June 8, 2012
Hi Everybody,
I wanted to talk just a little bit about the unfortunate
turn of events resulting in the scratching of I’ll Have Another from tomorrows
Belmont Stakes. I feel so disappointed that we have all been denied the opportunity
to see a Triple Crown winner after so many years has passed without one.
I watched the press conference streaming live on my computer
and was so very impressed with how the owner and trainer of this terrific horse
handled, what had to be a gut wrenching situation. Tears held at bay by just a
thread, they both showed a lot of class, just like their horse, while under a barrage
of criticism and outright speculation.
I have read many reports about the entries in the Belmont
being forced into a detention barn. How the New York racing officials felt this
was necessary, to ensure the integrity of one of the greatest historically
significant three year old races in the world. How the entourage of people
associated with each entrant were screened and scanned before they could enter
the facility, and care for their horses.
When I was there in 1992 with Casual Lies I was honored and
thrilled to have been assigned a stall in Woody Stephens barn. The medication
rules in New York at that time were more restrictive than any other state we
had raced in. We were aware of this long before we had agreed to leave Maryland
for New York and I was more than willing to comply completely and thoroughly
with those regulations. Casual Lies ran completely clean of any medication of
any type that day in 1992.
If I had been asked to put Casual Lies in a detention barn
with all the other horses entered into the 1992 Belmont Stakes, thus
ensuring all the contestants’ ran as equals, at least as it pertained to
medication, I would have acquiesced without complaint. In fact I would have been
tickled to death to move him. It wouldn’t have hurt me or Casual Lies, not even
one little bit. He was always happy as long as his grub showed up at the
appointed times.
It would appear, at least to me, everyone involved had
endeavored to do the right thing for racing in this year’s Belmont Stakes, both
officials and participants. All grumbling aside of course.
Finally I can’t tell you how impressed I was with the
behavior of I’ll Have Another during the press conference. Did anyone notice
the little girl standing in front of him as he grazed? This is after all a
three year old colt, primed and ready to run. A little girl standing in front
of a racehorse, on a lose shank, without fear is not something I would have expected
to see occurring anywhere, let alone in front of an international television
audience.
I fervently hope no other horses are scratched from the Belmont
Stakes tomorrow. I also hope there aren’t any huge form reversals, which would only
add fuel to an already overheated fire of speculation about the honesty of this
breathtakingly beautiful spectator sport. My life would have been dull indeed if
I had been unable to indulge my passion for the horses that I loved so much, in
a sport that has endured for centuries.
Here’s to a safe and beautiful 144th running of
the Belmont Stakes, the third and final leg in the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred
Racing. I look forward to next year and yet another chance for a Triple Crown
winner in the 145th running of the Belmont Stakes.
Thank-you so much for your interest,
Shelley Riley
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