zenyattafanatic

Certainly Uncle Mo was closely monitored. But true horsemen would have kept him at 8 furlongs or just waited past the BC races and raced him at 8.5 or 9 furlongs with a little more rest off his Kelso victory.

My point was that being given enough time and rest in between races and being prepared correctly for a particular race is much less stressful than rushing a horse to get to a race. The illness can be combatted by not stressing the horse out. If he had been conservative, he may have raced the horse next year and had the proper time and methodology to give Uncle Mo the foundation for a 10 furlong race. Mr Repole wanted to push the horse to make the Classic and now Uncle Mo is retired because his enzymes weere elevated due to the stress. Maybe Uncle Mo was going to be retired anyway after this year so they took the shot since it was to be his only shot. Nobody really knows except the connections. Enthusiasm is great, but knowing what spots are best for your horse and giving your horse his best shot is also great. I don't feel Uncle Mo was given the opportunity to give the Classic his best shot, that is all. I think he would have been formidable in the Dirt Mile or even the Sprint. JMHO

There was a WALL of horses behind the 2nd place horse in the BC Classic. Ice Box was only about 2 lengths or so behind the 2nd place horse, and he finished 8th. Many horses raced just fine that day. There were too many dangerous horses in the Classic to even consider a gimmick play. Ice Box belonged, and he may surprise in the Clark handicap.

icyhotboo, When have I ever used the word "hatred" when discussing Mike Repole? Don't put words in my mouth. I make critical remarks about owners all the time. Jess Jackson handling of Rachel Alexandra (wanting a grudge match early in the year against Zenyatta) which through off her training, and resulted in the early retirement of Rachel, was something I was critical of. I recently made critical comments of Ken Ramsey here at the "Nation" about his handling of Pleasant Prince and Notonthesamepage. Owners (ego monsters) ruin horses all the time, and the fans need to speak up about this. We support this game, which is losing fan base. If Uncle Mo's condition (incurable disease) was so serious, why did Pletcher try to bring him back starting with the 7 furlong King Bishop after his pre Kentucky derby layoff? Why do they have a HUGE 2 day event called the "BREEDERS CUP"? To put BIG money into the purses, so owners just don't retire the race horse's for BIG money in BREEDING. icyhotboo, You need to think, and make intelligent fair minded comments, or I will ignore any kind inaccurate bashing of my remarks.

Do you own any tools, like a screw driver, M.P.? Then you know my suggestion about you comment about ineptness. When the personal attacks start, that's when the person making them has NOTHING to add. I read that he's retired. Are you saying he could come back next year? What is your definition of "true horsemen"? Most owners with an Eclipse Award winning champion would have just retired the horse after the original diagnosis. No King's Bishop, no Kelso. No you thinking you're so right about everything including you actually imagining you have the right to say crap about me. Save that for the champions and those willing to give them a chance to show it that you denigrate.

MichaelPavelick you seem to be blinded to the fact this horse has an incurable illness and racing may well end his life. Where was your public outcry when the best 3yos have been retired before year after year or has this nothing to do with Mo but your hatred of Mike Repole?

Repole ruined Unle Mo's return. Repole is the one who should retire. I agree, bring back "Mo" in 2012. Quit retiring horses, and race them.

Regarding Mo's health it's very possible to race him but he'll have to have more rest and perform less races than the average race horse. He'll most likely have to get CBC tests or ultrasonagraphy checkups periodically to assure the GGT enzyme level is normal, when high it will bring down performance as what happened in the BC with him. Would love to see him race again even if a few times a year.

i meant Headache and No He Isn't(Isn't He Perfect) caused problems in the Belmont or BCC. Ice Box did not belong and you know it. Don't admit it. Doesn't matter if he could win the Clark. Go ahead and say right here why Ice Box belonged in the BCC.

Mary Z. You just continue to show your ineptness: http://www.drf.com/news/beyer-uncle-mo-classic-bold-ill-advised-move (Though owner Mike Repole has already made a deal to stand Uncle Mo at stud, and breeders are in always in a hurry to retire prospective stallions, Repole says he still has control of the horse’s plans next year.)

Let me put it this way. Running him in the Classic certainly put much more stress on the horse than placing him in the correct race. If stress is one of the factors that could cause a relapse, Mr Repole should have been more judicious in which race Uncle Mo was placed. It is just my opinion, but he was fully appraised of the illness and was told what could make it reoccur. A more conservative approach might have been more appropriate for the horse's health.

This the same Mr. Beyer that helped fuel any "hype" with his own figures he posts after the races. 118 is not going to attract attention? This guy is trying to cover his ass in reverse. Also, you have more of a problem with Mo in the BCC than some of the others, and by that I mean Headache or Ice Box? Those are horse known to "get the distance", but who wound up just where expected, actually Ice Box did better than expected, but the audacity to run him in that race a la Isn't He Perfect in the Belmont, taking up space, causing trouble for the ones that belong. And I've read comments that the crappy track condition cannot be considered because they all had to run on it. Well, look at the people who got suckered into thinking To Honor And Serve could win the BCC off of that PA Derby win on a weird drying out, oddly fast surface that day? I knew ROI was the better horse in that race. Track condition does matter. Some can turn in their rare great performance on junk like that. Run the BCC over on a fast track-matter of fact, shame on CD for not doing a better job with the track maintenance this time. Other times they've done an excellent job.

Mo wasn't in jeopardy with his health. Do you not think a horse as valuable as he is was not closely monitored? Every bodily function of a horse like that is noted daily. He just didn't fulfill the great dream, but it was attempted. He was fit, and not the only horse that hated that track that day. Now, as I think footy called it a few weeks ago, he's retired as he almost certainly would have been, even with a BC win with the breeding situation all finalized before the BCC. So much for any return at age 4.

Mo wasn'r "ruined". He had an ilness. He recovered remarkably well and was given a chance at greatness. I hope Mr.Repole gets another nice colt like Mo. It sucks that his dream didn't get to come true. You think he didn't have the best medical advice about MO? An extremely wealthy man who is in love with that horse? Real giant egos don't take their chances at letting their horse go for the biggest prize. He could have retired Mo as the 2yo Eclipse winner and still had all of that glory. Keep your criticism. I will match those negative comments every time with my thankfulness that I got to see Mo step out onto the Saratoga track, the returning champion. He was magnificent. Mr. Repole kisses his grandma and puts her front and center in his winner circle photos. He slows how much he loves his horse, like a big kid. How much of the negativity is jealousy over a kid who grew up and gets to play for real?

icyhotboo, When you ruin horses because of giant ego's, then using justifiable criticism or sharper words are appropriate.

He was only retired because they didn't want him hurt again.

MichaelPavelick "I agree, bring back "Mo" in 2012. Quit retiring horses, and race them."- While I agree with you on the early retirement of 3yos I believe Uncle Mo is the exception to that rule for obvious reasons. As for my characterizing your remarks about MR although you never used the term "hatred" it sounds a lot like it in every post. I respond to what I read, not what you want me to read. If you want anyone to pay attention to what you say you should consider doing it in a more civilized manner.

Mary Z., No comment about Uncle Mo training for 10 furlongs off a 8 furlong race in 4 1/2 weeks? If you love your horse, you don't ask him to do that coming off a illness. I suggest you read Andy Beyer's article: "Beyer: Uncle Mo in Classic a bold but ill-advised move" http://www.drf.com/news/beyer-uncle-mo-classic-bold-ill-advised-move Focus on this quote: "And he (Repole) relishes the drama: “I know as a racing fan I want to see Uncle Mo in the Classic. . . . I think the fans want it, I think the media wants it, I think ESPN wants it, I think the Breeders’ Cup wants it.” He omits the key question: Does Uncle Mo want it? Even superhorses such as Secretariat and Seattle Slew have lost races when their fitness or preparation were compromised. Ambitious owners cannot bend thoroughbreds to their will − and they shouldn’t try to do so."

Does he pick the right horse BEFORE they win? If so, he gets respect for that.

Lay off Andrew Beyer unless you are capable of understanding his greatness. A 118 Beyer figure going 1 turn on a sealed track. Mmaybe Secratariat reincarnate. Genius and classic BT Barnum moment. Thanks for ther dead money. Greatest handicapper and speed variant guru of all time.

footlick, Very good. Uncle Mo coming out of the Kelso should have been trained for another 8 furlong event, particularly with only 4 1/2 weeks to prepare. Trying to prepare "Mo" for 10 furlong event coming off a illness in that amount of time is directly related to ego monster Repole's influence. "Mo" had a superior Beyer speed rating in the Kelso, and would have given Caleb's Posse a very good match in the BC Mile.

shadowno, I agree Beyer is unsurpassed. His figures are amazing. His 2011 Derby picks: 1. Shackleford 2. Archarcharch 3. Nehro

agreed... trainer must be nervous with all the competition ;)

goldi 2nd frankel 1st no doubt canford beat goldi and frankel left canford cliffs standing

I think he would have messed up Goldi's 4-peat, so in a way I am relieved. But I would have loved to see them meet. The best horses in the world, if you ask me.

Complete agreement ZF. This could have been one of the greatest Breeders' Cups in history with the great battles already set in the dirt mile, Classic, and then this. I personally believe Frankel would have spnaked Goldikova silly just like he has every other horse he has faced. That's no slight on Goldikova. She is the best turf miler I have ever seen in my short horse racing experience. Its because I believe if Frankel can keep his form he will be one of the best horses of our generation.

JavidKhan - I ALWAYS WELCOME NEW TROLLS -JavidKhan

agreed ZPP, in a way IMO racing against greats you want your horse(s) to win and that horse! lol, like Blame's trainer said "if we make the lead in the stretch and she (zenyatta) blows by us, it isnt the end of the world." or somethin like that. :)

Personally I could never eat horse, however besides the US, UK and Ireland they eat it. What happened to Ferdinand is no doubt sad and he was fantastic, but I still believe that horses are just like cows. As for slaughter videos, I have experienced slaughter not in the slaughterhouse but up close and personal. I trust the Japanese government (uh oh) to make slaughter humane, as they are much more technologically advanced then other countries. I do not eat when around a slaughter, I find it disrespectful. I obviously misjudged Japanese Slaughterhouses to start, and maybe more, but my feeling is adamant that horse slaughter is fine.

cocoa2, Saying he did not suffer is a niave comment. I can't think of many instances when I would say that. Comments like that are what contribute to the negative image of horse racing that some have.

Good luck with your handicapping.

He never suffered and he is an animal. Being a human it is only natural that we remain at the top of the food chain.

You are So So Right! What a crying shame, to know that Ferdinand ended up as dog food in the can. Stinking mismanagement of his life after racing.

@cocoa2 He is an animal, but he also feels pain like people. He did suffer very much. He was electrocuted to death in a slaughter house. Its not a slow painless death. He never deserved to die that way. No horse deserves to die that way.

I totally agree!!! Shame they never offered him to Kentucky Horse Park..

I've only seen it listed as a dog food ingredient, which does not rule out humans eating it in the U.S. I have to try to handicap a series of mostly hideous races, so see you for our cocoa chat another time.

We don't need a big racist thing now also.

this kid posts really mental comments

Okay Cocoa, since you want attention, you got it. I'll try not to be harsh because one, that's not in my sweet nature, and two, I have sweaters older than you, I'm sure. So, yes in other cultures people consume horsemeat, sometimes the name is changed to something French that makes it sound more palatable. Perhaps you have partaken of this type of meal and find nothing wrong with the practice and even like the taste. You say things like if a cow won a race you would still eat it or send it to slaughter, whatever. I've never seen a cow in the winner's circle or a cow that has people follow its progress throughout a racing career. Very few beef cattle have names and youtube videos, although I'm sure you could find exceptions. I've never once been to a grocery store or butcher shop that wasn't full of packages of chicken, beef, ham, etc. Why eat something that had a name and a fan base? Now some won't like those animals, chickens, steers or pigs being eaten. They may be vegetarians, but it's been many centuries since wild bands of chickens were roaming the prairie. Just like to shock, kid? Not easy to do with me, but maybe you'd be shocked if you watched a slaughterhouse video all the way through. Try that while eating your horse meat. Don't forget to set out a centerpiece of roses. Can't wait for your next comment. Not trying to judge you on what you might love to eat. Hey, it's in dog food. Just that the practice is frowned upon here; rather taboo even. So, you haven't posted your favorite recipes.

Why not eat it? You talk a good game. How fine is it? I thought it was roasts and steaks. Your turn. Try harder.

you all know that we still sell horses to the Japanese owners.. we have no scruples. Stacelita is now in Japan. how long before she is eaten? The Chinese say that Japanese have no souls. I believe it.

Now I know why I don't like cocoa. It puts a sour taste in my mouth.

This one would quit on the lead whenever he saw no other horses around. You could tell when he spiit the bit as his ears would point forward and he would try to pull himself up

Sadly I cannot access it. I live in the US and it is uncommon. I assume you too live in the US, and I assume you too have seen horse meat for sale only rarely.

@Mary Z. You hit that nail on the head. A real felony jackass.

no horse deserves to be slaughtered. I dont care how much money they made on the track or in the show ring. They all deserve a nice retirement

@ZenyattaFanatic, AMEN!! I just watched a story on HRTV recently about Ferdinand, and I still get enraged every time I hear them talk about Ferdinand having been sent to slaughter somewhere in northern Japan. Horses that win our Kentucky Derby's and BC Classic's are our national treasures, and deserved to be treated as such. With at the very least, a retirement due a king at the Kentucky Horse Park. Not sent off by the Japanese to be made into dog food. TJMO.

cocoa2, If you are going to take stance on a topic (I'm not saying you are right or wrong) you might want to be well versed on it. Being technologically advanced does not equal more humane. It could mean the complete opposite in some cases. You have every right to your opinion on horse slaughter, or any type for that matter, but please learn as much as you can and have a working understanding of the subject.

If a cow won the Kentucky Derby I'd still send him to slaughter.

Neither should have Exceller.