn't the favorite that day, and the entire grandstand seemed to have penciled in Badge as the winner. Badge failed to live up to the hype and Adonis, ridden by Jorge Chavez stole the trophy, but Douglas was all out on his horse. I stood by the fence at Aqueduct to watch the race and when the horses turned for home Adonis had them beat, but there was this jockey giving it all he had on a horse that wasn't going to win. I clearly remembered him laying as flat as he could on the horse's back and going to a strong whip that I could hear crack as they sprinted by me. I was a fan. Rene Douglas had become one of my favorites!

Douglas would go on to win numerous races after the running of the Wood Memorial in 1999. He won four consecutive jockey titles at Arlington Park from 2001-2004 and even won seven races one day at the Arlington track. The other day I was thinking about some of the most memorable things that I have witnessed in person in horse racing and Rene Douglas popped into my mind. I remembered the day the incident happened and he went down. I never thought he wouldn't be in the saddle again until the news broke. I wanted an opportunity to speak to the jockey who rode as if  every race was his last. The jockey who on a cool April day in 1999 rode with every last inch of his breath to finish third aboard a horse that wasn't going to win.

Jockeys are always riding even when they are no longer in the saddle. Being legged up by a trainer and told to have a safe and good trip is dialogue that doesn't go to bed once a jockey's tack or gear is hung up. I wanted to know what has been going on with this top jockey since his accident and Rene has had a lot happen since walking away from the sport with God's strength. I contacted Douglas and inquired about his life since leaving horse racing. "I miss everything about racing, especially Arlington Park, riding good horses, and being around all my friends," Rene said. While missing racing and not being able to ride again would cause many to runaway and hide from the sport, Douglas has remained close to the game. His accident did not make him coil up and disappear. When I asked about his involvement in the horse racing game Douglas shared, "Last year I traveled to the Dubai World Cup and Breeders' Cup to watch Private Zone run." He has also been on the lookout for good horses and his talents and credentials on the race track make him qualified to spot a good horse anywhere. He stated, "I have found a couple of horses in Panama. The first is Golden Moka, who won the Prince Of Wales in Canada, and Private Zone who won the Vosburg, a Grade One in New York, and was second in the  Cigar Mile, and who also won a stake race at DelMar." Rene also mentioned  that Private Zone who ran in Dubai and on Breeders' Cup Day was back in training after taking some time off for a few months. "I started the stable Good Friends. They are good friends and they are just having lots of fun, and that is what it's all about." Rene went on to say, "If they are happy then I am happy. I know how it feels when you win big races and I want them to feel the same way." Douglas who still resides in Florida shared about friends that are very close to him. "I do have a group of five friends that help me not only go through the hard times, but they are always there for me," he explained. "One is a judge, the other one is a doctor, the other one is a Hall Of Fame hockey player for the Blackhawks, the other owns restaurant Viaggio in Chicago, the other lives and owns horses in Florida. What else do I need?"


Rene Douglas hasn't given up on the hope that one day he will walk again. This is a hope that resides within him. When I asked him about his accident, Rene said, "After my accident my life changed completely. I have been doing physical therapy and traveled to Panama to get stem cell treatment." Douglas also told me, "I am trying to keep myself in good spirits and positive and hope one day I can use my leg again."

Every jockey has fond memories of a thoroughbred or race that leaves a lasting impression in their minds and hearts. I wanted Rene's views on that special race or horse that he had the pleasure of competing in or on. I asked him about Editor's Note that he won the the Belmont Stakes on after replacing Gary Stevens who had gotten injured. Douglas commented, "I guess you say the Belmont Stakes because it is a very important race, but going back to my country Panama to ride the biggest race in front of lots of people and my family for the first time, and win the race was very emotional to me. The race was Clasico Presidente De La Republica."


Rene Douglas won over thirty five hundred races. He has won an American Classic and Breeders' Cup race. He has given numerous racing fans a profit on their two dollars. When he placed his feet in the irons you knew the jock was going to lay flat on his horse like that day in April when I saw him at Aqueduct, and give trainers and owners every opportunity to win the race. Douglas is still giving it all he has. He is the same fighter that traveled from Panama as a young man, hungry to make it in America as a top jockey. He accomplished that feat. I wouldn't be surprised if one day Rene Douglas led one of his charges back to winner's circle by walking. He has that type of determination and desire.