A word about Barbaro, Eight Belles and Scott Blasi [View all]

[twogunsid]

Last edited Mon May 18, 2015, 07:14 PM - Edit history (1)

Barbaro broke through the gate before the Preakness. He was examined by the state vet before he was reloaded. After the start of the race he shattered his leg. He was trained by Michael Matz, a gifted horseman that always puts his horses first. No one ever made any accusations that Barbaro had received anything but the best care in the Matz barn. His owners sent him to New Bolton where he was operated on by Dean Richardson and he recovered from his injuries. He stayed on at New Bolton and during his recovery he developed laminitis. His owner, the Jacksons, did everything possible to save his life, spending more on his care than he probably earned on the track, even though the vets felt that he would never be able to stand at stud. When he developed laminitis in another leg it was determined that his quality of life was so poor that he should be humanely put down.

Eight Belles finished second in the Derby to Big Brown. After the finish, during the gallop out, she broke both her ankles. She was euthanized on the track. Her trainer, Cowboy Larry Jones, one of the very good guys in racing, was devastated by her loss. That year the talk was of Rick Dutrow, Big Brown's trainer and IEAH, his owners, and Dutrow's many violations and suspensions. He had legally been giving his horses Winstrol, a steroid, once a month, to increase their appetites. Immediately, the press and others began accusing Jones of doping Eight Belles. The necropsy of Eight Belles found nothing in her system. So then, the press and others, began speculating that breeding practices caused her breakdown. They determined that being inbreed to Native Dancer, six generations back caused her to be unsound. Never mind that she had never taken an unsound step in her life. Never mind that Native Dancer was not unsound and was an iron horse. The so called experts in the media were confusing genetics with eugenics.

We had discussions here about all these issues back when I spent more time here. Back when they happened.

Scott Blasi is an asshole. And he likes to brag and try to appear like he's a tough guy.
PETA and Joe Drape released a 7 or 10 minutes tape of him shooting his mouth off and using foul language. It sounded like he condoned doping horses. Joe Drape said that PETA had several hours of video that proved he was an abuser of the horses in his care. He promised to release it the week before the 2013 Derby. It never was released. PETA filed complaints with Federal, State and Local authorities. No one prosecuted Blasi. Blasi was fired by his boss, Steve Asmussen, also a big asshole, and his trainers license was revoked while Kentucky investigated the accusations.

Kentucky Horse Racing Commission subpoenaed PETA's tapes and 285 page report. PETA refused to cooperate. The investigation moved on with the video Drape had released. Some problems were found with the tape. It had been extensively edited. It had overdubbed audio and “presented conversations out of context and contrary to the substance of the conversation as a whole". Blasi and his boss were both cleared of mistreating horses in their care. Scott Blasi got his license back earlier this year and Asmussen rehired him. They are both still assholes.

Blasi did train Curlin and Rachel. They were both retired before the 2013 tape was released not when he was exposed as an asshole.

Cowboy Jones received so much hate mail after Eight Belles he retired from training. He has since returned running a very small stable for a few select clients. He won the Kentucky Oaks this year.

The sport has issues, I'll be the first to admit that. If you want to talk seriously about the issues I'll be glad to provide my input on any thread that does that.