NBC Safety Special - On now

[Anne FS]

Just checking in - hope it's good.

[Anne FS]

They led with the drug issue!

[Anne FS]

Ok, I know I'm talkin' to myself here :D so I'll stop. But this panel sounds like Bob Costas has been on this board: he sounds like a lot of us! (LOL)

[Larksmom]

I misssed the beginning, Larry Jones makes a lot of sense, and of course, DVM Larry Bramledge. I wish they had gone on to remind people that they could break a leg standing in a pasture, [remember Nuryev?] sp
I have read lots and lots here about horses being injured in pastures, even when just lawn ornaments. Did you see the one [special, just over] on ESPN? I think it was a little better. A little farther reaching, and a little more depth.

[oskaar]

but it seemed decent. I thought Gary did a good job containing his anger when the one guy compared racing to bull fighting. Really? I would have gone across the table at him. As an eventer, I often tell people that my horse weighs a whole lot more than I do, and if he doesn't want to do something, he usually tells me (and they have gotten new jobs when they have spoken up in the past).

There seems to be a lot of chatter about the footing. How do you all feel about that? The one trainer mentioned he loves training on synthetic tracks at home--could that contribute to the problems? If you are training on super cushy footing and then switch to the real stuff?

[Anne FS]

1) I was THRILLED that there was not a HSUS or PETA person at the table. THRILLED that it seemed to me to be obvious that they didn't belong and OF COURSE they weren't there.

2) Actually thought Costas was pretty good - like the old before-I-was-super-famous Costas and not the jerk of the past few years.

3) Thought for a Television 30-minute deal it was really good: covered the issues, honest, factual, etc. Maybe my expectations for television stuff is abysmally low, so I thought it was pretty good.

[Bluey]

I wish the last question, if horse racing is abuse, would not have been there at all and definitively not the last one.
I wish they would have been warned of it, since it seemed to have left them nonplussed.
They seemed afraid that giving a short answer for such a broad question may seem more defensive than necessary.
I wish if that was going to be asked, that they would have had more time to answer it.

OF COURSE they don't think racing is inherently abusive, or they would not be there.:rolleyes:

[Anne FS]

I think they HAD to ask it. If this panel discussion had taken place without the A-word being mentioned, they would've come in for criticism, so they simply had to address it. Wish thhttps://www.overstock.com/checkoutey'd had more time to have more than the reporter guy answer it, though, although to the general public he'd be the most objective one.

And I think the panel knew it would come up. The past two weeks the "abuse" word has been all over racing coverage. They needed to let it come up, IMHO.

[DLee]

Not too impressed with Rick Dutrow's response to the steroid question. Apparently he 'doesn't know what it does', but some vet told him it was a good idea so they all get a shot once a month. :rolleyes: But it's no big deal if steroids are outlawed next year.

[CoolMeadows]

I thought everyone did a good job answering questions for the most part and showed that there is a lot of concern and compassion in the industry and that lots of suggestions are being listened to. Positive impression, overall.

[Home Again Farm]

I watched both the NBC panel and the ESPN discussion. Both were excellent. Hoping that good comes from this for all.

[caffeinated]

but it seemed decent. I thought Gary did a good job containing his anger when the one guy compared racing to bull fighting. Really?

OK, this is completely shallow and unnecessary... but Gary Stevens is awfully attractive when he's mad. hehe.

On a more serious note, I'm glad they had those conversations- interesting to hear some of the perspectives on breeding- I think it's easy to blame breeders so it was good to get some alternate perspectives on that (though I think that was more on the ESPN panel than the NBC one)

[JHUshoer20]

There seems to be a lot of chatter about the footing. How do you all feel about that? The one trainer mentioned he loves training on synthetic tracks at home--could that contribute to the problems? If you are training on super cushy footing and then switch to the real stuff?
That was the first trainer I ever heard say that.

Of course it's early yet but these tracks have been pushed pretty hard by people who have a vested financial interest in them. We will hear a lot of praise coming from armchair experts but thusfar I have not yet heard any trainer I know say anything but negative.

George

[Linny]

Aside to Caffeinated: Gary is attractive all the time.;)

I saw the ESPN discussion and thought that it was good. It was not intended to be a compresensive look at all the industry is doing, but an over view.
This is what I wrote on a racing BB earlier, about the ESPN discussion:
The piece was not intended for people like us, the hardcore fans or people who work in the game. The piece was intended to discuss the issue at a level understood by the general audience. Racing fans, those who read BH and particpate on boards like this and have read countless articles since the Derby have heard far more detailed discussion on these issues over the course of years. The target audience was the viewer who has not read the trades mags or a bunch of boards or the DRF. It was for the people who heard about the Derby aftermath on CNN or MSNBC or NPR. It was for the people who felt that PETA spent more time over the last 2 weeks getting it's message out.
Viewed in that manner, there was nothing wrong with it. In fact it was the first time that issues like this have been dealt with BY racing for a non racing audience. These issues have been simmering since Barbaro broke down (in this race) two years ago. If they had come on the air with no mention of Eight Belles and the aftermath, ESPN and racing would be accused by "outsiders" as having it's collective head in the sand.http://thoroughbredchampions.com/forum/Themes/classic/images/icons/modify_inline.gif

[Buffyblue]

I watched the ESPN introduction and roundtable discussion but my trainer missed it - does anyone know if there is a transcript anywhere? Or a video of it she can watch? I went to ESPN's website but found nothing.

[oskaar]

Not too impressed with Rick Dutrow's response to the steroid question. Apparently he 'doesn't know what it does', but some vet told him it was a good idea so they all get a shot once a month. :rolleyes: But it's no big deal if steroids are outlawed next year.

SERIOUSLY. I am all over everything my horse gets as a lowly amateur. As a trainer, I would know every molecule my $50M horse got. Think that was his line for the cops all those years ago? "I don't really know what this white powder does, but a friend told me it's a good time..."

[bobbybobby]

all drugs should be outlawed....no vet in barn area 48 hours before a race.....

[Beverley]

I missed most of the NBC panel, but thought the ESPN panel that aired an hour earlier was quite good. It was heartwarming that they quickly dismissed the PETA idiots- but made the valid point that though it doesn't matter what PETA thinks, public perception is definitely an issue.

Prior to that panel, the ESPN commentators discussed whips, and Jerry Bailey noted that at present, whips are required, but that he thought that might be something racing could live without. He noted that sometimes jockeys get in trouble for NOT using the whip, as in, not making every possible effort to win. I wonder though- I would think if I was riding that short, thus no practical use of legs, I'd want that whip for occasional steering issues.

[Anne FS]

I wonder though- I would think if I was riding that short, thus no practical use of legs, I'd want that whip for occasional steering issues.

I never even thought of that! Yikes. Anyone hear that come up anywhere?

[Bluey]

I never even thought of that! Yikes. Anyone hear that come up anywhere?

The use of whips is a learned skill.
Whips are there, not to beat a horse, but to help communicate with one.

When you learn to exercise race horses, the older fellows teach you how to handle a whip while you are riding on a bale of hay, the whip as an extension of your arm.

They show you how to swing the whip past the horse's head on each side to keep them straight and how to tap on top of the hip or the sides, where, when and why and how to change hands and keep that whip in your bubble.

A whip is not used carelessly, it may interfere with the horses around you and can get you warned or set down if used incorrectly.

Guess that we need to educate the public about such basic knowledge, since it doesn't seem to be self evident.

[SEPowell]

Old Mill makes a shock absorbing whip that's now mandated in NH racing in England and approved by NH races in the US.

http://http://www.ridingwhips.com/

[caffeinated]

Aside to Caffeinated: Gary is attractive all the time.;)

I know, but when his jaw clenches like that and he gets all intense? rawr

About the whip thing, I'm sort of surprised that nobody brought up the whip can be as much about safety (if not more) than about getting the horse to "go faster"- when it comes to steering, or keeping the horse's attention, etc... It seemed like a perfect time to educate the public about that, I kind of wish they did.

[Anne FS]

Guess that we need to educate the public about such basic knowledge, since it doesn't seem to be self evident.

You and caffeinated are absolutely right. Funny 2 wks ago when even some trainers & jockeys said yes, get rid of the whip, they didn't bring that up?

[Due's Mom]

I enjoyed the discussion and wish that it had been longer. I applaud NBC for doing it.

I also smiled when Gary got fired up and knew he was articulate enough and smart enough to state his views as someone who actually knows what he is talking about.

The banning of all drugs and steroids would be an excellent start but they still need to address the breeding/soundness issues

I thought that Dr Bramlage made some great points in regard to to starting them later and how early work help with bone density and integrity. I was hoping that someone would bring that up.

As I said in another post, Dutrow showed just what a horseman he wasn't by what he said in regard to steroids. He reminds me of that one character in Smiley's book, "Horse Heaven" who would sell his soul for a big winner

[pAin't_Misbehavin']

Not too impressed with Rick Dutrow's response to the steroid question. Apparently he 'doesn't know what it does', but some vet told him it was a good idea so they all get a shot once a month. :rolleyes: But it's no big deal if steroids are outlawed next year.

Because he always follows the rules.:rolleyes::

Once Dutrow said that, I figured he'd just been making fun of the interviewer all along. What a pleasant man. Not.

But I sure like his horse.:yes: How cool was that shot of the little girl reaching up to stroke his nose - and leaving with all her fingers?:winkgrin: