I watched the race and also video taped it and saw Barbaro break through the gate. Watching closely, he had a slight limp and was not walking normally.Several others were with me and saw the same thing. Also, the vet did not take enough time to examine his legs.
2006-08-17 15:45:33 · 5 answers · asked by mandm 5 in Sports ➔ Horse Racing
The industry needs tougher standards & regulations. There is a lot of "shirking of responsibilties" on the race track due to the first priority being to make a profit & the second priority being deceitfulness. The horse is looked at as an investment opportunity & rarely as a regal animal that deserves the same respect as any human "dependant". You don't hear much about the "Gate Crew". They can make or break a horse faster than you can blink an eye! I'll bet that if Barbaro's groom had been allowed to examine his legs, he/she would have noticed something was wrong & alerted the vet. The track is set up a certain way for reasons that we will never fully know or understand due to a little known industry standard called "The rule of reciprocity", which roughly translated means, "The stewards can either rule it in, out, or just overrule anything they see fit as a "field of 3", that operates in secrecy & answers to no one!
2006-08-17 16:18:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
This is my own personal opinion generated from "horse superstition" but I would have scratched Barbaro when he broke out of the gate on pure principle. The horse has been gate trained, he knew how to race, and certainly knew how to win. The fact that he broke out early tells me that something was wrong. Internally the horse was not right..For all we know he might have broke out in a fight/flight response because he was already in pain. Such a shame..I cried all day after that race...
2006-08-17 16:25:54 · answer #2 · answered by All I Hear Is Blah Blah Blah... 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hindsight is 20/20 but I would have to say yes.I watched the race on tv.Several times before the horses were even in the gate announcers had commented that observers had said he hadnt seemed right all day. Its a shame: he looked unbeatable in the Derby.
2006-08-19 10:30:34 · answer #3 · answered by bigheadedb rat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
The vet was right there observing and didnt' see anything.
The man sitting on his back said he felt fine and was not off.
There was apparent contact between him and Brother Derek right before the breakdown. This had nothing to do with the break through the gate.
2006-08-18 13:01:42 · answer #4 · answered by Jan H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely! At least have the track vet check him out.
2006-08-17 22:33:16 · answer #5 · answered by Joanne 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋