Video Get Well Card to Rene Douglas

My friend, former jockey Robert Montano, filmed a "Video Get Well Card" to Rene Douglas while at Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes Day. It features numerous jockeys and NYRA people offering encouragement. Take a look, you'll recognize a lot of faces.



Double click on the video to get to the Youtube page where you can see it in full screen.

Bow Our Heads to the Jockeys

One thing that was overlooked on Saturday due to all of the great racing was the jockeys paying tribute to Rene Douglas and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund during the day.

At Belmont Park, jockeys will gather for a ceremony in the winner's circle at approximately 4:15 p.m. Eastern. Jockeys in the United States and Canada are scheduled to have similar tributes at approximately the same time at all tracks that are running Saturday.

All active riders are being encouraged to donate one losing mount fee from their Saturday earnings to Douglas.

In addition, NYRA made a $5,000 contribution to the fund.

The jockeys wore tributes to "RD" and the "PDJF" on their boots all day. Take a look at Calvin Borel's right boot here while sitting on the Kentucky Derby winner.

Contributions in support of Rene Douglas can be made out to his name and sent to Citibank, 539 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, Ill., 60611.

Also related to the jocks, I absolutely love the piece by Sid Gustafson on The Rail yesterday entitled Here's to the Jockeys. I want to quote the whole piece, but here is a snippet

Let us take a moment and bow our heads to the jockeys. They take all the risks and talk about none of them. They take criticism close-lipped and quiet-like, the true horsefolk they are. All the risk is theirs, yes, but the blame for losing a race is not theirs, not in the last two Belmonts at any rate.

I think we often forget who indeed accepts the most risk at the track every day. The owners and gamblers may lose money. The trainers may lose their livelihood. The fans may suffer broken hearts. But it's the jockey colony that faces their collective mortality every time they get a leg up. Thank you for what you do.

Belmont Stakes Day Miscellany

You have certainly seen enough coverage of last Saturday at Belmont, but here are a few photos of what I found interesting throughout the day....

I never noticed this before, but the metal fence behind the paddock on the Clubhouse side has these horses painted in the colors of the last two Belmont Stakes winners.


There was a lot of law enforcement around the park - including these guys on the roof.


Kevin Plank of Under Armour fame is a refreshing addition to the thoroughbred racing world. First he buys and restores Sagamore Farm, and now he is throwing big advertising bucks at the sport. Here is his infield sign right up there with Sheik Mohammed's

And the saddle cloths were sponsored by Under Armour too. "I must protect this horse, I mean house."


The ESPN robot camera operator was trying to look down dresses all day


And most importantly, this baby didn't move an inch. They all came back safe.

10,099 Happy People

That was the attendance at Belmont Park today for the card including the 2009 edition of the Met Mile. Maybe it was the perfect weather, but people just seemed happy today. There was a lot of noise at the finishes, a lot of cheering for the horses and jocks and very little heckling.

- Bribon took the big race for trainer Bob Ribaudo. I think I may be good luck for Mr. Ribaudo. I was at Saratoga last Summer for the Sword Dancer Stakes, won by his Grand Couturier. And now I was there for Bribon winning the Met Mile. That's 2 of his 3 lifetime Grade One wins. I am available whenever you need me, Mr. Ribaudo.

Bribon was cooled off right in front of me at the rail, which gave me a chance to catch this photo.

He's very handsome, but there will not be any dates in his future because he is unfortunately a gelding. The Twitterverse lit up shortly after the race pointing out that the three most recent "stallion-producing" races have been won by a filly and two geldings.

- Curious claim in the 7th race by owner Lords of Racing and trainer Assaf Ronen. They took Masala T for $10,000. The Tale of the Cat gelding went off at 36-1 and has lost 8 races in a row. Good luck to them with that and congratulations to Lianna Stables for cutting their losses.

Monday Preakness Thoughts

- Why is Calvin Borel working out Mine That Bird? Shouldn't they get Mike Smith on him? Or anybody else for that matter?

- Why no outrage that Tone It Down is presumably running in the Preakness? As an earner of $46,470 and a best credential of coming in 3rd in the Federico Tesio Stakes, he doesn't seem any better than any horse Zayat, Allen or Whitney were going to run.

- Another Sheik trying to buy his way into dominating a sport. This time, Drag Racing.

"...an estimated $10 million per year budget for a two-car team"

"A top team spends about $4 million and up for the NHRA series"

Sounds a lot like Godolphin, Darley, Shadwell, etc. (h/t to autoblog.com)

Sagamore Farm - Update

Over the last few years I have crafted a number of posts about Sagamore Farm, and its owner Under Armour founder Kevin Plank. Today the Baltimore Sun has an excellent article about the improvements that Kevin Plank has done to the farm. This article is chock full of great quotes.

I also recommend the photo and video links below.

Photos

Video

Calvin Borel Should Not Ditch Mine That Bird

This may be the Pinot Grigio talking, but I think Calvin Borel ditching Mine That Bird is a real asshole move. I have no idea what Jess Jackson is promising Calvin other than a few more rides on Rachel Alexandra, but it must be sweet to get him off the Kentucky Derby winner. And if Jackson pressured Borel to vacate his triple crown opportunity, then he is an asshole too. I am no fan of Mine That Bird or his connections, but it is my opinion that it is Calvin Borel's responsibility to continue on him until he loses.

And on that note - I am a fan of Rachel Alexandra's new owner, but where's the sport in buying the filly a week before the Preakness? Did you really do anything to earn the glory? No. You just threw enough dollars around to buy into that spot. And, you're welcome for all of the wine that I've bought over the years to support your hobby.

I understand that Mine That Bird was bought after winning Stakes in Canada and Jess Jackson's team bought Curlin after he broke his maiden convincingly. But, this is the 20+ length Kentucky Oaks winner. We all know that she is great. Let the pre-existing connections win the races and buy her later to breed to Curlin.

This all being said, I am excited for the Preakness. I greatly enjoy the gamesmanship and the discussion of entering more Triple-Crown-Nominated horses to exclude Rachel Alexandra from the 14 that go to post. Does Mr. Zayat, who buys yearlings at auction, want to keep her out?

Time to refill my glass. If you are at Belmont on Saturday, please come and find me. I'll be the one with the bloodshot eyes.