NEWS
Owner says stewards failed in handling of Life At Ten situation
Posted: Thursday, November 11, 2010 6:31 PM
LIFE AT TEN
Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
by Tom Law and Frank Angst
The connections of Life At Ten, who finished well behind the field in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (G1), have questioned the decision of the Kentucky stewards to let their multiple Grade 1 winner run in the November 5 race.
The owners said Kentucky Chief Steward John Veitch and the stewards failed to adjudicate the case properly.
Candy DeBartolo, Life At Ten’s owner who was in attendance at Churchill Downs watching the mare for the first time in person, issued a statement on Thursday that said the five-year-old Malibu Moon mare “without equivocation, should have been scratched from the race.”
Veitch said Life At Ten did not show soundness issues while warming up. He also said trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez did not tell state veterinarians that the horse had any physical problems that needed closer observation.
David Vance, racing manager for DeBartolo, said stewards were alerted by telephone from an ESPN production truck about comments jockey John Velazquez made that indicated something was amiss with Life At Ten. Velazquez told ESPN commentators that Life At Ten was not warming up well and should be scratched.
Vance also said he and DeBartolo were upset that Life At Ten was not tested after the race despite the fact she was the 3.80-to-1 second choice and finished “a quarter-mile behind a horse [Unrivaled Belle] she beat twice in the last four months.”
“John said it was because the test barn was too small,” Vance said. “We don’t think that’s an explanation for not [testing Life At Ten]. It’s imperative for the integrity of our sport. There would be no issues today if that had been done, or if she had been scratched.”
“The whole situation is upsetting and it’s unfortunate it turned out the way it did. At the same time, we feel compelled to address those things that suggest inaction was the proper action. I just can’t possibly agree with that. She won her last seven of eight races. Todd [Pletcher] said two days before the race that she was as good as she has ever been. I do think she was legitimately sick, and nothing beyond that.”
Based on a conversation with Pletcher, Veitch said Life At Ten’s temperature was normal on race day but a day after the race, she had spiked a fever, which suggested illness or infection. Veitch said Pletcher explained that although Life At Ten seemed dull before the race, the Eclipse Award-winning trainer thought she might be distracted by the crowd. He said Pletcher advised Velazquez to see if she returned to normal once the gates opened.
The situation put racing in an unfavorable light, with disgruntled bettors voicing their displeasure at Churchill or lighting up online message boards. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and Breeders’ Cup officials attempted to address the situation with various statements, including one from the latter on Thursday.
Not attributed to any specific individual, the Breeders’ Cup statement said:
“The Breeders' Cup adheres to the highest standards in safety, security and testing procedures to protect both our athletes and the integrity of our competition. The Breeders' Cup World Championships are conducted under the jurisdiction of our host site and the state of Kentucky has authority in this issue. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has advised the Breeders' Cup that it is conducting an investigation of the pre-and post-race events in this year’s Ladies’ Classic. The Breeders' Cup is working with the KHRC in its investigation and awaiting the final report of the KHRC before deciding what steps we will take moving forward in the management and protocols of our Championships.”
The KHRC is continuing an inquiry into the incident. KHRC Executive Director Lisa Underwood said because of the ongoing investigation, she did not want to provide added detail about who or what issues are being examined.
In its statement, the KHRC did say its veterinary staff was not informed from Pletcher or Velazquez of any problems. While a trainer or jockey cannot directly scratch a horse at that point, they can have a state vet give the horse a closer look. The vet could then, in turn, recommend to the stewards that the horse be scratched.
“Should a trainer or jockey have concerns about whether a horse is fit to race, they know the proper protocol is to notify a KHRC veterinarian, who will talk to the jockey and observe the horse and then make a recommendation to the stewards regarding any scratch,” the statement said.
More than $12-million was wagered on the Ladies Classic and bettors who used Life At Ten in any horizontal wagers (pick three, pick four, pick six) were left scratching their head as she broke slowly and continued to lose contact with the field in the 1 1/8-mile race (video).
“She didn't want to run today,” Velazquez said immediately after the race. “I tried to get her to go [in the warm-up] and I couldn’t even catch up to the pony. She was never interested in running at all.”
Velazquez said he was looking out for Life At Ten’s physical well being by not asking for any run during the Ladies Classic. Veitch said once the horse did not return to form after breaking from the gate, Velazquez made the right decision.
Vance and other representatives of the DeBartolo family met with Pletcher immediately after the race. Vance had no idea of the events unfolding, specifically Velazquez’s comments to ESPN, as he watched the race from the stands.
“You hear about things like this that have happened,” Vance said. “It’s just … surreal. You kind of get in a vacuum and just go through the motions of what needs to be done. My first instinct was to go to the track and see Todd, to check on the condition of the horse.
“The whole situation is troubling, especially for Candy, who is a real animal lover. To watch her fall back that way, not knowing what was going on or knowing what to say and trying to comfort her … since then this has been one of the more hurtful experiences I’ve had in racing.”
If Life At Ten had been scratched by the stewards, by rule, her owners would have been refunded the $60,000 entry fee they paid to run in the Ladies Classic.
Tom Law is managing editor of Thoroughbred Times
Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times
To read the statement by owner Candy DeBartolo, click here.
To read the statement by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, click here.
To read the statement by Breeders' Cup, click here.
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: D6, Lexington, KY on November 20, 2010 at 12:34 PM
I'm sorry but the JOCKEY (John Valesquez) is THE ONE AT FAULT for NOT telling the stewards or assistant starters that LIFE AT TEN was having physical problems while she was "warming up" before the race, which was VERY OBVIOUS by the TV commentators as well as track analyst Jill Byrne.
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Posted by: Bellwether, Chespeake, VA on November 16, 2010 at 06:18 AM
JOHN VEITCH WAS THE CAPTAIN ON THI$ $HIP...HE WAS UP N HI$ STATE ROOM DURING THE FRAY LOOK N THROUGH HI$ BINOCULAR$...WAKE UP PEOPLE...DUE DUE NEED$ TO RUN UP HILL ON THI$ ONE...ty...
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Posted by: John Doe, Portland, OR on November 13, 2010 at 07:29 PM
I have been a licensed horseman for over 30 yrs. For those of you unfamiliar to the rules, regulations and protocol of racing, whenever the horses leave the padock and go out onto the track for a race, a state veternarian is present. These vets are employed by that states horse racing commission or board. They are there to oversee the horses to protect the horses riders trainers owners and the betting public. The track stewards however have the ultimate authority during the live racing and they are also employed by the state agency. The normal protocol is that the trainer or jockey notify the state vet that something is amiss, or, the vet may see something in an animal that doesnt look right such as during the horses warmup, that would warrant a scratch. The unusual thing about the Life at Ten situation is #1: Why didnt JR Velasquez immediately jog that filly over to the gate and notify the state vet. Thats his job, Todd Pletcher is not a rider and has no way to feel what the rider is feeling underneath him during warmup. If JR had time to call out to Jerry bailey on the TVG set and tell him something wasnt right, such as she might have been trying to tie-up then he certainly had time to take her to the gate and state vet. #2: When JR did tell the TVG crew that something was amiss and they inturn called and notified the stewards, it is my opinion that the stewards then, having the ultimate authority, should have taken thingds into their own hands and ordered the filly be looked at and talk to JR. I have heard that they were not aware of what was going on until just prior to the loading of the race into the gate. And even if that is true, then they still should have protected the betting public. Contrary to evryone thinking the owners are the "bosses" in the racing world, the truth is the bettors are the "bosses" because just like Richard Dreyfuss says in my favorite horseracing movie "Let It Ride" to his wife, "there is no racing if their is no gambling..." Hopefully the ensuing hearings/investigation into this matter will be appropriately handled and rules will be changed. JR is to blame as is the stewards.
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Posted by: beaver, astoria, OR on November 13, 2010 at 07:12 PM
in the minutes leading up to the start of the race, pletcher and velasquez didn't do enough in regards to getting the stewards' and vet's attention...my thoughts during the tv coverage went also to the wagering public...someone had an obligation to protect them and failed to do so...
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Posted by: jenny, ocala, FL on November 13, 2010 at 02:50 PM
I fail to see how its the stewards fault, both the jockey and trainer admitted something was not right before the race , the horse is in their care, surely its their responsability to notify the vets and stewards, and they did not. instead they told jerry bailey on national tv
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