Quote from Porcupine on August 13, 2024, 9:33 PM

This has always been a sticking point with me.  Let's move this forward!!

Quote from Senator Blutarsky on August 27, 2024, 1:22 AM

Quote from talkinghorse on August 13, 2024, 10:57 AM

Meeting some three months after Kentucky stewards failed to even flash an inquiry sign following a Kentucky Derby (G1) that saw runner-up Sierra Leone  edge Forever Young  by just a nose after repeated bumping through the stretch, members of a panel meeting in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., advocated for a much more open process in stewards' decisions on interference during the race.

During the discussion titled "Bettor (Better) Protection and Confidence" during the Racing and Gaming Conference at Saratoga, panel member Pat Cummings reminded everyone of what is at stake on such calls. Cummings, the executive director of the National Thoroughbred Alliance and a longtime advocate for horseplayers, believes the integrity of the sport suffered as this year's Derby went official with no explanation of the stewards' decision not to change the order of finish as there was a $500,000 difference between second and third and millions of wagering dollars on the line.

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Bro, if I could hit like on your post 15 billion times...I would, I couldn't believe it when I saw it...below is what wrote to Chad Brown and the Stewards at the KHRC (It's loooong lol) and P.s. I warned the Saratoga Stewards when I spoke to them over the phone, they didn't want to take pre-emptive action - they said they thought they'd get sued.

To: barbara.borden@ky.gov, brooks.becraft@ky.gov, beth.bungert@ky.gov

Subject: Sierra Leone*/*

Dear State Stewards of the KHRC,

I hope you and the whole KHRC Team are well :). Please allow this opportunity for the public, myself, herein a chance a voice to chime in, and I hope if not you, these emails find there respective correct destination to the KHRC regulatory parties that will be reviewing 2024 Kentucky Derby videos with the Jockey, Tyler Gaffalionne as purported by the media.

I've also forwarded herein an email I sent to Mr. Chad Brown (CB), yesterday (PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO PARAGRAPH 5 OF THAT EMAIL). After that, I read in an article late last night that Sierra Leone has a "paddling tendency with his left-front foot causes him to lug inward in the stretch." (Source: https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/Should_there_have_been_a_stewards_inquiry_in_Kentucky_Derby_123)

I watched the following race replay videos multiple times, both pan and head on shots (Before the 2024 Kentucky Derby and after) and this is what I reflect in each of this respective horse's, Sierra Leone's (SL) attempts to the finish line right after the final turn that is pertinent and important:

AQ 11/4/23 Race 7, #5 (SL), Almost runs into the #6 and Jockey Gaffalionne (TG) steers hard and avoids what could of been a catastrophic accident. SL win.

AQ 12/2/23 Race 9, #7 (SL), Seemingly caused the #5 to move left defensively, caused the winner #3 to be pin-balled and pinned against the rail. Possibly would of gone over the rail himself (#7) if it wasn't for the #3, Dornoch and TG. SL 2nd.

FG 2/17/24 Race 14, #4 (SL), Made seeming contact with the #8 whom made contact with the #10. SL win.

KEEN 4/6/24 Race 10, #10 (SL), #8's jockey purportedly sees #10 peripherally coming at him diagonally and toward the left sharply and has to seemingly compensate and shifts to the left defensively, then #10 makes near and or contact with the #6 and the #6 jockey either moves over to the left defensively and or likely by force. SL win.

CD 5/4/24 Race 12, #2 (SL), brutalizes the #11 and his jockey in the stretch and to the wire for approximately 20 seconds. SL 2nd.

In the end you know, all of us who analyze know one constant including the jockey (TG), his handlers, trainer (CB) and owners - the horse is consistent, and a fast closer, if he is whipped left by TG he goes left and if he is whipped right by TG he goes right, and when he turns into the stretch everyone else in-front of him are jeopardized when he makes his left diagonal turn toward those that are in his incoming path. The jockey, TG, will steer him the best he can to WIN, but it is WIN first however, and SAFETY is a distant second.

Based on 4 of his prior past performances laden with infractions, and near disaster catastrophe Sierra Leone should of never been allowed to ride in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, and pulled by his Team. Win at all costs, safety second, we'll try our best? Sorry, no.

TG should of pulled his horse the #2 up briefly FOR SAFETY for a fraction of a second to detach himself from the #11 and resume strongly, instead of the 20 approximate seconds he laid into that horse diagonally left, making contact with his horse and the #11 horse, his whip, his body on the #11's horse and #11's jockey's body. TG lost his balance, his horse was tired no kidding, lol!

This horse, Sierra Leone has been an EXTREME danger and will continue to be an EXTREME danger if whatever causes him to behave this way consistently in the stretch is not corrected. If WINNING continually takes precedence over SAFETY, the next track where this horse race's if he so does race again needs to hear what corrections have taken place, and if not, the risk is too great to ever let this horse race again.

If I was watching replays with the jockey (and I would ask the trainer to also attend, possibly the owners too), I would comment how amazingly talented, and consistent this horse is, and ask them, historically how dangerous has this horse been in the stretch to himself, his jockey and the other jockeys and horses participating on the track in front of him during the race from around the far turn heading for home? Why should jockeys in front of you have to ride defensively as they have a number of times, or been physically victimized?

I'd thank luck (and others) for avoiding disaster, but again admonish and punish TG and TEAM for win first safety second. Many would like to see the (2024 Kentucky Derby) #11 and #2 exchange checks for all their respective participants, publicly, and an apology too from the #2 team to the #11 team as well as one to everyone. A suspension and admonishment for the entire Sierra Leone team, it's premeditated at this point as the horse has been an unfailing consistent clear and present infraction causer and danger to those in races that he participates in.

This is 5 for 5 for Sierra Leone, if this goes action-less you cannot blame the media, public, others to feel that stewards in NY, LA and KY have favorable bias toward this horse and his connections, possibly also wager or have some other strong motivation financial or otherwise while controlling the outcome of races where this horse has seen 0 / 5 - public objection / inquiry after the ending and before the race has gone official would be a reasonable following logic.

Sierra Leone is a great horse and problematic horse simultaneously. His Team though...make his decisions for him (and the rest of us participating on all levels), and they've been BAD!

I'm a former federal government employee, many decades of private consumer protection interactions with lawyers at the corporate and regulatory, up to cabinet level of state and federal govt, psychology, sales, marketing skills, starting, running, non profit, for profit successful and distressed to stabilized and also successful businesses, problem solving, and over 40 years of racing analysis and lawful predictive investments ie wagering in your industry, and I mean it when I say - Thank you very much for your service, I'm objective, I don't think you, your LA and NY counterparts are corrupt, but this situation, with this horse, has gone on too long and if it continues whether he and his team "skate" again this time, and if he continues to race dangerously it is unfathomably insane already! Appreciation & gratitude!

Warmest regards,

Paul

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: paul

To: "browncc44@aol.com" <browncc44@aol.com>

Sent: Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 04:35:49 PM EDT

Subject: Sierra Leone*/*

 

Dear Mr. Brown,

 

Your such a talented, successful trainer - team leader and horseman, businessman and empire builder too, and legendary along with the whole team of the very successful owners of Sierra Leone whom in their own right have invested and sacrificed in this industry for so long. 

 

Whatever happens at tracks at the executive level, between jockeys, between trainers, between owners and importantly between judges and the participants actively racing is one thing, incidental / mutual contact is another, a horse with no shot of affecting their placing getting knocked around is another, but this horse, and it's hard not to appreciate his consistent incredible efforts and super skills, likely the best of this years 3 yo crop - is a danger to the safety of everyone on the track including himself and his own jockey when he's racing for home!

 

Seemingly, he is hit right he goes right and hit left he goes left, the antithesis, takes all the energy of Tyler Gaffalione not to head left diagonally and go over the rail in the stretch and that is because there is typically another horse to lean on while attempting to straighten out.

 

Please do what is right and not just because the objection / inquiry sign hasn't come up.  He should of been scrutinized in all his races, the only race he may of not actually caused an infraction was an almost catastrophe. 

 

This last Thursday I was chatting with a friend who is an executive at one of the largest tracks in the US of whom we liked in the KD.  I told him for the first time in 40 years I'm afraid to strategize and key / rely wager on the predictably absolute best horse, yes the #2 because he had a high probability of getting dqd.

 

My first instinct today was to contact you and every steward, and track management of where he raced and was going to race if he continued.  Possibly Cc the FBI field offices in those jurisdictions, not because of you and your team, but because of consistent inaction, however, I'm disciplined, and I know you and your connections are smart, hopefully inspirable, and will have a long future in racing.  Those aforementioned at a minimal are unfair and enablers though.

 

I hope if this beautiful horse continues to race, he races safely and soundly - there is really no other way at this point, zero latitude for bad stuff, and he should easily outperform his competition if he maintains the same level of talent.  It's up to you and or your connections if you want to address what already has happened.

 

I wish you ALL - luck, health, success and great times.

 

Sincerely,

 

Paul

Quote from Lonnie on August 27, 2024, 9:22 AM

I love your passion!