Botched Abortion

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

I could care less what he looks like... he was botching rides all weekend.

Cajun at some point he may level out and become more consistent. Quite frankly he didn't screw me over once all weekend, I benefitted from a botch or two he gave.
Its why he gives me fits. He will ride 10 winners in three days and then go braindead for the next three days.
He may be overreaching and trying to make too much happen, I don't know.
You can't fault his Belmont attempt and I really only saw him give one bad ride and that was to Bling. I really didn't see him do anything wrong on the other horses he rode, I think he just didnt have the horse.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by oracle80

Cajun at some point he may level out and become more consistent. Quite frankly he didn't screw me over once all weekend, I benefitted from a botch or two he gave.
Its why he gives me fits. He will ride 10 winners in three days and then go braindead for the next three days.
He may be overreaching and trying to make too much happen, I don't know.
You can't fault his Belmont attempt and I really only saw him give one bad ride and that was to Bling. I really didn't see him do anything wrong on the other horses he rode, I think he just didnt have the horse.

For me, I'm all about consistency... I just don't see him giving CONSISTENT rides. I can't fault him for losing on a horse that just didn't have it (and I agree that he didn't ride Bob and John bad), but I would prefer it if he were a more consistent jockey.

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

For me, I'm all about consistency... I just don't see him giving CONSISTENT rides. I can't fault him for losing on a horse that just didn't have it (and I agree that he didn't ride Bob and John bad), but I would prefer it if he were a more consistent jockey.

Hey we all would wouldn't we? To me you can never have too many good jocks in a colony. Means for better betting races. WHen you have a guy or two who dominate they suck up all the good mounts and you suffer at the betting windows on prices.
Richi(Rupert here, lol) and I got into it and scuds and I last fall when he was in Scuds favor then. My postition on the guy hasn't changed one iota. Hes the strongest and most agile and daring rider alive. Of this I have no doubt. But hes not consistent or bright on horseback consistently yet.
WHen you watch johhny ride(hes obviously hurting now yet still manages to give smart rides) you will notice he often just stays out of the horses way. He places them where they need to be placed and its obvious that he studies the DRF and knows his rivals and their tendencies and well as the properties of his own horse. Can't tell you how many times I have a big grin and say YES!!! when hes on the 2nd speed and outbreaks his main speed rival and goes to the lead. He doesnt get jammed up inside either, very rarely if ever. He keeps his mounts clear and clearly understands the concepts of momentum and inertia by having his mounts rolling in the clear as they turn for home. They aren't cars and you can't just accelerate on a moments notice. Saving ground is highly overrated. The horse who gets to the line first is what matters, not saving ground. You can have a ton of horse underneath you but if you are down inside without anywhere to run what good is it? Lets say you get clear with an 1/8th remaining, thats not a whole lot of time to accelerate and run down a horse with a length on you who still has run, almost impossible. Don't give up yet, this NY experience with riding against guys who will lock you in will help him, eventually. At some point he will adapt and tinker with his strategy. Until then just keep the rolaids and valium handy.

[exquisitequine]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

I could care less what he looks like... he was botching rides all weekend.

How do you know if it was the "ride" that was botched or the "instructions" that were botched? Often times what looks like bad rides are really just gameplans that go awry. A rider has a choice. If he sticks to instructions and loses the public thinks he's an idiot but the trainer still trusts him. If he goes to plan b and forgets what the trainer told him and things dont work out, he wont be getting rides any more. If im a jock, i stick to plan A.

Riders dont win races-horses do(especially pretty ones like rocky!). Is it not acceptable that maybe TMB bounced off of his last win? Is it not acceptable that maybe he didnt like the surface? Is it not acceptable that maybe he was never that good and people bet him off of a freakish performance in the slop which can be misleading? Or is it simply easier to blame the jock?

TMB had his chances. Good horses make their own luck.

And Gomez is still really cute.