funny business on Funny Cide??

Craptacular · 05-10-2003, 05:38 PM

Stewards investigating 'suspicious' photo

What else was jockey Jose Santos carrying in his whip hand when he rode Funny Cide to a Kentucky Derby win??

kcchief19 · 05-11-2003, 12:10 PM

There is apparently plenty of evidence to support Santos' innocnence, except for two minor details:

1) Several sources yesterday cited Santos as saying that the only thing in his hand other than the whip was a bracelet he always carries for good luck. Well, why you would carry instead of wearing a bracelet is an odd choice, but then Daily Racing Form reported today he says he was carrying nothing at all. Is the story changing?

2) Defenders have said he was carrying nothing and that what we are seeing is a "pinhole" view of the jockey behind him. Well, except that based on the angle of the photo it would appear that what we would be seeing is his hand and that the "object" is dark and not teal like the jockey behind him, that makes since.

I know little about horseracing. Is that a standard whip grip? That seems very precarious. I saw an article from one of his defenders who said he was holding the while like a golf club, but I know no golfer who uses a grip like that. At least not a golf who shoots under 200 for 18 holes.

tucker342 · 05-11-2003, 12:16 PM

no kidding, it looks like he's barely holding on to it. But what could he be holding that would make any difference in the race?

JeeberD · 05-11-2003, 12:23 PM

I wondered the same thing? What would he have that would make a difference. But after reading the espn.com article, it does sound like his story is changing (from holding some sort of pager to a bracelet), then blaming the changed story on his lack of english expertice.

I hope everything's kosher here...

TroyF · 05-11-2003, 05:29 PM

It was a bottle of glue.

TroyF

RonnieDobbs · 05-11-2003, 05:32 PM

Just as far as the what-could-it-have-been questions, I read that one thing they were worried about was some sort of electric shock that would get the horse to go faster than the traditional methods, not too farfetched IMO.

QuikSand · 05-12-2003, 08:00 AM

For what it's worth, the best words I have seen written on this have been by Randy Moss (no, it's a different guy also named Randy Moss), over at ESPN:

Moss article on ESPN

Moss basically walks us through Santos's actions with his right (whip) hand during the late stages of the race, and argues that this single photo was taken while he was in the midst of changing his grip, to pull the whip down and engage in a more celebratory pose. That being so, it strongy reinforces the argument that there is nothing behind this claim of foul.

I have no problem with the powers that be conducting an inquiry, but assuming they see what Moss saw, they should very deliberately affirm that nothing was done illegaly, and the Funny Cide's victory was indisputably on the level.

Franklinnoble · 05-12-2003, 12:55 PM

Santos has been cleared - good article here.

MizzouRah · 05-12-2003, 01:03 PM

My Aunt is a horse trainer at Thistledown racetrack in Cleveland, Oh. and when I was a kid and would go and visit her, she would always have these 'horse shockers' lying around her house. They were small and had two prongs on them. Believe me when I say they give out quite a shock when applied to ones skin. Heck, if I was horse and someone shocked me with that, I would run my a** off to!

They used to be legal, but not anymore. I could see where in a close race, they would matter.

Todd

05-11-2003, 12:23 PM	#4
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	I wondered the same thing? What would he have that would make a difference. But after reading the espn.com article, it does sound like his story is changing (from holding some sort of pager to a bracelet), then blaming the changed story on his lack of english expertice. I hope everything's kosher here... __________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

05-11-2003, 05:32 PM	#6
RonnieDobbs High School JV Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Boston, MA	Just as far as the what-could-it-have-been questions, I read that one thing they were worried about was some sort of electric shock that would get the horse to go faster than the traditional methods, not too farfetched IMO. __________________ ----------------------------------------- Lookin' forward to great seasons from my 'Skins, Cubbies, and Red Sox (please humor me) Proud Manager of the BOSTON WYCKYD SCEPTRE Also attempting to Right The Ship with the Clippers

05-12-2003, 08:00 AM	#7
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md	For what it's worth, the best words I have seen written on this have been by Randy Moss (no, it's a different guy also named Randy Moss), over at ESPN: Moss article on ESPN Moss basically walks us through Santos's actions with his right (whip) hand during the late stages of the race, and argues that this single photo was taken while he was in the midst of changing his grip, to pull the whip down and engage in a more celebratory pose. That being so, it strongy reinforces the argument that there is nothing behind this claim of foul. I have no problem with the powers that be conducting an inquiry, but assuming they see what Moss saw, they should very deliberately affirm that nothing was done illegaly, and the Funny Cide's victory was indisputably on the level. Last edited by QuikSand : 05-12-2003 at 08:00 AM.

05-12-2003, 01:03 PM	#9
MizzouRah Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Troy, Mo	My Aunt is a horse trainer at Thistledown racetrack in Cleveland, Oh. and when I was a kid and would go and visit her, she would always have these 'horse shockers' lying around her house. They were small and had two prongs on them. Believe me when I say they give out quite a shock when applied to ones skin. Heck, if I was horse and someone shocked me with that, I would run my a** off to! They used to be legal, but not anymore. I could see where in a close race, they would matter. Todd Last edited by MizzouRah : 05-12-2003 at 01:04 PM.

05-11-2003, 12:10 PM	#2
kcchief19 Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Kansas City, MO	There is apparently plenty of evidence to support Santos' innocnence, except for two minor details: 1) Several sources yesterday cited Santos as saying that the only thing in his hand other than the whip was a bracelet he always carries for good luck. Well, why you would carry instead of wearing a bracelet is an odd choice, but then Daily Racing Form reported today he says he was carrying nothing at all. Is the story changing? 2) Defenders have said he was carrying nothing and that what we are seeing is a "pinhole" view of the jockey behind him. Well, except that based on the angle of the photo it would appear that what we would be seeing is his hand and that the "object" is dark and not teal like the jockey behind him, that makes since. I know little about horseracing. Is that a standard whip grip? That seems very precarious. I saw an article from one of his defenders who said he was holding the while like a golf club, but I know no golfer who uses a grip like that. At least not a golf who shoots under 200 for 18 holes.

05-11-2003, 12:16 PM	#3
tucker342 Pro Starter Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Iowa City, IA	no kidding, it looks like he's barely holding on to it. But what could he be holding that would make any difference in the race?

05-11-2003, 05:29 PM	#5
TroyF Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000	It was a bottle of glue. TroyF

05-12-2003, 12:55 PM	#8
Franklinnoble Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Placerville, CA	Santos has been cleared - good article here.

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