RIP
Curtis will remember this guy.
No mention of how tall he was, but I always thought him to be about 6'
http://live.drf.com/nuggets/44115-howard-grant-top-rider-from-1960s-and-70s-has-died-at-age-79
Quote from: stark on August 03, 2018, 01:40:24 PM
RIP
Curtis will remember this guy.
No mention of how tall he was, but I always thought him to be about 6'
http://live.drf.com/nuggets/44115-howard-grant-top-rider-from-1960s-and-70s-has-died-at-age-79
I was just talking to someone about him the other day. I think he tacked somewhere around 123 about 40 years ago. If he could have just got his weight down to 117, he would have contended for leading rider at most so. CA meets. He was a great jock, he just couldn't get his weight down, probably physically impossible. I remember that Shoemaker missed a couple of races that Stardust Mel was entered in years and years ago. One because he was riding Avatar in the Belmont and the other--the Hollywood Gold Cup--because of serving days. Whittingham had a couple of others in those races as well, Pierce committed to a mare La Zanzara so he couldn't sub for Shoe on Stardust Mel. Most figured Charlie would use Fernando Toro since he rode Stardust Mel a lot the he was with Larry Rose. Instead, Whittingham put Toro on his third horse, an unheralded South American import named El Tarta, and put Grant on Stardust Mel. His reasoning was that, other than Shoe and Laffit Pincay, Grant was the best jock in the room and because Stardust Mel was a high weight, 126 I believe, Grant could easily make the weight. Not often a jock got a better mount because they had trouble making a lighter weight.
I remember him well. RIP.
Seen him ride in New York! Reliable ryder
Quote from: curtis on August 03, 2018, 04:42:54 PM
I was just talking to someone about him the other day. I think he tacked somewhere around 123 about 40 years ago. If he could have just got his weight down to 117, he would have contended for leading rider at most so. CA meets. He was a great jock, he just couldn't get his weight down, probably physically impossible. I remember that Shoemaker missed a couple of races that Stardust Mel was entered in years and years ago. One because he was riding Avatar in the Belmont and the other--the Hollywood Gold Cup--because of serving days. Whittingham had a couple of others in those races as well, Pierce committed to a mare La Zanzara so he couldn't sub for Shoe on Stardust Mel. Most figured Charlie would use Fernando Toro since he rode Stardust Mel a lot the he was with Larry Rose. Instead, Whittingham put Toro on his third horse, an unheralded South American import named El Tarta, and put Grant on Stardust Mel. His reasoning was that, other than Shoe and Laffit Pincay, Grant was the best jock in the room and because Stardust Mel was a high weight, 126 I believe, Grant could easily make the weight. Not often a jock got a better mount because they had trouble making a lighter weight.
Great story :chickendance:
CNak went down in Saturday's nitecap, cost his horse his life, thanks to careless riding by apprentice AEspinoza by all indications, we'll see what the stewards have to say.
Matt Nakatani
@MATT_NAK
POSITIVE NEWS! We just met with the spinal specialist & he will be released from the hospital shortly. He thankfully escaped without any major injuries, however his timetable to return to riding is uncertain. Don't worry, we will come back stronger than ever!
Quote from: stark on August 05, 2018, 12:23:18 PM
CNak went down in Saturday's nitecap, cost his horse his life, thanks to careless riding by apprentice AEspinoza by all indications, we'll see what the stewards have to say.
Matt Nakatani
@MATT_NAK
POSITIVE NEWS! We just met with the spinal specialist & he will be released from the hospital shortly. He thankfully escaped without any major injuries, however his timetable to return to riding is uncertain. Don't worry, we will come back stronger than ever!
That is pretty good news! Sad a life was lost -
Kurt Hoover on TVG just announced that the stewards have given Assael Espinoza a ten-racing-day suspension for careless riding.
It's a strong penalty, but it can't make up for the fact that his actions killed a horse. I can only hope that this spill haunts him...and makes him a safer, better rider.
Jay Privman
@DRFPrivman
Corey Nakatani, involved in accident in final race Saturday at @DelMarRacing, will have back surgery within 2 weeks but will then be off 2 months, then return to action, all per his son and agent.
(maybe he'll lose a few unwanted pounds in the process)
Quote from: stark on August 07, 2018, 03:56:58 PM
Jay Privman
@DRFPrivman
Corey Nakatani, involved in accident in final race Saturday at @DelMarRacing, will have back surgery within 2 weeks but will then be off 2 months, then return to action, all per his son and agent.
(maybe he'll lose a few unwanted pounds in the process)
I don't don't know if one would classify it as ironic or coincidental that Victor Espinoza'a nephew caused another jock to have a spinal injury. What I do know is that it is unfortunate.
Quote from: stark on August 07, 2018, 03:56:58 PM
Jay Privman
@DRFPrivman
Corey Nakatani, involved in accident in final race Saturday at @DelMarRacing, will have back surgery within 2 weeks but will then be off 2 months, then return to action, all per his son and agent.
(maybe he'll lose a few unwanted pounds in the process)
I wish him all the best - the guy really has been trying!
Apprentice jockey Assael Espinoza is named to ride five of Sunday's nine races after receiving a stay of a 10-day suspension for careless riding.
Espinoza, 18, was granted the stay by a San Diego county Superior Court judge on Thursday. The suspension was scheduled to begin on Sunday and continue for 10 racing days through Aug. 25.
With the stay, Espinoza can continue riding until a hearing is conducted, many weeks or months from now.
Through Wednesday, Espinoza is fourth in the jockey standings
Where did you read that, Stark? Could you provide a link? Thanks.
If it's true, I'm not happy to hear that. While he may have a legal right to appeal that suspension, it kind of makes all his apologies to the riders he injured and the trainer of the horse he killed ring hollow.
The judge's ruling will probably let him ride for most of the prestigious Del Mar meet. ::)
sorry for the omission, my bad
http://live.drf.com/nuggets/44299-del-mar-judge-grants-espinoza-a-stay-of-10-day-suspension
I found this article on my Yahoo News page today.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sd-sp-del-mar-horse-death-20180810-story.html#
The incident was bad enough in itself (a horse killed and a rider out for months with serious injury), but Assael's tone-deaf decision to appeal his suspension has apparently pushed it into national news coverage.
Irish Spring's owner is outraged. IMHO, the young rider is giving the impression that all his apologies are meaningless.
But....trainers are still giving him mounts; five yesterday, IIRC. ??? :(