NEWS
New York stewards turn down Hansen’s color request
Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2012 11:56 AM
by Joe Nevills
Dr. Kendall Hansen, breeder and co-owner of last year’s champion two-year-old male Hansen, was denied a request on February 12 by the New York Racing Association Board of Stewards to race his horse with his mane and tail dyed in the blue color of his silks in the Gotham Stakes (G3) on March 3 at Aqueduct.
“I think they went the conservative route,” Hansen said. “I should have just been quiet and just done it. Live and learn. The idea’s probably about 90% dead, but then again, I’m impulsive.”
Hansen originally announced his intention to race the gray or roan son of Tapit with a splash of color on February 4 via his Louisville Courier-Journal blog documenting his experience on the Triple Crown trail.
The announcement was polarizing among fans and pundits alike, between those who supported Dr. Hansen’s attempt to generate interest in the sport and those who thought he was degrading horse racing.
“I think the idea in some ways was almost too good, and may have picked up some national attention if we decided to go to a public vote for the Kentucky Derby or made the tail pink for breast cancer awareness,” Hansen said. “I just think it would have been a riot to see how the voting would have gone and see what color it was going to be for the Derby.”
Hansen posted the letter he received from the stewards on his blog, which showed appreciation for his attempt to promote the horse and the sport, but expressed concern that it may create a slippery slope with other horsemen.
“It is the responsibility of the stewards to determine the suitability of any new equipment or practice,” the stewards wrote. “Any newly approved equipment item or practice must be consistent with the welfare and health of the horse, in accordance with the rules of racing, and must not provide an unfair advantage. Also, it must not generate confusion or suggest exploitation of the horse to the public. Granting [Hansen’s] request would endorse an entirely new practice that any trainer/owner could use, and there would be no guidelines or standards to ensure uniformity. Clearly, Hansen would be highlighted by this color change, and we would expect similar requests from other owners.”
With the issue of the horse’s mane and tail on the back burner for the time being, Hansen said it is now time to focus on the task at hand—winning the Gotham and advancing down the Derby trail.
“We’ve got a big race to win and we’re excited about that,” he said. “I had breakfast a couple days ago with [trainer] Mike Maker and he’s extremely confident on our chances. He’s really happy where he’s at, and I just get the impression that Hansen’s a lot better than anybody knows.”
To read the blog, click here.
Joe Nevills is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Leonard, Lawndale, CA on February 18, 2012 at 10:43 PM
Glad to hear the steward's kept Horse Racing, Horse Racing, The Sport Of Kings is not a Punk Rock show, that coloring is for another venue and does not belong in Horse Racing. Good to hear something positive for once and not something that would have made a joke of the sport.
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Posted by: Hansenlover!, Horseland, IL on February 18, 2012 at 01:02 PM
Oh darn! I was so excited!:(
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Posted by: Eveline, laurel, MD on February 17, 2012 at 06:06 PM
A little food coloring is not going to have any effects on the horse. Many a horse has raced with valentine harts on their butt or pink breastcancer ribbons colored on them. Hansen could still go with pompoms in his mane & tail, lots of horses run with them.
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Posted by: Western Yankee, Los Angeles, CA on February 16, 2012 at 08:38 PM
We americans out west, embrace creativity and cool looking stuff. Geno, your opinion reminds me of the owner of War Admiral in the Seabiscut movie who wouldnt belittle himself to racing out west. Thats why horses and their owners like Seabiscut/Howard and Zenyatta/Mosses relished in the ass-kickings dished out to the stuffy-bastard types. We dont live in the 1800's anymore and the same mentality that started racing where your from also had slaves. Great idea by Dr. Hansen
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Posted by: Fagitaboutit, Bronx, NY on February 16, 2012 at 08:14 PM
kindof like preserving the ludicrous "tradition" of ruining the best 3yrolds in the land every year by running them too far too close together, right??? Cant wait for the generation of the ole'boyz rationale to die off and the sooner the better. And what "dignity" do you refer to?? I hope the owner goes for it. Many other racing sports go all out in the decorative dept. to get the coolest look possible like Nascar, Drag racing, even cycling Tour de France. Why the hell not, OUR, sport. We owners pay out the ass and should be able to do anything we can to draw more handle and "preserve" our purses and the industry. Your old school beliefs have outlived thier practicality and usefulness.
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