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Where's the Starter?
Are Safety Vests unenforced?
Horses farthest away turn.....Wait guys, turn em' around, we have
NO STARTER???
That's right, with horses on the track preparing to head to the gate
for the first qualifier, the starter was a NO SHOW!! Who is the
starter, you ask? Here's a hint, he has EVERY job from Thunder
Ridge to Indiana, that's right, Jack of all trades, Master of NONE,
KEVIN MACK. I think he was late due to his 80 other jobs he has
here. Is this guy the only one on the payroll? I do know that when
a driver fails to obey the starter, or come up into to position THEY
GET FINED. Will a delayed start in 100+ degree weather (not
including the heat index) right before the start of the first night of
LIVE RACING bar enough support for a BIG FINE to the Starter? I
say yes.
They cancelled racing in Indiana this week due to the EXTREME high
heat advisories and here we are out there 15 minutes longer and
still WAITING, (keep in mind with the scorching hot sun beating
down horses and drivers in the hottest part of the day).
That's not all before racing began, The KHHA and the Red Mile both
posted that there will be a NEW RULE "ENFORCED", that
everybody MUST wear a safety vest, to WARM UP and RACE. Just
so happens on Tuesday, Ronnie "BEN HUR" Gurfein said he's "not
wearing a vest, it's too hot, and he don't have to". And might I add
he said this in the judges office, with the same judges that were at
Thunder Ridge a week or so ago. ALL of the sudden, no one has to
wear one, as long as you sign a blank sheet of white lined paper.
How far would that go in a lawsuit if the rule was passed and some
driver went down without a vest on? NOT VERY FAR!!!
My question to the new Presiding Judge, Mike Davis is this;
Is this how you are going to run the show??? Mike Davis and his
associates along with Kevin Mack Race Secretary/Starter/??? at
Thunder Ridge strongly enforced this rule while racing the three
days there. They made it very clear that you would not drive if you
did not wear a safety vest. Now that we are at The Red Mile, do the
officials change their way of thinking???? Their ACTIONS say, "Yes
we will change our way of thinking as well as judgement. We
will be manipulated." If you want to talk about EMBARRASSING.
Think about it. It's really simple.....ENFORCE IT for everyone, or
totally IGNORE IT for everyone. All we ask for is BE CONSISTENT
with your NEW RULES. All rules for that matter.
How about the Indiana Driving colony coming down to the Red Mile.
Seems a little convenient doesn't it, that Indiana Downs has off
days on the 3 days that the Red Mile races. And that the Indiana
drivers (who never race here...ever) got all of the catch drives. Who
in the HECK is Kevin helping here. Again, the starving Kentucky
horsemen continue to get KEVIN "LET ME HELP YOU" MACK's
help taking money away. Take all our money and just give it away.
I said in the very beginning that I think that it is a conflict of interest
having someone who works at an Indiana racetrack and Kentucky
racetracks, that it will not work.
I will go out on a limb here and tell everyone that I BET next year's
races at Thunder Ridge will start right after Hoosier Park closes, so
that there will be no down time for a certain KHHA rep and race
secretary......REMEMBER that I SAID THIS. This just creates
another question. Have we NOT been racing summer meets at
Thunder Ridge ONLY to fit ONE person schedule....MACK? For the
horsemen's sake, I surely hope not. But, if I was making a
bet......you know where I would put my money. Answer this one Bill
and Bob. Why aren't we racing our meets consecutively? Now,
Bill.....don't give a long winded B.S. answer. Tell it like it is my friend.
We already know. So here is YOUR chance, Bill. Let me make a
suggestion to Bill and Kevin....Don't get together setting dates to
work around your schedule in Indiana. Do you really think that is
fair to the horsemen? Board members DO YOU? Thunder Ridge and
the West Kentucky Fairs do not confict. Bill...do the RIGHT THING
FOR ONCE.
Now you tell me folks, doesn't make more sense to race all three
race meets consecutively. Especially, with a total of on 75 days.
Two months down time just creates more expense for the
horsemen. BOARD MEMBERS READ THIS PARAGRAPH AGAIN.
Think as if it was your money. Can you do that?
One more thing on this subject...The Fair Finals day was part of the
23 days of racing this year. August 6th was the opening day for
racing. Now that is what the KHHA and Joe Costa negotiated last
year. So, if a NW horse was to win at the 3 days Thunder Ridge
meet, would it still be considered a NW of 1? KEVIN MACK SAYS, it
all DEPENDS.
How about if they won a 2007 Kentucky Fair Final at The Red Mile?
That's parimutuel, wasn't it, part of an extended meet. I won it in
2005 with Chevie Revolution. When called the next week, I had to
enter the NW. Hmm... Then why is it that MACK's BEST friend Clint
Binkley, gets to put Hesagreateclipse in for nw1 with $12000 made
and he won on Fair Final day? I think its great for Clint. I like him
and if a Kentucky trainer can get something for nothing then go get
it, I just don't like playing favorites when in a higher position.
I also noticed Moose is back. That's Lamar Moody for the one's that
don't know him. Back from what I thought was a lifetime ban. He
had Mike Riley down as trainer, same owners, same horses, and
same grooms. Just a different trainer. (Wonder why the judges at
Hoosier Park, scratched all of Mike Riley's horses one night.)
Anyway, his horse ICYUNVME, a CHEAP claimer wins in 53, for
MOOSE. No one sees this here? WHY do we allow trainer changes
like this. Not just in KY but in all of the racetracks..Cant we as a
group here in KY set precedence and reject their entries. If Gary
Neafus got popped for some ungodly reason, would we accept April
Neafus or Allen Hanselman as trainer? How about Randy Jerrell, if
he got popped with say gunpowder and shakes, would we allow
his uncle MT Bowles or longtime helper Bill Young? C'mon folks, why
let this outsider, get away with this, and make us look like we don't
care.
A great job to Billy Perelli the paddock judge for a perfect night.
Every race was on time from his end. And from new announcer
Gabe Prewitt. I watched his first races on youtube.com and have
liked him ever since. Great great job Gabe. I have called for the last
4 years and it is very hard. You just keep getting better and better.
Keep up the good work.
I want to also say to April Neafus, that you were missed this year
at The Ridge, and we look forward to seeing you at Bluegrass
Downs next year. I met up with my friend Curby Stillings at the
Meadows and she said that it was a last minute decision to come
down to Thunder Ridge, she will not be there ever again.. Man,
what a cool chic. Gotta love Curby. Wonder what it COST to get
Curby down there, MACK.
The fair finals were pretty chalky, but it was full of Great racing. The
big horse Chevie Classic Rod, Go Ginny Go, Zoom past You, and Like
a Dream were dominant winners. But how about Miri Mirage beating
up on Like a Girl. Great race there. What about Mickey Pryor making
his mark after a 4 year absence from the Red Mile and beating
Wings of a Prayer with trotter Pray for Victory.. But what is wrong
with Jon's Girl? SHE is absolutely awful at the RED MILE. She really
should be better there than on these bull rings, GUESS NOT.
Unfortunately you've just priced her.
Congratulations to the Chevie Classic Rod connections, owner
Clyde Stevens and conditioner Ronnie Guhy for their win at
Springfield Illinois yesterday, in a record time of 1:52 flat. Andy
Miller was in the bike.
One last remark here. I would like to say thank you to everyone
who sent their prayers and condolences for my family and
Cartouche. He was badly injured but his life goes on. He was sold
to an Australian Breeding Farm to finish his career as a stud. He
definitely was the best horse I have ever owned, and can't wait to
see his offspring. The accident left me questioning some things.
One, is that family is very important, and that you can lose them in
a flash. And that maybe, racing is not for everyone. I think my
accident left me with that on my heart. This is my passion. I love it
very much. I do love the people that I race with, drivers, trainers,
and grooms alike. But there comes a time in everyone's life to say I
have had enough. So I will continue, FOR NOW, to write for Terry's
great site. But as for a horsemen, I will only be one at heart and in
my mind. Thank you to everyone who has helped me with drives in
the past. You are all my friends..
You have been Trackside, I am Michael Kravchak and this is my side
TRACKSIDE "Where the truth makes the story"
with Mike Kravchak
8/11/07
with Mike Kravchak
8/11/07
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