Bad Breakdown at Penn

[DickHertz]

Keep your thoughts with Alcibades Cortez who took a spill in the 5th race last night at Penn aboard Terrior. He's in pretty rough shape from what I heard from the people at Penn.

[jennywho]

Lots of prayers headed his way, hope the news is better today.

Was terrior a Gill horse?

[Barbara L.]

Sure was.

[hitchinmygetalong]

How many jockeys have to be crippled and horses die before this idiocy ends?

My prayers are with the jockey and his family and friends.

[danceronice]

How many jockeys have to be crippled and horses die before this idiocy ends?

My prayers are with the jockey and his family and friends.

How many event riders and horses have to die before that idiocy ends?

You ride, someday you're going to get seriously hurt. Doesn't matter what you're sitting on. My prayers for the jockey involved.

[Barbara L.]

danceronice:
Apparently you have not been following the fact that it happens MORE to some people/trainers than others in Tbred racing. Of course equestrian sports are dangerous. The breakdown of racehorses in this situation is a bit different than your average three-day fatalities. Whole different topic...

[ponycrazy111]

im so srry lots of prayers

[mintano]

This is the 3rd Gill victim this week. :(

Surveyor was pulled up and vanned off on 5/26
Fishers Mill broke down on 5/30 along with Terrior falling.

[Mali]

So sorry to hear this news! My newly acquired OTTB only ran 2 races, and he was ridden by Mr. Cortez in both of those starts. I'll keep him and his family in my thoughts are prayers!

[DickHertz]

I heard that Cortez will make a full recovery and made a real positive move forward on Sunday, although this information is very much 2nd hand.

[hitchinmygetalong]

Thank you for that update - what a relief. Though I'm sure he's got a ways to go.

Dare I ask what the fate of the horse might have been?

[Acertainsmile]

Glad to hear that Al is making good progress... I've known Al for years and my heart sank when I saw the first post.

[DickHertz]

Thank you for that update - what a relief. Though I'm sure he's got a ways to go.

Dare I ask what the fate of the horse might have been?

The horse's breakdown was castastrohpic.

Al is one of the nicest riders you'll ever meet and is very funny to talk to.

[MMorgan]

What a tragedy. Prayers for the jockey and that poor, poor filly.

Here's a thread from not too long ago that might shed some light on Mr. Gill... http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=179146

[DickHertz]

Unfortunately, another casualty tonight at Penn. Bone Dry in Race 5.

[Hilldale]

I knew Bone Dry - he was running steeplechase last year and didn't like to jump at speed so they sent him to the flat track and he got claimed. I was so bummed because I knew the owner and told him I didn't think he wanted to race and that I'd take him when he retired to be my next show horse. Now I'm even more bummed. Big flashy bay with socks and a blaze nice moving horse. RIP Bone Dry.

[Showpony]

:no: :cry: :no: :mad: :eek: :no: :mad: :cry: :eek:

That sums it up for me...

[Acertainsmile]

Another Gill horse, wow, what a surprise at this point....

[rcloisonne]

This guy needs to make some headlines if the tracks aren't going to do anything about him. He's a poster child for all that's wrong with TB racing.

[DickHertz]

Personally, and this is just my opinion, I think that Gill is losing so much money at the game combined with the fact that he has a major chip on his shoulder translates into a "win at all costs mentality". I say this because I've heard how the operation is run - Gill runs the show and the trainers are just puppets in the game, some take the gig just for some quick cash and to get some wins on their record. A couple of trainers whom I respect who took the gig quit pretty quickly after starting. When you have the operation he has and only win at 17%, you are losing money hand over fist because over half of the horses run on the drop which means they are running for less money than they were claimed for in many cases (even with the slots money). I mean, what person claims a horse for $20,000 who has hit the board in every one of its starts, then says "I don't think he can breathe, so I'm going to cut his throat so the horse can gag on his feed the rest of his life so that I can maybe get some sort of advantage with my horses breathing oxygen."

[vineyridge]

Maybe he figures the insurance proceeds from all his breakdowns will keep him going, if the purses won't. :(

If I were the Pennsylvania Racing Commission, I won't let a single horse owned him run in my state. I sure as hell would figure out a way to keep him from claiming horses. If ever there were a poster child for shutting down horse racing he's it.

[Calamber]

Dick, this makes me absolutely sick. I saw a horse who "had his throat cut" and the water ran out of his nose when he drank. What a piece of crap, and, as far as racing is concerned, if that is what is allowed as trainers, it is doomed I am afraid. What the hello is wrong with the racing commission in Pa? Nevermind, don't tell me because I know, slots has helped to protect some real crooks in many areas. So much for progress. My heart and healing thoughts go out to Mr. Cortez, his family and friends. I hope the report that he is going to make full recovery are correct, RIP those poor equine victims of that butcher.

[DickHertz]

Cortez may only be out 3 weeks, he's going to make a full recovery.

[CSSporthorses]

Wow, sad to hear about all the breakdowns at Penn Dick. I just have to confirm with a trainer this morning, but I'm suppose to be there on Monday to pick up another. If you guys are around, would love to stop in and say hi !

[tbracer65]

Dick, this makes me absolutely sick. I saw a horse who "had his throat cut" and the water ran out of his nose when he drank. What a piece of crap, and, ....

Not to take away from your post...but just to clarify. The horse you saw that the water ran out of his nose had a different type of surgery on his throat. That horse more than likely had a paralyzed flapper -- the surgery Gill does is just the muscle cut for displacers. It's a cheap surgery, heals within two weeks & doesn't cause any problems with eating and/or drinking (at least not on any I've had done).... there's many informative posts on this forum on the various types of throat surgery's performed on a racehorse. Back to the original topic........

[On the Farm]

Maybe he figures the insurance proceeds from all his breakdowns will keep him going, if the purses won't. :(


He would be still be going broke. I have no obsession with following Gill, but if he's claiming horses, insures them at the claimed price, and then drops them down the ladder, then the new (and lower) claiming price becomes the insured amount.

[Acertainsmile]

Not to take away from your post...but just to clarify. The horse you saw that the water ran out of his nose had a different type of surgery on his throat. That horse more than likely had a paralyzed flapper -- the surgery Gill does is just the muscle cut for displacers. It's a cheap surgery, heals within two weeks & doesn't cause any problems with eating and/or drinking (at least not on any I've had done).... there's many informative posts on this forum on the various types of throat surgery's performed on a racehorse. Back to the original topic........

I believe Gill does the Llewellyn, I had the privilege to assist Dr. Llewellyn while doing his first surgery here in the U.S. (he's Canadian)... anyway, usually the palate is trimmed and a muscle cut, and I have seen it cause issues with eating and drinking if too much is trimmed.

[tbracer65]

I believe Gill does the Llewellyn, I had the privilege to assist Dr. Llewellyn while doing his first surgery here in the U.S. (he's Canadian)... anyway, usually the palate is trimmed and a muscle cut, and I have seen it cause issues with eating and drinking if too much is trimmed.

Maybe in some cases....but I've seen about 50 done through the years & have never had anything go wrong with eating and/or drinking.....

""Llewellyn procedure”, a procedure in the anesthetized horse in which one muscle on each side of the voice box is cut. Thousand of horses have undergone these surgeries with very few complications except for the occasional incisional infection more common with strap muscle resection. The success rate for both procedures is approximately 60%. Horses can be jogging within a few days after surgery so both those surgeries have been good choices."

...I, personally, have had only 2 horses in my career that had water come back out their nose while drinking after the race....BOTH those horses had surgery for a paralyzed flap. But again, not taking away from the original post -- was just stating that just because a horse 'has their throat cut'..doesn't mean water is going to come out of the nose :).... I just hear so many times (not on this board -- from general 'fans') stating how they can't believe how cruel it is to 'cut a horses throat' -- when in all actuality it's usually done to HELP the horse so they can breath better....

[imissvixen]

Hey, I don't have a horse in this race.. I hope the person who gets hurt is getting better. I also wanted to mention that if you all feel so strongly about that trainer maybe a letter writing campaign to the PA Racing Commission would help? It's just a suggestion. I am taking a course in a couple of weeks about being a citizen activist. If I have any better ideas, I will try to remember to post them here. Or you can ask me.

[Acertainsmile]

Maybe in some cases....but I've seen about 50 done through the years & have never had anything go wrong with eating and/or drinking.....

""Llewellyn procedure”, a procedure in the anesthetized horse in which one muscle on each side of the voice box is cut. Thousand of horses have undergone these surgeries with very few complications except for the occasional incisional infection more common with strap muscle resection. The success rate for both procedures is approximately 60%. Horses can be jogging within a few days after surgery so both those surgeries have been good choices."

...I, personally, have had only 2 horses in my career that had water come back out their nose while drinking after the race....BOTH those horses had surgery for a paralyzed flap. But again, not taking away from the original post -- was just stating that just because a horse 'has their throat cut'..doesn't mean water is going to come out of the nose :).... I just hear so many times (not on this board -- from general 'fans') stating how they can't believe how cruel it is to 'cut a horses throat' -- when in all actuality it's usually done to HELP the horse so they can breath better....

I'm not sure where you got your quote from, but can assure you that the palate is usually trimmed... watched over 100 of these done. :) Only one horse in my care had trouble with water/feed coming out of his nose, however, he did have the procedure done twice (first time didnt do the trick) :(

[Laurierace]

I'm not sure where you got your quote from, but can assure you that the palate is usually trimmed... watched over 100 of these done. :) Only one horse in my care had trouble with water/feed coming out of his nose, however, he did have the procedure done twice (first time didnt do the trick) :(

I have seen it done twice and the pallate was definitely trimmed a bit. I will never do a myectomy again, this is a much better procedure.