aftershocks
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^^ Won't it be a question of how or if spectators will be allowed?
The Triple Crown will obviously not have the same feel, resonance or impact with the races necessarily now spaced so far apart. Last year's asterisk in the KD certainly boded worst things to come, beyond anyone's wildest imagination.
About all the news of Jason Servis and the doping issue, from what I've read, the substance that was allegedly given to Maximum Security, SGF-1000, has been widely used in horse racing. It is described as a 'blood builder,' intended to aid horses in quick recovery from races. It doesn't help them win races. Horses have to have the talent, luck and a good jockey and trainer in order to win races. Or else call foul and cross your fingers, when you come in second in a major race, after squeezing other horses for good position in the stretch run.
SGF-1000, interestingly was banned late last year. So if Max was given that substance before he raced in the KD last year, it was not illegal at that time. If there's suspicion surrounding Max, all of his contemporaries deserve the same scrutiny.
The fact is that horse-racing has always had a dirty underside, and it's always the horses who suffer the most.
The sport's honchos have since forever turned a blind eye to the dirty undersides of the sport. Some of the worst drug offenses are those in which horses are given painkillers and then raced, which can lead to them overexerting themselves, breaking legs and having to be put down, etc. That's behind many of the deaths at the Santa Anita track. These are the kinds of major abuses that need to be ferreted out, fully investigated and punished. The fact is that Jorge Navarro (implicated with Servis) is known to be one of the more aggressive and dangerous drug operators/ trainers in horse racing. It is Navarro who the sport's honchos turned to the FBI to have investigated. It was Servis' distinct misfortune that he had gotten too close to Navarro at the wrong time, and thus he's been implicated too. But we do not know the full extent or detailed specificity of Servis' purported malfeasance. Servis has been highly regarded in the industry, and sadly he may not be the only trainer of high standing to have ever had dealings with the nefarious Navarro, apparently chiefly in regard to lower level horses.
Again, from what I've read, the substance that Servis allegedly gave to Maximum Security (and some other horses in his care) is SGF-1000, which was banned at the end of 2019. Prior to being banned, it's use was not illegal.
There are some mainstream articles describing SGF-1000 that appear slanted negatively against its use and against Servis, so as to build the case against him, I suppose:
Unfortunately, this is not the entire story, as once again, the substance has been widely and openly used, and was not considered illegal until it was banned at the end of 2019. Whether or not it should have been widely used before being tested is a different story. But it's not like plenty of other trainers haven't been using SGF-1000 before it was banned. Servis and Maximum Security are obviously being singled out, and what's going on is deeper than it appears. As I said, it was Navarro who has been the FBI's principal target. The FBI has been investigating for about two years, from the reports I've read. And once again, the investigation got underway only when the sport's honchos decided the sport was receiving way too much negative publicity with the huge number of horse deaths at tracks around the country, especially at Santa Anita.
I'm not saying that Servis does not deserve to be indicted. I just believe that his connection to Navarro turned out to be fortuitous in the sense that the sport has a lot of egg on it's face for how Max was disqualified at the 2019 KD, and has since then continued to win. I won't relitigate, as I've made the case in plenty of posts here, but the West family (Max's owner) would not have brought a suit and continued it if they didn't feel they have a case. Had the KD stewards actually examined the entire race, spoke to all of the jockeys and looked at crucial footage frame-by-frame it would have been clear that Max was clipped from behind by WoW, which caused Max to immediatley change leads and drift out of his lane. If Max was not a horse who possesses great courage and who had a top-notch jockey guiding him, he could have given up. How quickly Max got back to moving forward and won handily, proves that he would have won by a larger margin had he not been unfortunately and detrimentally to his reputation, bothered from behind.
I believe Churchill Downs and other top interests in the sport would like for the Wests to drop the suit. The fact they haven't dropped it hasn't boded well for how Max is being perceived and portrayed, despite the fact he's done nothing but continue to win, after placing a close second in his first race after recuperating from the KD injuries to his hind legs. I haven't heard recent updates regarding the investigation of Max's win in the Saudi Cup. But after the Servis indictments, withholding of the Saudi Cup winnings was expected, pending investigation. The fact is that all horses in every major race should also be investigated, not just Max. And again, the SGF-1000 was not illegal prior to when it was later banned.
Even Bob Baffert has been accused of having some of his horses 'on something,' which again is the nature of the sport. It is the sport's responsibility to clean up the sport from top-to-bottom, while actually protecting the horses, which clearly has never been the main motivation for far too many trainers and owners. The motivation for far too many people in the racing industry is money and fast, winning horses. Those who control the sport have turned a blind eye to all kinds of questionable activities, until the negative publicity got too bad. Plus the KD stewards' decision in 2019 was made too quickly and for the wrong reasons. I truly hope that Maximum Security's reputation and his career are not completely scarred by the misdeeds and dirty history of the industry as a whole, because seriously, it's not just Servis who has used SGF-1000 on his horses. Scapegoats are always convenient.
The Triple Crown will obviously not have the same feel, resonance or impact with the races necessarily now spaced so far apart. Last year's asterisk in the KD certainly boded worst things to come, beyond anyone's wildest imagination.
About all the news of Jason Servis and the doping issue, from what I've read, the substance that was allegedly given to Maximum Security, SGF-1000, has been widely used in horse racing. It is described as a 'blood builder,' intended to aid horses in quick recovery from races. It doesn't help them win races. Horses have to have the talent, luck and a good jockey and trainer in order to win races. Or else call foul and cross your fingers, when you come in second in a major race, after squeezing other horses for good position in the stretch run.
SGF-1000, interestingly was banned late last year. So if Max was given that substance before he raced in the KD last year, it was not illegal at that time. If there's suspicion surrounding Max, all of his contemporaries deserve the same scrutiny.
The fact is that horse-racing has always had a dirty underside, and it's always the horses who suffer the most.
The sport's honchos have since forever turned a blind eye to the dirty undersides of the sport. Some of the worst drug offenses are those in which horses are given painkillers and then raced, which can lead to them overexerting themselves, breaking legs and having to be put down, etc. That's behind many of the deaths at the Santa Anita track. These are the kinds of major abuses that need to be ferreted out, fully investigated and punished. The fact is that Jorge Navarro (implicated with Servis) is known to be one of the more aggressive and dangerous drug operators/ trainers in horse racing. It is Navarro who the sport's honchos turned to the FBI to have investigated. It was Servis' distinct misfortune that he had gotten too close to Navarro at the wrong time, and thus he's been implicated too. But we do not know the full extent or detailed specificity of Servis' purported malfeasance. Servis has been highly regarded in the industry, and sadly he may not be the only trainer of high standing to have ever had dealings with the nefarious Navarro, apparently chiefly in regard to lower level horses.
Again, from what I've read, the substance that Servis allegedly gave to Maximum Security (and some other horses in his care) is SGF-1000, which was banned at the end of 2019. Prior to being banned, it's use was not illegal.
There are some mainstream articles describing SGF-1000 that appear slanted negatively against its use and against Servis, so as to build the case against him, I suppose:
Unfortunately, this is not the entire story, as once again, the substance has been widely and openly used, and was not considered illegal until it was banned at the end of 2019. Whether or not it should have been widely used before being tested is a different story. But it's not like plenty of other trainers haven't been using SGF-1000 before it was banned. Servis and Maximum Security are obviously being singled out, and what's going on is deeper than it appears. As I said, it was Navarro who has been the FBI's principal target. The FBI has been investigating for about two years, from the reports I've read. And once again, the investigation got underway only when the sport's honchos decided the sport was receiving way too much negative publicity with the huge number of horse deaths at tracks around the country, especially at Santa Anita.
I'm not saying that Servis does not deserve to be indicted. I just believe that his connection to Navarro turned out to be fortuitous in the sense that the sport has a lot of egg on it's face for how Max was disqualified at the 2019 KD, and has since then continued to win. I won't relitigate, as I've made the case in plenty of posts here, but the West family (Max's owner) would not have brought a suit and continued it if they didn't feel they have a case. Had the KD stewards actually examined the entire race, spoke to all of the jockeys and looked at crucial footage frame-by-frame it would have been clear that Max was clipped from behind by WoW, which caused Max to immediatley change leads and drift out of his lane. If Max was not a horse who possesses great courage and who had a top-notch jockey guiding him, he could have given up. How quickly Max got back to moving forward and won handily, proves that he would have won by a larger margin had he not been unfortunately and detrimentally to his reputation, bothered from behind.
I believe Churchill Downs and other top interests in the sport would like for the Wests to drop the suit. The fact they haven't dropped it hasn't boded well for how Max is being perceived and portrayed, despite the fact he's done nothing but continue to win, after placing a close second in his first race after recuperating from the KD injuries to his hind legs. I haven't heard recent updates regarding the investigation of Max's win in the Saudi Cup. But after the Servis indictments, withholding of the Saudi Cup winnings was expected, pending investigation. The fact is that all horses in every major race should also be investigated, not just Max. And again, the SGF-1000 was not illegal prior to when it was later banned.
Even Bob Baffert has been accused of having some of his horses 'on something,' which again is the nature of the sport. It is the sport's responsibility to clean up the sport from top-to-bottom, while actually protecting the horses, which clearly has never been the main motivation for far too many trainers and owners. The motivation for far too many people in the racing industry is money and fast, winning horses. Those who control the sport have turned a blind eye to all kinds of questionable activities, until the negative publicity got too bad. Plus the KD stewards' decision in 2019 was made too quickly and for the wrong reasons. I truly hope that Maximum Security's reputation and his career are not completely scarred by the misdeeds and dirty history of the industry as a whole, because seriously, it's not just Servis who has used SGF-1000 on his horses. Scapegoats are always convenient.
Lots of people on Twitter were in a panic, and then they gave a huge sigh of relief. 
that not one of the outriders I saw was wearing his mask properly. Perhaps in the post parade it wouldn't be as big a deal (and I couldn't see if they were wearing them then) but when the outrider caught up with the winner and jogged alongside, with his nose sticking out, and with the jockey huffing and puffing and also not wearing his mask properly, that was pretty bad. I almost wish they would not wear masks at all if they're not going to wear them properly.
Shades of Rachel Alexandra. And she might run in the Preakness too.
