Desormeaux Preakness ride

I read here a ton but never post.
I really need some opinions on this.... This has been driving me crazy for the past couple of months and I have to let it out. If you laugh at me fine, but tell me what you think.


I have watched the Barbaro clip about 300 times from all sorts of different angles. The first 15 seconds of the race. And I can't swallow the fact of what happened to Barbaro.

I know it was accidental, however Desormeaux had it in his mind from the second the gate opened that he was gonna cut Edgar in.
A) He looks in 3 times before he makes his move. Did he really need the inside at that point? Not at all. Why did he not worry or even look over at Bernardini once to see if he was being challanged by the outside?? Not once did he even glimpse to his right! Why because he knew it was to early for him to move in. He was gonna make damn sure that Edgar would not get position.
I can understand if the turn was coming up but that early in the race with so much action in the middle. He could have cleared SNS for another 25yrds before making that move. He had tons of daylight and he did it on purpose. I am convinced.

I know fluke accidents happen, but I am convinced this could have been avoided. He did not want to cause harm but what he did was not called for at that point in a race and it was so clear watching it.


It's off my chest, I have let it out. Call me crazy, but this was eating at me. Every time I read, hear or see Barbaro's name pop up somewhere, I get this sick feeling creep up.

thanks DT.com.

[Gander]

I only think your crazy because you watched a horse break his leg 300 times over and over. Thats just plain sick. I couldnt watch it once.

What your saying may have some validity. Who knows, doesnt really matter at this point. These little men play games all the time. A la Bailey & Solis in the Smarty Jones Belmont. Scumbags.

[quote=Gander]I only think your crazy because you watched a horse break his leg 300 times over and over. Thats just plain sick. I couldnt watch it once.

It's the infraction part of it that I just can't swallow. Where he comes into him. Not the clip.

Right at the begining of the race you can see SNS, jump out right to Bernardinis side. So he even had more room by brushing Bernardini right, so how the hell 30 yrds later does he end up with a clip.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

[quote=TogaJunkie]

Originally Posted by Gander

I only think your crazy because you watched a horse break his leg 300 times over and over. Thats just plain sick. I couldnt watch it once.

It's the infraction part of it that I just can't swallow. Where he comes into him. Not the clip.

Right at the begining of the race you can see SNS, jump out right to Bernardinis side. So he even had more room by brushing Bernardini right, so how the hell 30 yrds later does he end up with a clip.

I thought the ride on SNS in the Preakness was horrible. He was way too close to very swift fractions. As brillant as Bernardini was in that race, I absolutely cannot watch the part where Barbaro broke down. I always fast forward it past that part and watch the rest of the race.

Like oracle, DaHoss and eveyone else said though, KD was most likely just trying to get postion in the beggining of the race and that is probably not what caused Barbaro's leg fracture. I didn't like the ride only for the reason stated above (too close to a fast pace). However, SNS liked to be on or near the lead anyway, and I think the horse was probably hard to ride because he was tired. He staggered down the lane swerving in and out of the rail like he was drunk.

That was just a horrible race. I keep praying that the boy is happy and pain-free and that he lives for horse racing.

You guys need ****ing counseling, you really do. If you watch the start of every race in America you will see what you describe. Happens in claimers, MSW's, and allowances. Its impossible to put 5-14 animals who weigh over 1000 pounds in quarters that tight and ot have bumping and banging.
Get over it. The horse broke his leg and we will never really understand the why and how. Its really time to get past this. I want the horse to live and think good thoughts for him often, but I think its a topic that has really been beat to death.

[miraja2]

[quote=kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by TogaJunkie

I thought the ride on SNS in the Preakness was horrible. He was way too close to very swift fractions too. As brillant as Bernardini was in that race, I absolutely cannot watch the part where Barbaro broke down. I always fast forward it past that part and watch the rest of the race.

Yeah I can't watch this replay either so I am certainly no expert on Kent's ride in the race but my instinct tells me that, sure him moving over was probably partially responsible for the injury. Literally thousands of little things had to come together to cause that injury.
What if Matz had chosen a different post position?
Did an assistant starter make a noise that caused Barbaro to push through the gate?
If he hadn't pushed through the gate would he have gotten hurt?
It could go on forever, and I'll take your word for it that we can add KD's ride to the list. But if he didn't do anything that was blatantly against the rules of the sport, or anything intentional, then I really don't see the point in "blaming" him.

[Gander]

Well said as right. As much as I hope Barbaro pulls through, I am sick of hearing his name, and only want to if its good news.

Gosh, we are embarking on just about teh best time of year for horse racing...
Saratoga, then Belmont/Keeneland Fall leading up to BC.

Theres so much more to talk about than Barbaro.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by oracle80

You guys need ****ing counseling, you really do. If you watch the start of every race in America you will see what you describe. Happens in claimers, MSW's, and allowances. Its impossible to put 5-14 animals who weigh over 1000 pounds in quarters that tight and ot have bumping and banging.
Get over it. The horse broke his leg and we will never really understand the why and how. Its really time to get past this. I want the horse to live and think good thoughts for him often, but I think its a topic that has really been beat to death.

Oracle,
I agree with what you said. Things happen very fast from the gate, but once the race unfolds there is more room for decisions.
Remember his ride on Real Quiet at Belmont?
'Nuf said.
DTS

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

[quote=miraja2]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

Yeah I can't watch this replay either so I am certainly no expert on Kent's ride in the race but my instinct tells me that, sure him moving over was probably partially responsible for the injury. Literally thousands of little things had to come together to cause that injury.
What if Matz had chosen a different post position?
Did an assistant starter make a noise that caused Barbaro to push through the gate?
If he hadn't pushed through the gate would he have gotten hurt?
It could go on forever, and I'll take your word for it that we can add KD's ride to the list. But if he didn't do anything that was blatantly against the rules of the sport, or anything intentional, then I really don't see the point in "blaming" him.

Like DaHoss and oracle said, we will never know what really caused Barbaro to get hurt (I edited my first post on this thread and added that in as well as the part that I didn't think KD's ride was responsible for Barbaro's injury, and that I quit trying to figure out what had caused his injury two months ago). It's horse racing and it happened. All we can do now is pray that the boy is happy and pain-free.

[Scav]

I chalk that up to race riding...What should be talked about is Kent's ride in this year Derby....Told not to go to rail and he is their the WHOLE time. SNS makes a race of it if he follows Barbaro the whole time instead of trying to save ground...

I don't fault him for the ride on Real Quiet, he had no choice but to try and open up and ask god to help him the last inch. Man, going to watch that race right now again.....

[westcoastinvader]

I know it was accidental, however Desormeaux had it in his mind from the second the gate opened that he was gonna cut Edgar in.
A) He looks in 3 times before he makes his move. Did he really need the inside at that point? Not at all. Why did he not worry or even look over at Bernardini once to see if he was being challanged by the outside?? Not once did he even glimpse to his right! Why because he knew it was to early for him to move in. He was gonna make damn sure that Edgar would not get position.
I can understand if the turn was coming up but that early in the race with so much action in the middle. He could have cleared SNS for another 25yrds before making that move. He had tons of daylight and he did it on purpose. I am convinced.

I know fluke accidents happen, but I am convinced this could have been avoided. He did not want to cause harm but what he did was not called for at that point in a race and it was so clear watching it.

_____________________


An unsolicited recommendation, but I'd watch some other races for awhile to get your mind on the good stuff.

It's gotten glossed over, but with the $$ bet on Barbaro in that Preakness in the straights and combos, that track management had to be a bit concerned about pulling Barbaro out after the initial break through the gate.

I had Barbaro in some good, fun wagers many different ways that day. I'm far from rich, and I'm far from from destitute. I'd happily find a way to give back ten times what I lost that day if it would assure Barbaro would be OK.

That said, if I had not retired from the OTB on Preakness Day to go to my home prior to the start, I would have been racing to the windows to cancel my bets after the Barbaro breakthrough.

The track knew that many others like me would have been doing the same, if they had not hustled Barbaro into the gate to start the race.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by TogaJunkie

I read here a ton but never post.
I really need some opinions on this.... This has been driving me crazy for the past couple of months and I have to let it out. If you laugh at me fine, but tell me what you think.


I have watched the Barbaro clip about 300 times from all sorts of different angles. The first 15 seconds of the race. And I can't swallow the fact of what happened to Barbaro.

I know it was accidental, however Desormeaux had it in his mind from the second the gate opened that he was gonna cut Edgar in.
A) He looks in 3 times before he makes his move. Did he really need the inside at that point? Not at all. Why did he not worry or even look over at Bernardini once to see if he was being challanged by the outside?? Not once did he even glimpse to his right! Why because he knew it was to early for him to move in. He was gonna make damn sure that Edgar would not get position.
I can understand if the turn was coming up but that early in the race with so much action in the middle. He could have cleared SNS for another 25yrds before making that move. He had tons of daylight and he did it on purpose. I am convinced.

I know fluke accidents happen, but I am convinced this could have been avoided. He did not want to cause harm but what he did was not called for at that point in a race and it was so clear watching it.


It's off my chest, I have let it out. Call me crazy, but this was eating at me. Every time I read, hear or see Barbaro's name pop up somewhere, I get this sick feeling creep up.

thanks DT.com.

There really is Bigfoot...UFO's must come to your house weekly...the boogeyman is in your backyard.

How anyone can come to the conclusion that this was in any way SNS's jockey's fault is beyond me and would be best served by a therapist.

[Danzig]

i haven't seen the preakness since the original. don't plan to either. what is there to see? the only reason i left the race on that day was to get news on barbaro. i couldn't tell anyone here how it was run, who did what. and i think i'll just leave it like that.

[jpops757]

Im as big of a Barbaro fan as any around. I am not saying get over it but we need to move on. The constant idea of wanting to blame someon or some thing. It was an unfortunate accident. Move forward and quit trying to find a scapegoat.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by jpops757

Im as big of a Barbaro fan as any around. I am not saying get over it but we need to move on. The constant idea of wanting to blame someon or some thing. It was an unfortunate accident. Move forward and quit trying to find a scapegoat.

i agree completely.

Oh good lord. I am with Oracle--let this go. The horse took a bad step and shattered his leg. Let it go--move on, like Gander said this is the best time of the year for racing.