KENTUCKY DERBY

[SyberBitch]

Syber, race horses are actually handled better than most of the show jumpers you see out there. Granted there are scum bags who treat the animals poorly in every dicipline of horsemanship but all in all, a good horse is treated like it's golden. People like to remember the horrible stuff more. Like Duchess, I've seen some fucked up shit and I've had to repair a lot of it too when I took horses not able to race anymore and nurse them back to health so I can find permanent homes in pleasure riding communities.

I worked at a farm in Indiana for a while that had 'retired' racehorses. Beautiful animals. They had an awesome trail you could ride on that had natural log and brush jumps set up (nothing too hazardous, it was just fun). Some of the horses were 'nervous', but mostly they were good animals.

I realize that most breeding farms do treat their horses very well, but it's primarily the fact that they are ridden so hard at such a young age that disturbs me so much. They shouldn't be allowed to race until they're at least 5 years old. The only reason they are raced so much earlier is greed.

[SyberBitch]

She's the one on the left with the halter on.

mmm gorgeous farm, gorgeous horses.

I miss horses.

[OnBendedKnee]

The vasy majority of serial killers tortured or killed animals in their childhood, I don't think thats coincidence. People who can get pleasure from hurting animals have something wrong with their internal wiring.

:shock: If this includes ants then I'm fucked.

Well, it doesn't, but you're fucked up anyways.

::thumbs::

[Lady Cop]

Summer Bird wins the Belmont. 11 to 1 upset.

Borel on Mine that Bird came in 3^rd.

[The Antagonist]

I saw it live too JB. Was pretty disappointed with Mine That Bird's owner trying to blame it on Borel. Fucking crybaby.

Borel was a gentleman about it, said his little horse just didn't have it for the mile and a half and that asshole tried to blame the jockey for letting him out a little early in the race.

Borel was in the right to do that. You DO NOT fight the horse if he wants to go. You tire him out and he fights back. That's how injuries happen too.

I've been ON Belmont's track. It's deep, like running on the beach. 1 ¹⁄₂ miles on that is not easy for a horse to do and every year they remind you with Secretariat's race. Fucker was a freak. He ran each quarter faster than the one before.

I'm happy Kent Desormeaux got his Belmont win. It was a very exciting race all in all.

[Duchess]

I'd love to know if the winning groom got a percentage of the purse...Good grooms are soooo underated, they deserve more recognition for all their hard work...Do I sound like a former groom ?...Hahahaha...Been there, done that.

[The Antagonist]

You know I have no idea! I worked at standardbred barns and they got $100 per week per horse, so you wanted to rack up as many horses as you can to make a decent wage. I don't know how thoroughbred barns pay grooms.

[Duchess]

Cowboy always gave a percentage of a win, if you didn't have a win you got just a set fee for going to the track, that was in addition to your weekly wage...It's been a very long time since I've done anything like that but, to this day I always lobby hard for the grooms, they are prolly more deserving than anyone else associated with the horse, I know others don't feel that way but, that's my opinion as someone who was devoted to their racehorses & had the expection that their comfort and care comes before yours.

[The Antagonist]

You're absolutely right!

When you're a groom, the horses come first. You don't get to travel far from the barn for holidays and vactions are only going to happen if you can find someone to fill in for you.

If there's a problem in the middle of the night, you are the first one there before the vet. Foaling time? You're sleeping in the stall next to the mare or at least in the barn's office watching the cctv for the foal to come in case there's a problem.

I think the entry for the Belmont is $22K and the purse is split between the trainer and the jockey. I am not 100% sure though. But you're right, no one realizes how important the groom is. There'd be no saddle on the horse if it weren't for the groom (among many other little details you wouldn't think of!).