Across the pond

[Mylute]

Quick Suzy (Profitable) won the G2 Queen Mary over Twilight Gleaming (National Defense).

Kemari (Dubawi) won the Queen's Vase.

[BaroqueAgain1]

To quote the Beatles: All You Need Is LOVE...
...in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.
It's not often that you see a horse take a race all the way on the front at Royal Ascot.

[barbaro111]

I feel kinda bad for Wesley Ward---

[Squeaky]

To quote the Beatles: All You Need Is LOVE...
...in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.
It's not often that you see a horse take a race all the way on the front at Royal Ascot.

LOVE LOVE this beautiful mare!

[barbaro111]

To quote the Beatles: All You Need Is LOVE...
...in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.
It's not often that you see a horse take a race all the way on the front at Royal Ascot.

LOVE LOVE this beautiful mare!

From my point of view hers was the best race of the day-- for a moment it looked like she could get beat but she would not let another horse
get past her-- she is a fighter----LOVE her!!!!!

[BaroqueAgain1]

The Kensington was sent off while Godolphin's Stunning Beauty still had the blindfold on.
The field had distanced itself before the the blindfold was finally ripped off, and De Sousa had little choice but to just pull her up.
I don't know whether it's the responsibility of the gate crew or the rider to remove a blindfold before the gates open, but someone screwed up.
Nice win by longshot Lola Showgirl.

[barbaro111]

The Kensington was sent off while Godolphin's Stunning Beauty still had the blindfold on.
The field had distanced itself before the the blindfold was finally ripped off, and De Sousa had little choice but to just pull her up.
I don't know whether it's the responsibility of the gate crew or the rider to remove a blindfold before the gates open, but someone screwed up.
Nice win by longshot Lola Showgirl.

That was really unfortunate and should not have occurred. I was shocked when I heard the race caller say that. Somebody screwed up royally and if that were my horse I would pitch a fit

[BaroqueAgain1]

Sometime after the race, I heard one of the commentators (forget whether it was on NBCSN or TVG) say that it appeared the filly had her head twisted and possibly pressed against the side of the stall. That might have made it really hard for either handler or rider to get the hood off her.

[Squeaky]

What does Aidan mean when he says “ we’ll talk to the lads and do what they want..” ? Are these his assistants trainers, the owners, others? He always deflects credit and decisions and refuses to say “ I think we should do this or that…” it is quite curious as he is the head trainer.

[BaroqueAgain1]

I have gotten the impression that he means certain owners when he says, "lads."

[Squeaky]

I have gotten the impression that he means certain owners when he says, "lads."

Interesting because he has female owners too, although she always goes by the 50’s/ 60’s era moniker of Mrs. Husband’s last name.

[CorridorZ75]

"The Lads" are the controlling interests/owners in Coolmore. Though the wives of some have their names as owners of some horses, I am not sure if that is in name only or they care much about the horses or the business.

At this point, they might be part of "the Pentavirate" for all we know.

[BaroqueAgain1]

At this point, they might be part of "the Pentavirate" for all we know.

Is that like the Illuminati?

[CorridorZ75]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4unnk2Q5Pg

[HB1994]

Sometime after the race, I heard one of the commentators (forget whether it was on NBCSN or TVG) say that it appeared the filly had her head twisted and possibly pressed against the side of the stall. That might have made it really hard for either handler or rider to get the hood off her.

They don’t have handlers in the starting gate. Jockey Silvestre de Sousa Is blasting the starter:

https://www.racingpost.com/news/royal-a ... ers/495804

[Mylute]

And they declared her a starter with no refunds? That's BS. She ran maybe 3 yards.

[barbaro111]

And they declared her a starter with no refunds? That's BS. She ran maybe 3 yards.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... cot-injury

This incident triggered a memory of an incident in 2018 involving Harry Angel (see above referenced article).
methinks Royal Ascot doesn't have their stuff together-- the injury involving Harry Angel was pretty severe and to my recall he was never the same again.

[BaroqueAgain1]

IMHO, the gate handlers at some of the international tracks I've watched could learn from American gate crews.
They are too quick to blindfold a horse, and then they leave it to the jockey to remove it. The jockey already has his/her hands full trying to safely and swiftly get her/his horse out of the gate, all while trying to NOT be dislodged.
The rider must handle the reins and crop, stay balanced on a keg of dynamite....AND she/he's supposed to reach up and quickly, but carefully, pull off a piece of equipment that covers the horse's face at the same time? And time it right so that it comes off just before the gate opens?
I call BS.

[BaroqueAgain1]

I remember that horrible incident with Harry Angel.
The Ascot gate crew (and most international crews that I've seen) don't get in the gate stalls with 'their' horse, which IMHO can lead to them not noticing problems. Or being there to help the rider and horse if a problem does occur.
A horse can hang a leg like Harry Angel, but a stall handler was not right there to see what happened.
Sure, it's safer for the humans if they just stay out of the gate.
It's not safer for the horses and jockeys.

[barbaro111]

I remember that horrible incident with Harry Angel.
The Ascot gate crew (and most international crews that I've seen) don't get in the gate stalls with 'their' horse, which IMHO can lead to them not noticing problems. Or being there to help the rider and horse if a problem does occur.
A horse can hang a leg like Harry Angel, but a stall handler was not right there to see what happened.
Sure, it's safer for the humans if they just stay out of the gate.
It's not safer for the horses and jockeys.

It seems to me as someone else suggested that American gate handlers are better at their jobs than what I have witnessed at Ascot-- you would think with the world's eyes on Royal Ascot this week they would have their stuff together--- very disappointing , and poor Harry Angel--- he was severely injured due to their negligence.