Billy Reed -Belmont

[rosewood]

http://www.kyforward.com/our-horses/2014/06/10/billy-reed-coburns-belated-apology-wont-trump-horseracings-disdain-for-bad-manners/

[Littledog]

So Coburn did not come off like Robert E. Lee with some quote for the ages after Chrome hung in the lane.  Big deal.  These guys put up their money.  Moreover, they turned down, from where I stand, what would have been a huge payday.. Evidently they wanted to keep Sherman as trainer, and, in all probability, to campaign a horse that looked to be the best three year old in training. They could have went the route of the original owners of War Emblem, Big Brown, Hansen and dozens of others. Instead they took a shot.  The last I looked David Groth still heads up Catskill OTB more then a decade after that scandal.  The public was never informed why Oscar turned back into a two percent trainer.  Hundreds of incidents of past posting have never been explained.  Published workouts are by and large a joke.  Nobody cared when Croll claimed that Dr. Alex Harthill drugged Holy Bull.  Con Errico was sentenced to ten years.  What about the guys he paid.  And it wasn\'t just Amy.  But Coburn is the problem. There was more written about him then any of the real scandals that plagued this game.

[TMW]

Littledog Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So Coburn did not come off like Robert E. Lee with
> some quote for the ages after Chrome hung in the
> lane.  Big deal.  These guys put up their money.
> Moreover, they turned down, from where I stand,
> what would have been a huge payday.. Evidently
> they wanted to keep Sherman as trainer, and, in
> all probability, to campaign a horse that looked
> to be the best three year old in training. They
> could have went the route of the original owners
> of War Emblem, Big Brown, Hansen and dozens of
> others. Instead they took a shot.  The last I
> looked David Groth still heads up Catskill OTB
> more then a decade after that scandal.  The public
> was never informed why Oscar turned back into a
> two percent trainer.  Hundreds of incidents of
> past posting have never been explained.  Published
> workouts are by and large a joke.  Nobody cared
> when Croll claimed that Dr. Alex Harthill drugged
> Holy Bull.  Con Errico was sentenced to ten years.
>  What about the guys he paid.  And it wasn\'t just
> Amy.  But Coburn is the problem. There was more
> written about him then any of the real scandals
> that plagued this game.

A lot was written about Donald Sterling too. Nasty comments followed by even nastier comments by both interest the press.

As far as Coburn is concerned and I hope his 15 minutes end real soon (acknowledging I am not helping matters here). He was obviously drunk and attacked the owner of Tonalist in particular and the entire racing community in general. He owns 30% of exactly 1 horse. He is getting much more press than he or his comments deserve as did the nasal strip issue. A shame these dumb people and issues are dominating the headlines of horse racing. (I have been an owner for 25 years and have never heard of most of the people you reference whereas Coburn\'s comments were made in front of millions). That is why his comments were so damaging.

[Littledog]

You have skin in the game and you have absolutely earned the right to your opinion.  However, let me try to explain where I am coming from. In my opinion, one can point to hundreds of \"embarrassments\" over the years that to my thinking have harmed the game far more than some off the cuff alcohol generated comments.  Donald Groh was the president of Catskill OTB where the only two winning tickets on the 2002 BC pick six were purchased.  The tickets were four singles and all all in legs five and six.  When it was revealed that the tickets were purchased in his fiefdom he falsely claimed that he knew the players.  He truthfully stated that he saw nothing wrong with the tickets.  He still has his job.  To me that is an embarrassment. Con Errico was a convicted race fixer.  The jockeys that he was convicted of bribing can be found in the Hall of Fame.  Google the late Dr. Alex Harthill.  Enough said.  Clockers misreport works daily and trainers misrepresent the condition of the horses in their care.  Where is anywhere near the outcry that has followed Coburn\'s alcohol fueled rant.

[TMW]

Littledog Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You have skin in the game and you have absolutely
> earned the right to your opinion.  However, let me
> try to explain where I am coming from. In my
> opinion, one can point to hundreds of
> \"embarrassments\" over the years that to my
> thinking have harmed the game far more than some
> off the cuff alcohol generated comments.  Donald
> Groh was the president of Catskill OTB where the
> only two winning tickets on the 2002 BC pick six
> were purchased.  The tickets were four singles and
> all all in legs five and six.  When it was
> revealed that the tickets were purchased in his
> fiefdom he falsely claimed that he knew the
> players.  He truthfully stated that he saw nothing
> wrong with the tickets.  He still has his job.  To
> me that is an embarrassment. Con Errico was a
> convicted race fixer.  The jockeys that he was
> convicted of bribing can be found in the Hall of
> Fame.  Google the late Dr. Alex Harthill.  Enough
> said.  Clockers misreport works daily and trainers
> misrepresent the condition of the horses in their
> care.  Where is anywhere near the outcry that has
> followed Coburn\'s alcohol fueled rant.

Thanks for the detail. Of course I have heard of Dr. Harthill. Sounds like Mr. Errico was properly named.

I am sure there was an outcry regarding the cases you report but in a much more select group. Same goes for the corporate thievery of raising takeouts and the cost of attending the races -- $10 beers, $6 hot dogs, $9 program all in filthy environments. Only those that participate are outraged. Coburn\'s comments were made to millions and offended everyone. Enough of him. I still enjoy the sport and prioritize being at the track especially Del Mar. Art Sherman will be there everyday and hopefully minus one particular owner.