Russell Baze Riding Controversy

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:45 pm

I watched the race live and thought he reacted impulsively when the horse's lead started to quickly diminish. He appeared to whip half heartedly as if he was not sure he should try and win or pull up the horse.

The race is available at CalRacing.com if registered. Here is the Bloodhorse article regarding the matter.

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=40426

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 11:04 pm

if a guy can be overrated and be the all time leading jockey in wins.. he is overrated. He's an above AVG rider.. but it's a reason he stays in NO cal

majxmom · Postby **majxmom** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:34 am

Those of us who hire jockeys in the Northern California colony know that Russell is very protective of his life and limbs. He does NOT get on a horse he thinks is vulnerable to breakdown, even for Hollendorfer. I wish to God the poor horse had been pulled up, but Art Sherman's quote seemed exactly accurate to me: if you feel a horse bobble, there's a moment when you wonder if he's broke down or just saw a piece of paper on the track. I'll bet the next few times Russell feels that moment, he WILL pull up, and then everyone will be calling him a coward. He can't win.

CA Michael · Postby **CA Michael** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:37 am

[quote="bdw0617"]if a guy can be overrated and be the all time leading jockey in wins.. he is overrated. He's an above AVG rider.. but it's a reason he stays in NO cal[/quote]

That is one asinine statement.

majxmom · Postby **majxmom** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:43 am

When Russell moved his tack down to SoCal, he was in a jockey colony with SEVERAL Hall of Fame riders and a few more that probably ought to be, but haven't been voted in yet. I'm sure it was the most competitive jockey colony anywhere. It was incredibly hard for him to get a live mount, yet I think he still kept his win % up at 10%. I think it's a darn shame he hasn't gotten a few more live Derby mounts. If only Event of the Year had broken his knee....

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 10:39 am

Maxi, I have to disagree with you. Russell rides many a sore horse and wins with alot of them. Don't think those 16-25000 droppers to 6250 or $4000 are sound.. But that is not what is at issue here. He whipped a breaking down horse and the issue is did he know the horse was breaking down?

Based upon what I saw I think he did. I think he reacted impulsively and let his competive juices overwhelm his concern for the welfare of the horse. Do I think Russell is an abuser? No, but there is no doubt in my mind he knew the horse was hurt when he went to the whip half heartedly and he should receive days..

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 10:47 am

maybe anybody should receive days to send a message. the person that should receive days--the trainer. full steward's investigation put 'em on probation and on notice. unknown to me the thought processes of jocks when they're in a race. when i'm breezing a horse, doubt i'd be whipping one that i thought was going to fall.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:47 pm

Just saw on our local TV replay show that Russell was handed 15 days and a $2500 fine for the above mentioned incident.

Russell issued a statement that I can only paraphrase by saying he takes full responsibility for the incident; that he apologizes; that he hopes this incident does not reflect as a defining moment in his career and that he made a wrong decision in the heat of the moment.

I am proud to say Russell has ridden for me and that he was wrong for what he did and that he had the courage to take responsibility for his actions.

Russell is a great rider and with his admission a person of great character.

Shergar · Postby **Shergar** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 1:03 am

zinn21 wrote:Just saw on our local TV replay show that Russell was handed 15 days and a $2500 fine for the above mentioned incident.

Russell issued a statement that I can only paraphrase by saying he takes full responsibility for the incident; that he apologizes; that he hopes this incident does not reflect as a defining moment in his career and that he made a wrong decision in the heat of the moment.

I am proud to say Russell has ridden for me and that he was wrong for what he did and that he had the courage to take responsibility for his actions.

Russell is a great rider and with his admission a person of great character.

Thats Russell for you. The man is all class.

As for Russell Baze being overrated, I ccouldn't disagree more. The Northern Cal racing circuit is not podunkville. It's not Churchill, Saratoga, Belmont or Keeneland, but I would rate the quality of the racing there on par with Oaklawn, Calder, Hawthorn, Turfway etc.

All the best, Shergar

Foggytrip · Postby **Foggytrip** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:41 am

Northern Cal racing isnt equal to Oaklawn, Calder, Hawthorn, or Turfway. Calder horses routinely win in Southern California off private purchases. Turfway in the winter is Tougher Northern California in season. Oaklawn, I cant believe you think Oaklawn is like the Northern California circuit. The only one you mentioned that is a good comparision is Hawthorne. They both get bad five horse fields on the steady.

California racing is bad all together, but its real bad in Northern California.

That being said Russel Baze is a top class rider anywhere, at anytime. If you put him on the best horse hes not going to get you beat

majxmom · Postby **majxmom** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:11 am

"I’m not going to try to defend what I did," said the Hall of Fame rider. "There is no way to defend it. I made a bad decision in the heat of the moment, and I am truly sorry. I made a bad decision, and I’ll take the punishment that was handed to me.

"Hopefully this will not be the defining moment of my career," added the 49-year-old Baze, North America's all-time leading rider who is closing in on 10,000 lifetime victories. "Hopefully, I’ll be judged on the right decisions I’ve made in the past and on the right decisions I’ll make in the future. In this day and age of athletes and public figures making public apologies, it can begin to ring hollow. I want people to know that I am truly sorry. Nobody knows how contrite I am in my heart."

Hey, Michael Vick:
That's how you make an apology and convince people that you are sincere.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:19 am

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. If he felt the horse take a bad step, and pulled the horse up he could be like Chris Antley and praised for saving Charismatic's life. If he didn't, and the horse broke down like that gal's horse in the cross country of the Rolex, he could be villified. By not urging the horse on, he was villified.

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 10:33 am

do we now suspend Javier Castellano for whipping Indian Flare 11 times down the stretch yesterday as she was running on a fractured pelvis?

el camino · Postby **el camino** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 3:40 pm

How great of a man is it, who can admit he screwed up and cost a horse it's life. What class. This is a man you cares greatly for the horse and the sport not just trying to ride down a paycheck. It's a tough sport and mistakes are made. It takes a real class person to admit it and face the music. We are all human and make mistakes. I think this is actually his defining moment in a storied career. Bravo. (not Joe)

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:43 pm

Very nicely stated El Camino. If you saw the race he flat acted impulsively when the horse started to break down.

Russell is a great rider and can hold his own with anyone. Look at the outstanding job he did with Lost In The Fog. Hopefully he will get that really good horse that can showcase his talent at the National Level.