@TangoAndAmber You don't know anything about racing either. These horses are bred to run. They are animals that are meant to have their entire body weight supported on their legs for most of their life. On their legs, a horse doesn't weigh a thing, Off his/her legs, they can weight in excess of 1000-1300 pounds, and their bodies are not build to support that weight. Which is why when a race horse goes down and can not get up, it is NEVER a good sign.
Couldnt ask for better handlers. They did their job and didnt push him. I have a feeling he just knew something wouldnt go right that day so he didnt want to race. Lol call me crazy..
Thank God for the starter who help onto the reins while QR shot out of the gate!! That horse was freaked out and blind folded and probably would have killed himself had he gotten loose and run out onto the track. I believe the gentleman who was holding onto QR received an award for his actions as well :)) Glad everything turned out okay :)
Quality Road of 2009 would have gave Zenyatta ALL she could handle. Shame he didn't feel like going in. But hey he doesn't wanna go...He doesn't wanna go!. I love Quality Road to death!.
Beautiful horse. I know the race must gone on and whatever but they're the ones who made it worse for him. Let him calm down soom, walk him around, pet him, talk to him. You can't forse a horse that big to do something he doesn't want to and he'll hurt himself trying to get away if he has to.
@WSBT960 they did... didnt u hear the guy say that they were putting on a blindfold and thats why it was so worrysome when the horse started to run in circles when they got him out of the gate because he culd see where he wass.
Poor Quality Road. Hopefully this year he's okay about loading. He's been much better about it so far this year.
I hope he wins the Breeder's Cup! He lost his last race, but I don't think it was really his fault.... he's the best horse racing right now in my opinion.
This video footage is perfection ammunition for every animal rights activist to use against the horse racing industry. As mentioned previously, horses needed better training on how to safely and quickly load into the gate--you won't win a race if the horse hurts himself before it even starts. Furthermore, it's unfair to the other horse owners (and horses) when a neurotic horse can affect the outcome of a race by routinely acting up while being loaded.
Okay didn't get a chance to see TBC and while I'm watching, in the beginning I was LMAO because Quality Road was saying "Fuck This!! I ain't running for you humans!!!"
but then when they tried to disorient him, get him into that gate, and he took "berserk" to a whole new level, I started getting scared even thought this happened last year. Something spooked the hell out of him!
Everytime I watch this I keep hoping they get him in the gate and he runs so that Z can run him down so I don't have to hear how he's gonna destroy her in The Classic this year...Guess I should be grateful he didn't run and I'll get a better price on Z in the Classic ;)
Johnny V. will have one-half of the race won Sunday in the Hal's Hope to get Quality Road into the starting gate without a problem. This cat is more of a handful than Rock Hard Ten.
Thanks bombomb - He was supposed to (I think) race on 11/29; didn't; then again early December and I don't think he did then either. Hope he can go at Gulfstream.
As soon as they put the blindfold on him I knew this would not end well! My horse had to be blindfolded once and went into a complete panic.I would never recommend it,ESPECIALLY in a situation like this
I talked to Pat Parelli a couple of days ago and he told me Todd pletcher called him after the race and QR will be going to Pat for help. If anyone can help QR get his confidence back is Pat. The thoroughbred industry needs more horseman. We would see alot less of this if people would use more psychology rather than force. Best fo luck with everyone involved:)
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LOL the last thing QR needs is Pat Parelli trying to showboat with him and really ruin the horse. PP should stick to selling his $600 DVD's and $80 dollar sticks with bits of string attached and leave actual horse training to people who know how
Everyone's entitled to there oppinion. No matter what happens I hope QR and all humans and animals have a great life and future.I try to look at the positive in all situations. Take care
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Okay. This is strictly MY opinion. People in horse racing are the STUPIDEST people in the world! And all of this could have been avoided if they would've bothered to train the horse better and desensitize him.
Not really...disorientating the horse doesnt always work...as proven here. And neither does training. If a horse is this bad with gated and at this point hasnt grown out of it, odds are training isnt going to do anything. Learn your facts before you talk shit about other people.
Oh yes...because only people involved in the horse racing bussiness curse. And no...correct training doesnt always fix a problem. If you take a horse that is permenantly and emotionally traumatized due to some horrific accident that occured to them or maybe an abusive owner, "correct training" doesnt always reverse the fear and habits that horse may have. Some horses have a fear of gates that just cant be corrected or helped and no ammount of training will help them.
And let me make a suggestion to you- go out and test your theory that "correct training" will always fix any problem a horse has and then get back to me. Then let me know who needs to be educated. Merry Christmas to you too.
I don't have to, as I've seen said "theory" work already. Three words: Clinton Anderson horsemanship. Look into the man and his method and get back to me.
Look, all I'm trying to say is that with some horses, correct training doesnt always correct the problems they have. I do agree with you that with most horses and most problems that they can be corrected. But with some horses, no amount of training is always going to fix the problems they have.
I agree that Clinton Anderson Downunder Horsemanship is the best horse training I have found. However, I did see Cris Cox rehabilitate a Thoroughbred with serious gate problems in less than 20 minutes. Thoroughbreds are trained to run.....unfortunately not enough time is taken to train ones with this particular problem on how to load in the gates. Too bad.
I actually agree with you. Putting a blind fold on them isnt going to do jack even if they do disorient them. If the horse doesnt want to load, the he DOESNT WANT TO LOAD. Nothing anybody does is going to change that. Theres a difference between being jumpy and excited and being just scared of going in.
Exactly. If a horse doesnt want to go into the gate, then HE DOESNT WANT TO GO INTO THE GATE. Nothing anybody does is going to change that. Blind folding him, disorientating him, and spooking him arent going to make him go in...just more irritable and frustrated.
The truly sad part is that the horse was injured both physically (minor) and emotionally (probably major). He had to be vanned back to Belmont b/c he refused to load on the plane. The work to be done now is to re-train the horse to trust that he won't get hurt - even in a larger area. Quality Road is a fine runner and earned his way into this race. This is a great gate crew handling great horses. QR simply didn't want to go in and it ended badly - especially for the horse.
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Ralphzorse, u got all of it right! Santa Anita's gate crew is usually great, but they left QR with nowhere to go forcing him to kick at the whip behind him, telling him not to go forward with jerking on lip chain in front.
I love how Sports Soup made fun of Quality Road...the horse escorts did not have enough horse tranquilizers for Quality Road because they used it on this guy (The crazy British handicapper with the hairy sideburns)...LMAO
Watch again.QR was fearful and reacting out of instinct to what was happening around him. His jockey, who knows the horse, told the starters "how" to load QR. They ignored him. The helicopter, the whip, the starter "running" toward a panicked horse all contributed to his meltdown. He never kicked at anyone. He kicked straight back at the whip. If you watch closely, at the end of the video this horse is trembling from fear. Bob Duncan, at Belmont, will be able to help him overcome his fears.
poor Quality Road. The blindfold was not only to disorientate him but to make him trust the people who were loading him. They have to be dependant on humans when their other senses are taken away. Should have used the old trailering trick - instead of putting their arms around his butt (which was dangerous with the way he was kicking out) use a rope and pull him in that way. I hope he recovers quickly from his injuries and is ok to race again next year!
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These people seriously need to learn about horsemanship and horse handling. They all need to sign up for lessons in Parelli Natural Horsemanship - it would make it safer & kinder for the horse and humans. Watching videos like this confirms my beliefs that most horse owners/handlers really don't have a clue about the nature of horses or how to work with them and the horses are the losers in this deal.
Excuse me? There is NOTHING natural about "natural" horsemanship. It's not natural for a horse to be that desensitized! Would a horse in the wild stand there and let you hit it with a whip like that? That's what you have to ask yourself. I can speak from experience because I used to do that too. It's makes it easier for the handler and makes them feel like their accomplishing something. It does absolutely NOTHING positive for the horse. I've seen it time and time again ruin horses.
@Horserider39 Btw if you listened, they said he wasnt hittint the horse , just making a sound to spook him in.. maybe you need glasses cuz even i could see that ..
From what I've heard Quality Road has always had issues loading into the gate even with extensive training. And the thought of TB racers using Parelli makes me LOL. They train just fine. Not including ones who do abuse though. Should just be happy that they agreed to scratch him.
He's always been an unruly loader, helicopter or no helicopter. He's very large, and the gate is particularly claustrophobic for him. It's a well known problem for this particular horse.
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First off I HATE RACING. (NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THIS)
Second off, I can't even watch the rest of this dang video! Once he got in the gate and was bucking and kicking and they were keeping him in there I was like...OK NO!!! I hate racing for this very reason. Most breeders and trainers don't even give a dang about horses! He just should not have been made to go into the gate! The people on the announcer were right, take the dang blind fold off, get him out of the gate and get the others out too!
If you hate racing, why did you bother to watch this? And I'm sure they probably thought he would calm down once he was in the gate (that's usually the case), but when he panicked they let him out as quickly as they could. And there are many people out there who would starve themselves before they let a horse miss a meal. These horses are their livelihood, they're not about to mistreat them.
In case you didn't noticed, that's what they were trying to do. At that point all they could do was open the gate and wait for him to move forward (remember he still had the blindfold on, it wasn't exactly the opportune moment to remove it). They're experienced horse handlers, if they weren't they wouldn't be allowed to handle horses of that calibre now would they? They were doing their job and obviously did a good one because he came out of it without serious injury.
Those retards let him buck in the gate and now he has a scratch. But im glad they had to back the horses our because Zenyatta didn't look like she was in all the way
when a horse starts bucking and losing control in the gate there's not much they can do except what was done in the video,,its a very dangerous situation
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This is disgusting. To put the life and mental health of a horse at risk for the sake of assuring that he's entered in a race is nothing short of deplorable. I don't care what race it is; I don't care how high the purse; I don't care how much his trainer's ego is involved. The horse clearly was freaked out and should have been scratched BEFORE the blindfold. To take a prey animal and blindfold him, then cram him into a small, claustrophobic space--was WRONG.
I agree. Somthing shoud be done about a horse and if it does not want to load. Why force it and cause serious inury. What if he loaded and due to his injury and something happened, ya know? But I have to say, what a run by Zenyatta. Such a beautiful and powerful soul she is. I heard they want to stop racing her and let her have a few little ones. I also heard they have a few by Barbaro. We will see. I just hope Quality Road is okay.
If your horse can't load in the starting gate without putting others at risk then they shouldn't be running, it's putting the horse at risk and the other $5mill horses at risk too. Idiots.
Quality Road is known for doing this. I feel they need to change the rules in this sport. If a horse is not sure of going in, they should automatically scratch the horse. Due to this he sustained a scratch on his leg and that can become serious with infections plus cause stress on the horse. Thank god they did not try to continue to put him in there. Hope he is okay. I'm sure he is, but still this needs to be taken serious for these horses. I agree starz, listen to the horse.
They need to have better gate standards - but on the other hand, Quality Road should never have done that. It might be he needs a lot more work with the gate, although from what I've read they've given him work in the gate, this is just a random problem. Still, shouldn't be happening.
And I highly doubt he'll develop serious infections from the few scratches he has - I've seen worse. Although he apparently has issues loading into anything now, since he wouldn't load on the plane to fly back.
Well I just hope he is okay there FoxTrottrGrl. I wonder why he gets spooked so easily? Well at least they did not race him. That was a good call on the Vets part. Maybe next time we can see him race.
I'm sure he'll be fine. According to BloodHorse, he has scratches and a few bruises, including a big gash on his head from his fight inside the gate, but nothing too serious.
I AGREE! WHen they school the horses they should make sure this crap doesn't happen. They really should have taken the jockey off and loaded him then he cloud get on inside the gate. And the guy called him a she.
Actually, a hematoma is a bruise. I could be wrong about the gash on his head, I read the article yesterday, but it basically can be summed up as scratches and bruises.
DANG! that was the worst gate freak out i have ever seen! Kudos to the starter who caught the horse when he came out of the gate ! if QR had run off blind folded it could've ended badly for everyone And great job to zenyatta to !! GIRL POWER!!
quality road wasn't freaking out though - just refusing. If you look at his behavior, it's very very decided and controlled. His agenda is to defeat the starters - when he's tricked into entering the gate he bucks shooting with purpose straight back, not up and down, like his feet are on fire so they can't close the gate. Then when he's let out the front, he goes in circles immediately, refusing to be led in a straight line - so he's not tricked again, blindfolded or not. Smart horse.
Quality Road has always had an issue with the gate. Just his personaly preference not to want to go in it. i dont think its so much as a fear but rather an issue with being stubborn. This latest issue might mentally scar him for life though.
Well, they have to van him back home across country now, because he also refused to get on the plane. So...yeah. I'd say he was pretty badly traumatized.
Zenyatta (the 4 horse) also did not want to go in the gate. Notice how hesitant she was before they started with QR. Why were both of them so hesitant?
QR has a history of gate problems. What these talking heads are not telling you is that QR was the largest horse in this race, and Zenyatta was 2nd largest. Both over 17 hands. They are smushed into that small space that is barely big enough for a horse 16 hands.
They need to make these gate stalls large enough for these powerful large horses.
I think the gate people should wear helmets and vests..kudos to the fellow who held onto him as he panicked!!!!!!! Thank God Quality Road didn't kill himself by rearing up and banging his head or break his legs!!!!!! Something wasn't right..didn't he have problems with his feet? QR was telling us something.
Not to knock Servis, but didn't Smarty Jones almost die rearing in a starting gate? Given how skittish Barbaro was before his fateful Preakness, I think that if the hoss doesn't want to run, they should send him back to the barn.
Not really, I've seen the blindfold used before, a lot of horses relax after getting it on and are perfectly fine in the gate. It's just he was having no part of it, if they'd known he'd react that badly they wouldn't have tried to get him in.
QR has a history of loading problems... IF they spoke to the east coast (NYRA) gate personnel to find out how to handle him, and know that even the sight of a whip would freak him out, well, we may have had him as a runner. Plus, when exactly did he come in? Could have spent a few days schooling at the gate! Poor horse... he could have really hurt himself, the poor gate guys and ALSO the horses waiting patiently.
Yes, thanks for posting this. I've seen it before and my concern was largely for the rest of the field-horses that impede the start and endanger everyone else should be scratched regardless of injury. I agree-the man who grabbed him leaving the gate saved the day
First, The guy cracking the whip, Stupid move, Second, The guy that grabbed QR when he went through the front of the gate is a hero! QR was blindfolded, If he had gotten loose, It was a tragedy waiting to happen! So, Whoever his name is, Thank You...
Poor Quality Road, but it happens. The gate isn't something they use to try and beat the crap out of the horse, Quality Road just hates the gate and there are several horses who don't like it, but he didn't die, so he is fine. At least they were smart enough to scratch him. He was having an off day. Even though he never wants to go in the gate, this particular day he had had enough. Good job gate people for trying!
I was terrified for him...he clearly was not going in from the start...he bucked when they first tried to lead him toward the gate. I feel especially sorry for him that they put that blind fold on him because he could've very easily hurt himself much worse than he did.
Quality Road definitely had a mental meltdown on this day. He apparently has a history of bad gate behavior. In Breeders Cup coverage for a race earlier in the day, one of the horses in the race had been banned from racing in his own country due to poor gate behavior.
Just very glad no one was seriously injured or killed. As a riding instructor, I know from experience that any horse at any moment can do enormous damage to themselves and those around them.
I watched this live and I feel very bad for all the connections of QR and the jockey looked so disapointed. Quality road is a great horse and he will heal the minor cuts and come back big time. The live feed showed a head on view which showed QR thrashing back and forth in the gate and was a little harder to watch than this one.
Thank you for posting the Qualiy Road incident. I have never seen an incident quite like that in my 25 years as a horseracing fan. I was telling my firned about the incident and I'm glad he will be able to see it. It was a very scary incident. Thank God the horse is ok.
Thanks for posting this, I was hoping someone would upload it. Kudos to all the assistant starters involved for handling this difficult situation as well as they could have. It's amazing no one was hurt, and they absolutely made the right call by scratching Quality Road immediately from the race.
As a horse lover and owner, that "poor noble beast" wouldn't have been sympathised with had he killed his jock or handler eh? He wasn't shot, or beat, and was scratched instead of being run and his life risked.
"Why would you watch a video like this? Is this entertainment for you?" Oh, sorry, only works the other way I guess ;)
Maybe some people would like to know what happend to a horse they like? I was watching it to see what happend to him, it's a relief to see it wasn't worse.
Noble beast, sure, i bet you wouldnt think him to noble if you were one of the stall hands or the jock he could have killed.
He only has minor scrapes. I read up on it this morning. They this because the people who could not see the race (like me) wanted to know what happened.
that's horrible. I'm not one of those people who is against horse racing, I love it...but this was just so upsetting to watch, I feel so so bad for Quality Road.
on the bright side, though, congrats to Zenyatta on an incredible race!!
Racing should not be a sport.
gerbilsocks 2 months ago
@TangoAndAmber You don't know anything about racing either. These horses are bred to run. They are animals that are meant to have their entire body weight supported on their legs for most of their life. On their legs, a horse doesn't weigh a thing, Off his/her legs, they can weight in excess of 1000-1300 pounds, and their bodies are not build to support that weight. Which is why when a race horse goes down and can not get up, it is NEVER a good sign.
dickclarkfan1 2 months ago
I LUV QUALITY ROAD!!!! he is a brilliant horse.
Letswinjeff1 2 months ago
love strong and proud horses, beautiful animal.
umarmaxmas 3 months ago
@TangoAndAmber you are indeed a faggot, them beauties are built for running in competition man
umarmaxmas 3 months ago
Im amazed the other horses didnt start to freak out
BestBoysLanceAndCash 6 months ago 2
He's such a rock star ... with that long hair and attitude ... Love and miss that dude!
1Clarenceboy 6 months ago 4
Couldnt ask for better handlers. They did their job and didnt push him. I have a feeling he just knew something wouldnt go right that day so he didnt want to race. Lol call me crazy..
Militarylove2012 9 months ago 7
@Militarylove2012 No your right! Barbaro didn't want to load the day he broke his leg. They just know..
Militarylove2012 3 months ago
the man who grabbed the reins the moment he exited the date is one great handler.
umarmaxmas 9 months ago 5
them men have guts O_O
iLoveMyHorseLife 10 months ago 3
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I bet this bastard and didnt get refunded because it was a gate scratch. I'll celebrate the day quality road takes a glue nap
cnard791 11 months ago
@cnard791 LOL.. You were refunded. If you didn't take your ticket to the teller than that is your problem.
joshb729 11 months ago
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Thank God for the starter who help onto the reins while QR shot out of the gate!! That horse was freaked out and blind folded and probably would have killed himself had he gotten loose and run out onto the track. I believe the gentleman who was holding onto QR received an award for his actions as well :)) Glad everything turned out okay :)
garretsgold379 1 year ago
Quality Road of 2009 would have gave Zenyatta ALL she could handle. Shame he didn't feel like going in. But hey he doesn't wanna go...He doesn't wanna go!. I love Quality Road to death!.
Nucleo85Torino 1 year ago
@Nucleo85Torino Not at 10 furlongs he wouldn't have.
Venckman 8 months ago
@TangoAndAmber He just doesn't like the gate. Most horses love to run but the gate is a tramatic experinence.
NicoleAndBandit 1 year ago
Beautiful horse. I know the race must gone on and whatever but they're the ones who made it worse for him. Let him calm down soom, walk him around, pet him, talk to him. You can't forse a horse that big to do something he doesn't want to and he'll hurt himself trying to get away if he has to.
NicoleAndBandit 1 year ago
wow QR was never gonna give in! don't blame him, some horses are like that. hes still a beauty and a great runner!
CanterQueen820 1 year ago
Where's the blindfold?!? Should've used it for him!
WSBT960 1 year ago
@WSBT960 they did... didnt u hear the guy say that they were putting on a blindfold and thats why it was so worrysome when the horse started to run in circles when they got him out of the gate because he culd see where he wass.
dx2demon 1 year ago
@WSBT960 is it crack?
umarmaxmas 3 months ago
:21 I wonder what he is thinking.
21Sarabi 1 year ago
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Nucleo85Torino 1 year ago
Somebody needs to put this to music!!!!!!!!
bbbask 1 year ago
@bbbask wtf
umarmaxmas 3 months ago
Poor Quality Road. Hopefully this year he's okay about loading. He's been much better about it so far this year.
I hope he wins the Breeder's Cup! He lost his last race, but I don't think it was really his fault.... he's the best horse racing right now in my opinion.
Premaro 1 year ago
This video footage is perfection ammunition for every animal rights activist to use against the horse racing industry. As mentioned previously, horses needed better training on how to safely and quickly load into the gate--you won't win a race if the horse hurts himself before it even starts. Furthermore, it's unfair to the other horse owners (and horses) when a neurotic horse can affect the outcome of a race by routinely acting up while being loaded.
Bigshotism 1 year ago
i am loving QR here, looking at his aggression and energy, he is a darling.
umarmaxmas 1 year ago
Okay didn't get a chance to see TBC and while I'm watching, in the beginning I was LMAO because Quality Road was saying "Fuck This!! I ain't running for you humans!!!"
but then when they tried to disorient him, get him into that gate, and he took "berserk" to a whole new level, I started getting scared even thought this happened last year. Something spooked the hell out of him!
Poor Horsey.
bubblinbrownsugar616 1 year ago
@bubblinbrownsugar616 well with racing some days are diamonds some days are stones-- that day Quality Road was NOT digging that starting gate
xkfireflieskx 1 year ago
Everytime I watch this I keep hoping they get him in the gate and he runs so that Z can run him down so I don't have to hear how he's gonna destroy her in The Classic this year...Guess I should be grateful he didn't run and I'll get a better price on Z in the Classic ;)
ZenBestRachWorst 1 year ago
@Kulaness
There was a helicopter making a LOT of noise, I can hear it in the video and it's enough to startle a horse.
Kekira 1 year ago
thank you!! this was potentially VERY dangerous to all jockeys and horses, let alone to Quality and his jockey!!!!
andromeda1130 1 year ago
Horse 1...Humans 0??
Two400 1 year ago 2
That handler who took control of a startled and panicked thoroughbred is the man!
Its a shame QR didn't want to get in the gate, he was my pick to win
KingKiaJames 1 year ago
@KingKiaJames He was one of mine too.
LastTree 1 year ago
He is supposed to run in the Donn next..
21Sarabi 2 years ago
how did he get his gate card? i know horses have moments but this wasn't his first time having a problem loading.
phantomwrangler 2 years ago
@viking1938
that handler saved the day. and it didn't look easy for him.
theartofmelancholy 2 years ago 2
no he just doesnt like the gate.
HorseCrazieGirl15 2 years ago
i agree if they didnt hold on to him he would off went running up and could of killed him self what a sad day it would of been if that did happen
PETA would probadly be all over it in a heartbeat if it did happen
HorseCrazieGirl15 2 years ago
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he would have beaten zenyatta! i love quality road soo much!!
jediknightjohnny123 2 years ago
He Wouldn't Of , But I Do Believe This Boy Would Of finished A Strong 3rd ,
He Is Superior
ZenyattaLuver 2 years ago
Johnny V. will have one-half of the race won Sunday in the Hal's Hope to get Quality Road into the starting gate without a problem. This cat is more of a handful than Rock Hard Ten.
richardcoreno 2 years ago
Thanks bombomb - He was supposed to (I think) race on 11/29; didn't; then again early December and I don't think he did then either. Hope he can go at Gulfstream.
newjerseypam 2 years ago
WHERE is he now??
newjerseypam 2 years ago
He just won down at Gulfstream...no problems at the gate either.
JimSpoor 2 years ago 9
Thanks Jim - I saw that, and he looked just fine. I think it was wise to sort of start from ground-up; at a place that he did well.
newjerseypam 2 years ago
I do believe it is time for policies to be examined on loading an unwilling horse into a gate.
syren345 2 years ago
i agree to that. or redesign the gate so horses are willing to go in.
remember horses are animals that dont like small enclosed spaces
HorseCrazieGirl15 2 years ago
Just out of curiosity... does Michael Dickenson still train?
andromeda1130 2 years ago
I agree! I couldn't believe it when they let Barbaro race after breaking through the gate!
andromeda1130 2 years ago
As soon as they put the blindfold on him I knew this would not end well! My horse had to be blindfolded once and went into a complete panic.I would never recommend it,ESPECIALLY in a situation like this
ladyinred266 2 years ago
I talked to Pat Parelli a couple of days ago and he told me Todd pletcher called him after the race and QR will be going to Pat for help. If anyone can help QR get his confidence back is Pat. The thoroughbred industry needs more horseman. We would see alot less of this if people would use more psychology rather than force. Best fo luck with everyone involved:)
LauraAndMyPNHorses 2 years ago 4
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LOL the last thing QR needs is Pat Parelli trying to showboat with him and really ruin the horse. PP should stick to selling his $600 DVD's and $80 dollar sticks with bits of string attached and leave actual horse training to people who know how
headbeaver22 2 years ago
Everyone's entitled to there oppinion. No matter what happens I hope QR and all humans and animals have a great life and future.I try to look at the positive in all situations. Take care
LauraAndMyPNHorses 2 years ago 13
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Okay. This is strictly MY opinion. People in horse racing are the STUPIDEST people in the world! And all of this could have been avoided if they would've bothered to train the horse better and desensitize him.
BarrelsPolesandJack 2 years ago
Not really...disorientating the horse doesnt always work...as proven here. And neither does training. If a horse is this bad with gated and at this point hasnt grown out of it, odds are training isnt going to do anything. Learn your facts before you talk shit about other people.
ffalcons102 2 years ago
Correct training does. By the way, watch your mouth. Cursing doesn't prove anything other than the fact that you're proving my point.
BarrelsPolesandJack 2 years ago
Oh yes...because only people involved in the horse racing bussiness curse. And no...correct training doesnt always fix a problem. If you take a horse that is permenantly and emotionally traumatized due to some horrific accident that occured to them or maybe an abusive owner, "correct training" doesnt always reverse the fear and habits that horse may have. Some horses have a fear of gates that just cant be corrected or helped and no ammount of training will help them.
ffalcons102 2 years ago 3
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*sigh* Yes it does.
Look, do us all a favor and get educated before your next post, okay? Thank you.
God bless you, and have a Merry Christmas.
BarrelsPolesandJack 2 years ago
And let me make a suggestion to you- go out and test your theory that "correct training" will always fix any problem a horse has and then get back to me. Then let me know who needs to be educated. Merry Christmas to you too.
ffalcons102 2 years ago 3
I don't have to, as I've seen said "theory" work already. Three words: Clinton Anderson horsemanship. Look into the man and his method and get back to me.
BarrelsPolesandJack 2 years ago
Look, all I'm trying to say is that with some horses, correct training doesnt always correct the problems they have. I do agree with you that with most horses and most problems that they can be corrected. But with some horses, no amount of training is always going to fix the problems they have.
ffalcons102 2 years ago 4
i agree w/ ffalcons102
but sometimes the TRAINER needs to make sure the horse is used to the gate before he's ready to race.
its like a car w/ out tires
a horse race isnt a horse race without the (although i want it gone or something done to it) Starting Gate
HorseCrazieGirl15 2 years ago
@BarrelsPolesandJack
I agree that Clinton Anderson Downunder Horsemanship is the best horse training I have found. However, I did see Cris Cox rehabilitate a Thoroughbred with serious gate problems in less than 20 minutes. Thoroughbreds are trained to run.....unfortunately not enough time is taken to train ones with this particular problem on how to load in the gates. Too bad.
sandhorse1 1 year ago
@BarrelsPolesandJack
Chris Cox had a 2 episode special on gate loading it seemed to help the horse alot both on the track and off
HorseCrazieGirl15 1 year ago
@HorseCrazieGirl15 I'm not crazy about Chris Cox. In fact, I could care less about him.
BarrelsPolesandJack 1 year ago
I do agree. Why is it the people who "think" they know what they are talking about always have the blank pages made like a day or few weeks ago.
21Sarabi 2 years ago 4
This was so wrong! Never blindfold him. They could have easily taken him to the front of the gate and backed him in. This could have been tragic!
andromeda1130 2 years ago
I actually agree with you. Putting a blind fold on them isnt going to do jack even if they do disorient them. If the horse doesnt want to load, the he DOESNT WANT TO LOAD. Nothing anybody does is going to change that. Theres a difference between being jumpy and excited and being just scared of going in.
ffalcons102 2 years ago 3
He should not have been forced to go in the gate. This was not only dangerous to QR and his jockey, but to the other horses and riders, as well.
andromeda1130 2 years ago 2
Exactly. If a horse doesnt want to go into the gate, then HE DOESNT WANT TO GO INTO THE GATE. Nothing anybody does is going to change that. Blind folding him, disorientating him, and spooking him arent going to make him go in...just more irritable and frustrated.
ffalcons102 2 years ago 3
By the way, who WAS QR's jockey?
syren345 2 years ago
John R. Velazquez was the jockey. Glad he was unhurt.
andromeda1130 2 years ago 4
Johnny Velasquez, I think
creaturelover 2 years ago
The truly sad part is that the horse was injured both physically (minor) and emotionally (probably major). He had to be vanned back to Belmont b/c he refused to load on the plane. The work to be done now is to re-train the horse to trust that he won't get hurt - even in a larger area. Quality Road is a fine runner and earned his way into this race. This is a great gate crew handling great horses. QR simply didn't want to go in and it ended badly - especially for the horse.
aso125 2 years ago
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Ralphzorse, u got all of it right! Santa Anita's gate crew is usually great, but they left QR with nowhere to go forcing him to kick at the whip behind him, telling him not to go forward with jerking on lip chain in front.
2009thoroughbreds 2 years ago
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Sad event caused by one bad apple on the gate crew terrorizing QR into kicking out at the whip behind him.
2009thoroughbreds 2 years ago
I love how Sports Soup made fun of Quality Road...the horse escorts did not have enough horse tranquilizers for Quality Road because they used it on this guy (The crazy British handicapper with the hairy sideburns)...LMAO
sinbinuniversity 2 years ago 2
John V did?? How do you know?? Also there is a reason why they have to jerk the chain from the horses mouth when they try to bite at it.
21Sarabi 2 years ago 2
Watch again.QR was fearful and reacting out of instinct to what was happening around him. His jockey, who knows the horse, told the starters "how" to load QR. They ignored him. The helicopter, the whip, the starter "running" toward a panicked horse all contributed to his meltdown. He never kicked at anyone. He kicked straight back at the whip. If you watch closely, at the end of the video this horse is trembling from fear. Bob Duncan, at Belmont, will be able to help him overcome his fears.
ralphzorse 2 years ago
poor Quality Road. The blindfold was not only to disorientate him but to make him trust the people who were loading him. They have to be dependant on humans when their other senses are taken away. Should have used the old trailering trick - instead of putting their arms around his butt (which was dangerous with the way he was kicking out) use a rope and pull him in that way. I hope he recovers quickly from his injuries and is ok to race again next year!
iqreevo 2 years ago
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These people seriously need to learn about horsemanship and horse handling. They all need to sign up for lessons in Parelli Natural Horsemanship - it would make it safer & kinder for the horse and humans. Watching videos like this confirms my beliefs that most horse owners/handlers really don't have a clue about the nature of horses or how to work with them and the horses are the losers in this deal.
n2ativone 2 years ago
@n2ativone
Excuse me? There is NOTHING natural about "natural" horsemanship. It's not natural for a horse to be that desensitized! Would a horse in the wild stand there and let you hit it with a whip like that? That's what you have to ask yourself. I can speak from experience because I used to do that too. It's makes it easier for the handler and makes them feel like their accomplishing something. It does absolutely NOTHING positive for the horse. I've seen it time and time again ruin horses.
Horserider39 2 years ago 2
@Horserider39 Btw if you listened, they said he wasnt hittint the horse , just making a sound to spook him in.. maybe you need glasses cuz even i could see that ..
LollinBallin 2 years ago 2
Comment removed
Horserider39 2 years ago
@LollinBallin
I wasn't talking about them. They did an excellent job. I was talking about Parelli.
Horserider39 2 years ago
From what I've heard Quality Road has always had issues loading into the gate even with extensive training. And the thought of TB racers using Parelli makes me LOL. They train just fine. Not including ones who do abuse though. Should just be happy that they agreed to scratch him.
broodmare25 2 years ago 4
All I know is that I see some very irrational comments here.
AtashiBaka 2 years ago
He's always been an unruly loader, helicopter or no helicopter. He's very large, and the gate is particularly claustrophobic for him. It's a well known problem for this particular horse.
Venckman 2 years ago
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First off I HATE RACING. (NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THIS)
Second off, I can't even watch the rest of this dang video! Once he got in the gate and was bucking and kicking and they were keeping him in there I was like...OK NO!!! I hate racing for this very reason. Most breeders and trainers don't even give a dang about horses! He just should not have been made to go into the gate! The people on the announcer were right, take the dang blind fold off, get him out of the gate and get the others out too!
WondersCreated 2 years ago
If you hate racing, why did you bother to watch this? And I'm sure they probably thought he would calm down once he was in the gate (that's usually the case), but when he panicked they let him out as quickly as they could. And there are many people out there who would starve themselves before they let a horse miss a meal. These horses are their livelihood, they're not about to mistreat them.
FoxTrottrGrl 2 years ago
We all have our oppionions....
WondersCreated 2 years ago
@WondersCreated
In case you didn't noticed, that's what they were trying to do. At that point all they could do was open the gate and wait for him to move forward (remember he still had the blindfold on, it wasn't exactly the opportune moment to remove it). They're experienced horse handlers, if they weren't they wouldn't be allowed to handle horses of that calibre now would they? They were doing their job and obviously did a good one because he came out of it without serious injury.
Horserider39 2 years ago 4
Those retards let him buck in the gate and now he has a scratch. But im glad they had to back the horses our because Zenyatta didn't look like she was in all the way
XoDonutxBreyeroX 2 years ago
when a horse starts bucking and losing control in the gate there's not much they can do except what was done in the video,,its a very dangerous situation
FanOBarbaro 2 years ago
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This is disgusting. To put the life and mental health of a horse at risk for the sake of assuring that he's entered in a race is nothing short of deplorable. I don't care what race it is; I don't care how high the purse; I don't care how much his trainer's ego is involved. The horse clearly was freaked out and should have been scratched BEFORE the blindfold. To take a prey animal and blindfold him, then cram him into a small, claustrophobic space--was WRONG.
ThoroughbredWriter 2 years ago
Actually, the guy who held on to QR after the dust up did a great job hanging on. What a dangerous situation that was!
thelosthills 2 years ago 13
@thelosthills that dude really did a magnificient job.
umarmaxmas 1 year ago
I agree. Somthing shoud be done about a horse and if it does not want to load. Why force it and cause serious inury. What if he loaded and due to his injury and something happened, ya know? But I have to say, what a run by Zenyatta. Such a beautiful and powerful soul she is. I heard they want to stop racing her and let her have a few little ones. I also heard they have a few by Barbaro. We will see. I just hope Quality Road is okay.
XXXphukitXXX 2 years ago
Nope - Barbaro was never bred. Although they do plan on retiring Zenyatta. I'd like to see her booked to Curlin, personally.
FoxTrottrGrl 2 years ago
If your horse can't load in the starting gate without putting others at risk then they shouldn't be running, it's putting the horse at risk and the other $5mill horses at risk too. Idiots.
xTragicalFiasco 2 years ago
I already said it was a fat guy running making the grandstand rafters shake sssstttttaaaaaaarrrrrrrrr
spam1237 2 years ago
Quality Road is known for doing this. I feel they need to change the rules in this sport. If a horse is not sure of going in, they should automatically scratch the horse. Due to this he sustained a scratch on his leg and that can become serious with infections plus cause stress on the horse. Thank god they did not try to continue to put him in there. Hope he is okay. I'm sure he is, but still this needs to be taken serious for these horses. I agree starz, listen to the horse.
XXXphukitXXX 2 years ago
They need to have better gate standards - but on the other hand, Quality Road should never have done that. It might be he needs a lot more work with the gate, although from what I've read they've given him work in the gate, this is just a random problem. Still, shouldn't be happening.
And I highly doubt he'll develop serious infections from the few scratches he has - I've seen worse. Although he apparently has issues loading into anything now, since he wouldn't load on the plane to fly back.
FoxTrottrGrl 2 years ago
Well I just hope he is okay there FoxTrottrGrl. I wonder why he gets spooked so easily? Well at least they did not race him. That was a good call on the Vets part. Maybe next time we can see him race.
XXXphukitXXX 2 years ago
I'm sure he'll be fine. According to BloodHorse, he has scratches and a few bruises, including a big gash on his head from his fight inside the gate, but nothing too serious.
FoxTrottrGrl 2 years ago
I AGREE! WHen they school the horses they should make sure this crap doesn't happen. They really should have taken the jockey off and loaded him then he cloud get on inside the gate. And the guy called him a she.
XoDonutxBreyeroX 2 years ago
u mean a gash on his leg?cause thats what i read in bloodhorse..that he has a hematoma on his leg from it
FanOBarbaro 2 years ago
Actually, a hematoma is a bruise. I could be wrong about the gash on his head, I read the article yesterday, but it basically can be summed up as scratches and bruises.
FoxTrottrGrl 2 years ago
DANG! that was the worst gate freak out i have ever seen! Kudos to the starter who caught the horse when he came out of the gate ! if QR had run off blind folded it could've ended badly for everyone And great job to zenyatta to !! GIRL POWER!!
garretsgold379 2 years ago
quality road wasn't freaking out though - just refusing. If you look at his behavior, it's very very decided and controlled. His agenda is to defeat the starters - when he's tricked into entering the gate he bucks shooting with purpose straight back, not up and down, like his feet are on fire so they can't close the gate. Then when he's let out the front, he goes in circles immediately, refusing to be led in a straight line - so he's not tricked again, blindfolded or not. Smart horse.
jeevesandbertie 2 years ago
What in the world was a helicopter -- clearly audible -- doing in this area? It certainly could've spooked QR and others.
jtierney1963 2 years ago
Quality Road has always had an issue with the gate. Just his personaly preference not to want to go in it. i dont think its so much as a fear but rather an issue with being stubborn. This latest issue might mentally scar him for life though.
jeepgirl190 2 years ago
Well, they have to van him back home across country now, because he also refused to get on the plane. So...yeah. I'd say he was pretty badly traumatized.
Venckman 2 years ago
that is the most serious gate freakout I've ever seen... really
creaturelover 2 years ago
Zenyatta (the 4 horse) also did not want to go in the gate. Notice how hesitant she was before they started with QR. Why were both of them so hesitant?
QR has a history of gate problems. What these talking heads are not telling you is that QR was the largest horse in this race, and Zenyatta was 2nd largest. Both over 17 hands. They are smushed into that small space that is barely big enough for a horse 16 hands.
They need to make these gate stalls large enough for these powerful large horses.
Geronimo2123 2 years ago
I think the gate people should wear helmets and vests..kudos to the fellow who held onto him as he panicked!!!!!!! Thank God Quality Road didn't kill himself by rearing up and banging his head or break his legs!!!!!! Something wasn't right..didn't he have problems with his feet? QR was telling us something.
LastTree 2 years ago 2
Ouch. That's a serious freakout. MAJOR props to the starter who managed to grab him when he came out... that could have been truly disastrous.
hrhirene 2 years ago
This is a very good video. Thanks. Kudos to those guys working the gates and their talent at handling these horses.
Shaniqua2Hepsibah 2 years ago
Look at Quality Roads body language,. He does not want to run today and thats that
rockybudgeboa 2 years ago
Not to knock Servis, but didn't Smarty Jones almost die rearing in a starting gate? Given how skittish Barbaro was before his fateful Preakness, I think that if the hoss doesn't want to run, they should send him back to the barn.
tyrrath 2 years ago
No Quality Road has always been skittish in the gate no matter how much gate training and schooling they have done.
21Sarabi 2 years ago
hes us OK!
kalandro14 2 years ago
If behind quality road back legs u surly would be chonked to RIP
SGVBaller5 2 years ago
they said he just has a scratch on his hind leg.. fortunately! glad he's ok.
aveiceae 2 years ago
Gravy, it is never entertainment to see a horse act up when going into the gate.
21Sarabi 2 years ago
Not really, I've seen the blindfold used before, a lot of horses relax after getting it on and are perfectly fine in the gate. It's just he was having no part of it, if they'd known he'd react that badly they wouldn't have tried to get him in.
Kekira 2 years ago 4
Thanks for posting this. It certainly added to the drama of what was about to happen. I'm glad Quality Road came out okay. Scary stuff.
binaryg 2 years ago
Whip not a good idead.I feel so bad for him.
breyer4life 2 years ago
After the race they told us that he got a scrape on him.
breyer4life 2 years ago 2
Poor gate trainning.
lilchi721 2 years ago
I agree poor gate training and poor leadership
WenapegFarm 2 years ago
QR has a history of loading problems... IF they spoke to the east coast (NYRA) gate personnel to find out how to handle him, and know that even the sight of a whip would freak him out, well, we may have had him as a runner. Plus, when exactly did he come in? Could have spent a few days schooling at the gate! Poor horse... he could have really hurt himself, the poor gate guys and ALSO the horses waiting patiently.
kimzinnie 2 years ago 2
Yes, thanks for posting this. I've seen it before and my concern was largely for the rest of the field-horses that impede the start and endanger everyone else should be scratched regardless of injury. I agree-the man who grabbed him leaving the gate saved the day
CastleMc 2 years ago
First, The guy cracking the whip, Stupid move, Second, The guy that grabbed QR when he went through the front of the gate is a hero! QR was blindfolded, If he had gotten loose, It was a tragedy waiting to happen! So, Whoever his name is, Thank You...
WOOKSTER8 2 years ago
Poor Quality Road, but it happens. The gate isn't something they use to try and beat the crap out of the horse, Quality Road just hates the gate and there are several horses who don't like it, but he didn't die, so he is fine. At least they were smart enough to scratch him. He was having an off day. Even though he never wants to go in the gate, this particular day he had had enough. Good job gate people for trying!
horsecrazy11 2 years ago
I was terrified for him...he clearly was not going in from the start...he bucked when they first tried to lead him toward the gate. I feel especially sorry for him that they put that blind fold on him because he could've very easily hurt himself much worse than he did.
flipflopchick101 2 years ago
Comment removed
flipflopchick101 2 years ago
Quality Road definitely had a mental meltdown on this day. He apparently has a history of bad gate behavior. In Breeders Cup coverage for a race earlier in the day, one of the horses in the race had been banned from racing in his own country due to poor gate behavior.
Just very glad no one was seriously injured or killed. As a riding instructor, I know from experience that any horse at any moment can do enormous damage to themselves and those around them.
Kudos to Zenyatta, a very special mare
Nyquil5 2 years ago
I watched this live and I feel very bad for all the connections of QR and the jockey looked so disapointed. Quality road is a great horse and he will heal the minor cuts and come back big time. The live feed showed a head on view which showed QR thrashing back and forth in the gate and was a little harder to watch than this one.
Flagdue 2 years ago
Thank you for posting the Qualiy Road incident. I have never seen an incident quite like that in my 25 years as a horseracing fan. I was telling my firned about the incident and I'm glad he will be able to see it. It was a very scary incident. Thank God the horse is ok.
ZenyattaFan1 2 years ago 2
Thanks for posting this, I was hoping someone would upload it. Kudos to all the assistant starters involved for handling this difficult situation as well as they could have. It's amazing no one was hurt, and they absolutely made the right call by scratching Quality Road immediately from the race.
SuperGEM3 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Why would you upload a video like this?
This poor noble beast was scared, nervous and very upset by what was going on, he injured himself in the process.
This is entertainment for you? I guess you don't like horses very much. How many times have you replayed this to get a rush?
GravySnifter 2 years ago
As a horse lover and owner, that "poor noble beast" wouldn't have been sympathised with had he killed his jock or handler eh? He wasn't shot, or beat, and was scratched instead of being run and his life risked.
"Why would you watch a video like this? Is this entertainment for you?" Oh, sorry, only works the other way I guess ;)
fligtib 2 years ago
Maybe some people would like to know what happend to a horse they like? I was watching it to see what happend to him, it's a relief to see it wasn't worse.
Noble beast, sure, i bet you wouldnt think him to noble if you were one of the stall hands or the jock he could have killed.
luvlife77 2 years ago
He only has minor scrapes. I read up on it this morning. They this because the people who could not see the race (like me) wanted to know what happened.
horsecrazy11 2 years ago
that's horrible. I'm not one of those people who is against horse racing, I love it...but this was just so upsetting to watch, I feel so so bad for Quality Road.
on the bright side, though, congrats to Zenyatta on an incredible race!!
bubbles459 2 years ago