Intelligence
The best, smartest newspaper sports columnist in America is Sally Jenkins, daughter of the great Dan. At a time when sports journalism, whatever that means, consists mainly of who can shout loudest and longest, it's good there are still a few people who make sense, eloquently. Here's her take on the Eight Belles tragedy.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/06/AR2008050602714.html
posted by Paul Daugherty at 8:31 AM
5 Comments:
at 11:18 AM 
Cheviot Sports Authority said...
-
-
at 11:47 AM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 12:06 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 2:26 AM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 6:32 AM 
Unknown said...
-
-
Post a Comment*I will no longer post any comments based on intelligence.
ST CSA
Well, I think Mr. Daugherty is using a little hyperbole in his praise there for Ms. Jenkins. I lived in D.C. for a while and know her work. She's fine, but she is irritatingly obtuse most of the time. Like most people in Washington, she revels in posing questions and appearing above the answer. Look at the linked article. She attempts to pull some guilt out of the reader without taking a real position. It's like a professor in a classroom, doing the Socratic method. It's easy, as long as you never take a tough stand. There are easily two or three better sports columnists in our tri-state area alone (especially if you add in Dayton).
As for horse racing, I gave up on it when I saw a horse die at River Downs many years ago. Even if they did away with the whipping (should be a no-brainer), there is too much stress put upon the horse mentally and physically. My father worked the tracks for many years (office side); the horses are plain mistreated.
Kate -- Hyde Park
Good, well thought article. I worked on the track as a hotwalker or groom for a number of years. I've known many a groom to not be found for a few days after such intense disasters. (Myself included.)
Your day-to-day trainers work under a fair amount of financial constraints which often makes it difficult to keep the best welfare of the horse uppermost in mind. Owners, well, they're OWNERS.
The pressure of the handle is probably the greatest driver of unsafe and unsound husbandry. There isn't much patience displayed among most gamblers. Long races such as those in Europe would change much but I fear the attention span of U.S. "punters" is too short.
Three year old horses can tolerate the Triple Crown if the breeding can return to a more historically normal foundation and if medication was outlawed. Owners should, upon accepting the responsibility of ownership, contribute to a fund that allows for the reorganization or the industry. Additionally they should contribute to the farms that stable retired horses that have no stud value. (And something for the longtime human workers, too.)
Doc,
Thought her column was outstanding. Pales to many, many of yours, but on her chosen topic, she did an outstanding, fair and balanced piece. I too have seen horses break down at several tracks over the years and it happens. By using the whip, the jockey avoided certain serious injury and probably death to himself and his mount. The horse had a tendency to lug in and the left-hand whip would discourage that. It's easy to second guess, but the one thing I hope never happens is this matter ends up before some congressional committee. That, with all the troubles we have today, would be a genuine disaster.
PD,
Her idea of moving to 4 year olds is a good one. It wouldn't cause too much of a problem, either. The transition year you'd just have to re-run the 4 year olds who'd run the previous year as 3 year olds....no doubt with many different horses.
I didn't think her writing was all that. I wasn't struck by any turn of phrase or majesty of style.
You're a better writer.
* Our online blogs currently are hosted and operated by a third party, namely, Blogger.com. You are now leaving the Cincinnati.Com website and will be linked to Blogger.com's registration page. The Blogger.com site and its associated services are not controlled by Cincinnati.Com and different terms of use and privacy policy will apply to your use of the Blogger.com site and services.
By proceeding and/or registering with Blogger.com you agree and understand that Cincinnati.Com is not responsible for the Blogger.com site you are about to access or for any service you may use while on the Blogger.com site. << Home