Marq Your Bible Race #4 @ Laurel #2

Pictures from Marcus' second race at Laurel Park in Maryland, fourth race overall.




Ever since the storm incidents at Colonial, Marcus has needed a pony horse to keep him calm during saddling. It has worked wonderfully.  I can only imagine what words pass between the two.  We have been very pleased with all of Laurel's staff, including the gate crew and pony horse riders.  They don't get paid enough for what they do.

 

No Delay (eventual winner of race) didn't delay the race this time.
 In Marcus' last race, No Delay didn't want to go in the starting gate.

His race line read "steadied at first turn." I think this is what the racing secretary meant!

Eight of ten, not good, but not bad.  He got up as close as third before better horses passed him. He finished only seven lengths back from first.  So that's encouraging.

Joe Drape-You Sir, Are A Dope

The New York Times' Joe Drape is at it again, accusing the thoroughbred industry of drowning in drugs. This time its a video presentation on the front page of nytimes.com.  (Here it is, for your viewing pleasure.)

My problem with Mr. Drape is that he (and others...hi Deadspin.com!) is speaking out of whole ignorance.  He is pushing this issue in a direction that he hope will get him a medal, not correct the problem.

Peanut Gallery:  "Excuse me, what about Doug O'Neil and his suspension?!?!?!"

The California Horse Racing Commission by its own admission, stated that Doug O'Neil's horse (that' s one horse,  not horses) was never found to have illegal substances in it.  They stated that they THINK that it had an illegal substance.

Peanut Gallery: "Fine, but, but, but...what about the 2012 Triple Crown horses...we are sure they used drugs....surely some of them got busted!"

No, not one, including Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another was found to have any illegal substance in them.  Mr. Drape, of course, states only that no one was busted for frog venom.

Here are two other problems Mr. Drape's narrative:

Mr. Drape (and I assume its him narrating) states that drugs are being used to make horses go faster.  Then proceeds to talk about pain killing drugs.  Different drugs, different problem.  Steroids are used to make a horse go faster.  The pain killing drugs is a different issue.  That is just outright cruelty.

Mr. Drape starts at the video in Kentucky, so I assume he is going to focus on the thoroughbred race industry.  He then proceeds to talk about a quarterhorse...in Louisiana.....  Mr. Drape (and others), here is you racing education 101: quarterhorses and thoroughbred racing are two industries with a Grand Canyon size worth of differences.  Nit picky? Maybe.  But it would be like saying their are recruiting violations in the NFL.  I would expect someone who works for the New York Times and allegedly covers horse racing full time to point out and know the difference.

Peanut Gallery: "Umm....the NFL doesn't recruit like college football....oh that's the point.  Never mind."

Now, I always have to say this.  I abhor trainers that abuse horses with drugs.  I believe the rules should be tougher.  I believe people like Rick Dutrow should be thrown out of the sport forever.  However, that's all Mr. Drape ever writes about horse racing: drugs.  Its like we don't even run a sport.  Just a the biggest drug lab this side of the jungles of Columbia.  Is the NFL or MLB covered this way? No, of course not.  So, lets just give Mr. Drape an Eclipse Award and get it out of the way.  That's what he wants and it will make him go away.

I fully expect Sally Jekins of the Washington Post to do story on the issue this  week.

The Good Old Days of the Thoroughbred

I just read a very good blog post on Statford Hall's web page written by one of their collection's interns.  She has been investigating the horse tack in the plantation's stable.  Through her research she discovered that Stratford bred a horse named Time O' War, a grandson of the great *pause, wait for it* Man O' War.  (one must always take a deep breath before mentioning the name Man O' War.  See the orginal Seabiscut movie starring Shirely Temple for reference.)

Anyway, one thing many thoroughbreed breeders are notorious for is looking back at the way the horse racing and breeding industries were run in the days of long ago.  Here's why: Time O' War raced 225 times! TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE TIMES and was in the money 37% of the time.  All without lasix, modern supplements, or anything else.    The writer also discovered this piece of breeding wisdom from Stafford's first resident superintendent:

“The object is not to attempt breeding on a large scale, but to make horses, and good horses at that…So that a visitor to the Northern Neck may see them in the flesh and be reminded of the time when every gentleman of this section had a horse which he was willing to back for a reasonable amount against all comers.”

*sigh* the good old days.

Colonial Meet Over

Marcus finished 10th out of 11th, wrapping up the Colonial meet with a grand total of $330 earnings! (insert rendition of Stars and Stripes Forever here).  Normally, I would not blame the weather for a horse performing poorly, but in this case, I am going to blame the weather.  Marcus made four trips to Colonial and only got actually run twice.  He is being checked over by the vet today at the trainer's farm to see if he can race again towards the end of the month.

Second race, Try #4

Marcus is go for second race today...hopefully no storms!  Race #9, post 14...30-1....ACK! :0 No word yet from Colonial about protest/whine fest.

Now, excuse me, I have to go figure out how Marcus' sister, Prepare the Way a.k.a. Glory, ended up in a field that was closed off to her by a locked gate and a five foot fence.

Between Heaven and Hell

So, after the drama that ensued that last week at Colonial (and the public meltdown I personally led that I am waiting for someone to post on You Tube), Marq Your Bible is doing OK.  The vet has looked him over and X-rayed his front legs.  He only has some minor swelling and is doing so well, that he has been entered for this Saturday! (Race 9).

Furthermore, even after all the antics Marcus pulled, his name did not land on the stewards' national list of misbehaving horses.   If it did, he would have had to prove to the stewards that he will behave in the future and thus delay any return to active racing.  Nonetheless, I have filled an official protest (OK, more like a whine fest) with Colonial Downs.  I will let you know what they say.   

To say this is a miracle straight from Heaven would be understatement.  There was a strong possibility that Marcus' racing career was over.  Instead, he gets another chance.Horse racing is a sport where there are no spiritual fence sitters.  You either accept and believe in God's message of salvation and accept His help or you hit the bottle and/or start abusing drugs. 

Horse racing is among the most spiritually challenging sport around.  One does not have teammates to fall back upon, there are no guaranteed contracts, and are thousands of variables that are out one's control.     Fortunately, many in the industry have accepted Christ and are very open about their Faith.   I reject the notion that horse racing is somehow the ultimate sin and I will explore that topic in more detail later.  It is a sport like any other and one that will make you learn real quick how little control you have over Life.

Members of the Sports Media, Listen...For Once

Is it any wonder that horsemen get mad at the likes of Joe Drape of the New York Times, Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post, or Barry at Deadspin.com (whose second post on horse racing in two months simply read "Three Dead Horses at Saratoga) when people like them write insulting, slanderous, and seriously misguided articles about horse racing.  What happened tonight at Colonial is an example of why I personally get mad.

After several months of training and waiting, Marcus was being prepared for his second race ever at Colonial.  There were some very serious storms in the area, similar to the ones that happened a few weeks ago.  He flipped out in the saddling area, kicked the assistant trainer to the ground and took off. .
He is caught 5 mintues later and then somebody did the one thing they shouldn't have done...they brought him back to the saddling area.  With only half of a lead line, the assistant trainer  (who is an experienced steeplechase rider) had no chance with  Marcus.  Marcus broke loose again and through the middle of the post parade.

Needless to say, he was taken out of the race. Though the blessings of God, despite all the acting up, Marcus came through with only two minor bumps.  He was fit and ready to go.  Our trainer had him ready and a fluke storm made the horse act up.
That is why I get mad at you Barry, Sally, and Joe.  You have no idea how much we put into this sport and how much we have to put up with.