ESPN.. hard-hitting investigative source that they are..

[Kasept]

ESPN to Examine “Track Tragedies” Wednesday & Sunday This week

Outside the Lines (Wednesday, 3 p.m., ESPN; Sunday, 9 a.m., ESPN)

PRESS RELEASE: The Belmont Stakes could produce the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years. But the sport of horse racing has not had much to celebrate of late, particularly at a venerable New York race track just 10 miles from Belmont. A deadly season at Aqueduct Racetrack claimed the lives of more than 20 horses and prompted intense scrutiny of the dangers and the drugs involved in the sport of kings. Jeannine Edwards reports.

[pointman]

I guess this just proves that if you print it and say it often enough, people believe it regardless of the actual facts.

[pmayjr]

I suppose if you don't have coverage of the tc or bc events anymore, you don't have a vested interest in not bringing up the controversial tabloidish stuff anymore either. Sucks that Edwards is the one doing the reporting though. I've always liked her work

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Kasept

prompted intense scrutiny of the dangers and the drugs involved in the sport of kings.

If they want to do an Outside the Lines on the drugs -- get private investigators to follow the true move-up artists and get them to connect with the important attachments of these trainers.

As far as the dangers of the sport -- jockeys are the humans who mostly have to face it.

Even with the danger they can face, they are still the most overpaid group of professional athletes known to man. The difference between the best jockey and the 75th best jockey isn't very much.

[alysheba4]

i dont know man, those jocks have huge huevos

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by alysheba4

i dont know man, those jocks have huge huevos

You need to have great nerve, weigh 110lbs, and know how to ride a horse -- and if you're healthy and get a decent agent -- you'll make very good money as a jockey.

I've watched my youngest brother ride a motorcycle about 40 MPH where he is standing straight up on the seat. One slip, and he's dead. He also knows how to ride a horse ... he's just too heavy. Being small is the true payoff.

[Danzig]

they say that bravery and stupidity are not that far apart. i had thought about being a jock when i was a kid...and i'm probably dumb enough, and have enough of the ten feet tall bulletproof mentality to have done it had i not gone the navy route instead. god knows i'm the right height. weight wouldn't have been a problem...
but hey, all my bones remain unbroken, so there's that!!

[NTamm1215]

I don't think they're overpaid at all. The very best jockeys make about as much in purse money in a year as Zach Johnson did for winning the Colonial two weeks ago.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I don't think they're overpaid at all. The very best jockeys make about as much in purse money in a year as Zach Johnson did for winning the Colonial two weeks ago.

I hate golf as much as anyone -- but guys like Tiger Woods, Michelson, etc. are guys with exceptional skills.

Chantal Sutherland is a terrible judge of pace and tactics ... and she can pass as a top level rider.

I know you're a sharp guy, NTamm. If you tried to work with an avg mid-level circuit jockey -- you'd want to kill them in less than two weeks.

I remember the first time my rider was on a post-time favorite in a race. The horse was 8-to-5 on the morning line, went off at about 4-to-5, and was lone speed from an outside post in a paceless race at a time when a huge inside-speed bias was in play.

The trainer, Mike Rodgers, told the jockey he wanted to rate the horse -- because he thought the horse ran its best races from off the pace.

I told the jockey that the trainer has no idea what he's talking about. Just make the lead, get to the rail, and you'll crush them. The jockey agreed with the trainer and he told me not to 'worry about telling me how to ride' -- he got the horse off slowly, raced wide throughout from off the pace, and finished 4th by about 5 lengths.

A 15/1 shot who looked hopeless on paper and had no early speed wired them from post #2.

That night, when I met the jock upstairs, I asked him "how many lengths would we have won by if you rode a smart race?" -- he blew up on me and claimed that the horse wouldn't have won no matter what he did.

This was a guy who was a top 10 jock at Del Mar and Hollywood Park when he had his bug. He seriously didn't know anything about anything.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

I hate golf as much as anyone -- but guys like Tiger Woods, Michelson, etc. are guys with exceptional skills.

Chantal Sutherland is a terrible judge of pace and tactics ... and she can pass as a top level rider.

I know you're a sharp guy, NTamm. If you tried to work with an avg mid-level circuit jockey -- you'd want to kill them in less than two weeks.

I remember the first time my rider was on a post-time favorite in a race. The horse was 8-to-5 on the morning line, went off at about 4-to-5, and was lone speed from an outside post in a paceless race at a time when a huge inside-speed bias was in play.

The trainer, Mike Rodgers, told the jockey he wanted to rate the horse -- because he thought the horse ran its best races from off the pace.

I told the jockey that the trainer has no idea what he's talking about. Just make the lead, get to the rail, and you'll crush them. The jockey agreed with the trainer and he told me not to 'worry about telling me how to ride' -- he got the horse off slowly, raced wide throughout from off the pace, and finished 4th by about 5 lengths.

A 15/1 shot who looked hopeless on paper and had no early speed wired them from post #2.

That night, when I met the jock upstairs, I asked him "how many lengths would we have won by if you rode a smart race?" -- he blew up on me and claimed that the horse wouldn't have won no matter what he did.

This was a guy who was a top 10 jock at Del Mar and Hollywood Park when he had his bug. He seriously didn't know anything about anything.

Oh you certainly don't have to sell me on some of them not being the brightest lights in the chandelier. What would David Cohen be doing if he wasn't riding? That's a frightening question.

I think they have incredible athletic ability, but as you initially said, it is a product of their size. The best riders combine balance, strength, and at least the wherewithal to understand what makes horses go, what doesn't, etc. I don't disagree that trainers and agents will have the greatest impact on a rider's success. However, I don't think relative to the money that is thrown around in the game that they are overpaid.

[Calzone Lord]

Yeah.

Kent Desormeaux and Calvin Borel both have 3 Kentucky Derby wins -- the former won 598 races in a year as a bug -- those two intellectuals would probably be jockeying a cash register at a gas station in Louisiana along with Robby Al if they weren't as small as they are.

I think if you look around at a lot of jockey colonies across the country -- the best jockey in the room and the 10th best guy in the room aren't separated by much...if anything at all.

But you do make a good point -- a whole lot of money gets tossed around in the game -- and they do actually take health risks.

[Left Bank]

Originally Posted by pointman

I guess this just proves that if you print it and say it often enough, people believe it regardless of the actual facts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn_PSJsl0LQ

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by pmayjr

I suppose if you don't have coverage of the tc or bc events anymore, you don't have a vested interest in not bringing up the controversial tabloidish stuff anymore either. Sucks that Edwards is the one doing the reporting though. I've always liked her work

Agree on both counts.

I took a photo of Jeannine at Derby...

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Yeah.

Kent Desormeaux and Calvin Borel both have 3 Kentucky Derby wins -- the former won 598 races in a year as a bug -- those two intellectuals would probably be jockeying a cash register at a gas station in Louisiana along with Robby Al if they weren't as small as they are.
I think if you look around at a lot of jockey colonies across the country -- the best jockey in the room and the 10th best guy in the room aren't separated by much...if anything at all.

But you do make a good point -- a whole lot of money gets tossed around in the game -- and they do actually take health risks.

Calvin would probably be on Swamp People if he were a little taller. Kent would be Mayor of New Orleans during Katrina.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

Calvin would probably be on Swamp People if he were a little taller. Kent would be Mayor of New Orleans during Katrina.

Calvin is so cute when his nostrils flare!!

[Calzone Lord]

Pat Day didn't become a great jockey until he embraced Jesus.

Now that is one incredible athlete who truly deserved his millions!

I wanted to shove an icepick through my eardrums everytime he'd get interviewed...but he was the kingpin.

Pat Day was the greatest assassin to any sensible gambler while he was on top of his game. There isn't a jockey present day who can get me half as angry as Pat Day did.

We could talk about cajun jockeys for weeks and probably come to the conclusion that the best ones didn't make it due to drugs, alcohol and women.

[Calzone Lord]

The number of jockeys that I've seen who were true difference makers in a positive way over the last 15 or 20 years could be counted on one hand.

When Ramon Dominguez rode delaware and maryland -- he dominated on ROI year in and year out.

When Jason Lumpkins rode Thistle, Mountainer, Turfway, Bay Meadows, and Golden Gate he dominated year in and year out at those circuits.

Kerwin Clark at Evangline Downs.

Calvin Borel had a run of eight years at Churchill Downs where he was profitable almost every meet.

That's about it.