Hello,
Happy Thursday!
On Monday, I mentioned there are a number of different jobs at the race track. With these various occupations, one sees so many different personalities.
Rafael Mendoza is a gentleman who wears a few different HATS at the track! (No pun intended!) He tries to make work FUN! Rafael is an exercise rider for another barn. This means he has a job like STEVE did with ME. Each morning, he gets on horses for the trainer who employs him. Depending upon where the horses are in their training programs, he is aboard them for their required exercise each day.
What Rafael loves to do…is also have FUN while he works. For all of the different holidays and ‘special occasions’, he has a different festive hat he wears over his safety helmet. John happened to get this photo of him a few days after the 4th of July. From what I’ve heard, and seen while I was in California training, Rafael has very creative taste in HATS.
All riders (exercise riders and jockeys) must wear a safety helmet and a safety vest every time they get on a horse. This is mandatory in the quest to protect each person as much as possible.
The ‘other hat’ that Rafael wears is that of a VALET for a JOCKEY. Since exercising horses only takes place in the morning, many of these riders have a second job in the afternoon. Rafael works in the Jockey’s Room as a valet for different riders.
The job of valet is to take care of the jockey he is working for and his equipment. He is to keep all of his tack in good condition, make sure the rider has the proper silks in his cubicle for the horses he is riding that day, and then go out before each race and help the trainer saddle the horse. When the valet leaves the Jock’s Room to go to the paddock, he is carrying the jockey’s saddle and the pad that will be used on the horse…which holds any additional weight if needed.
For instance, when I ran carrying 129 pounds, Mike and his equipment accounted for the majority of this weight. The rest of it was added in the form of small lead weights which tuck inside the pad.
Weight is a big thing! That is why you see the jockeys weigh out after each race. The weighing process is done in the Jockeys’ Room before each race and then after at the scales in front of the grandstand. Everything is always monitored very closely.
The jobs of an exercise rider and a valet are extremely important in racing. It is great to see people like Rafael truly enjoying their work!
Have you ever thought about how many HATS you wear each day?
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Brenda S
@ Judy B – I intended to mention that Big Brown has also headed south, much to the tearful distress of one older child who was on the Three Chimneys tour with us, she didn’t even want to continue with tour when she found out that BB wasn’t there.
LauraJ
@Barbara Grimaldi, unfortunately they can’t send the “good stuff” in a test tube. TBs are bred by live cover only, not just in the U.S. but worldwide. And yes, Ferdinand was sent to Japan as a stallion, although the situation was different as he had been purchased by Japanese interests. Bernie, Street Cry, and others like them have not been sold. They will be back in Kentucky by winter.
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@Kim S, Judy B, Barbara G, Barbara W., Patricia, and anyone I missed, thanks for supporting Valley View Ranch. A few months back I spoke to Marlene, who organizes these rescues. She is dedicated to helping these horses get out of the feedlot and find new homes. If any of you out west know of someone who is looking for a nice saddle horse, there always seem to be a few in every group that they rescue.
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@Brenda S., is Dynaformer retired for sure? I am not surprised given his age, but I am surprised that it hasn’t made the news.
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@Old Friends fans, they have a new resident, Prized. He is a Breeder’s Cup winner and is the sire of Brass Hat. Prized is a son of Kris S., broodmare sire of our Zenny. He sounds like a character.
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/breeding-news/2011/08/04/old-friends-welcomes-breeders-cup-winner-sire-prized.aspx
Barbara Wood
@Barbara Grimaldi and Patricia–THANK YOU for coming alongside to help Valley View. Like many of you, this has been heavy on my heart. I decided the only way I could get a wink of sleep last night was to do what I could. I got a thank you from Marlene Dodge, and I replied to her that it had been posted on zenyatta.com (thank you, Laura J?), and she was very grateful. They still have a long way to go until Monday’s deadline.
Back to Dynaformer–when we were at Three Chimneys, they told us Dynaformer is actually much kinder to his mares than to people. That was a relief to me. Whenever a horse has “problems”, I always wonder how he has been treated by past handlers.
I think what this site has done for us is to make us realize we are not alone, and that together we CAN make a difference. I’ll be with any of you in spirit who might be protesting at Mountaineer.
@Brenda S–don’t ever feel you’re the “country bumpkin”. You’re probably way ahead of me.
Kari Bussell
Good Morning My Queen, Love the hat! I hope you are staying cool in this endless heat. I was thrilled to learn of your bud Green Cat’s victory yesterday!! I am keeping my fingers crossed and will be cheering for your girl ZaZu….I love you all, but you the most Zenny ….always!
Kari Bussell
I think you guys might appreciate this considering….NOT MINE-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uayTr5rABnc
DMCQ
Good morning Zenyatta and Your loving connections, Z Dumplings and friends. I am checking in early and copied part of Kate Wheeler’s posting from #310 for signofthetimes. Sometimes, it is hard to go back and find a specific posting or part of one. So, from Kate to you…
@signofthetimes: For you and Katlyn, excerpts from a poem that comforted me when I lost my lab, Mary Jane, several months ago.
My body is gone, but I am always near,
I am everything you feel or hear.
My spirit is free, but I will never part,
As long as you keep me live in your heart.
When I became frail and weak,
And pain kept me from my sleep,
I know all did, what must be done,
For this, my last battle, couldn’t be won.
You will be sad, I understand.
But you didn’t let grief stay your hand.
For on this day more than the rest,
Your Love and Friendship stood the test.
Please do not mourn for me.
I am still here, as you will see.
I am at your side each night and day,
Within your heart where I wish to stay.
Author Unknown
Mary Johnson - Deputy Broad
My name is Mary Johnson and I am the person who brought Deputy Broad’s story into the spotlight. Yesterday, I spoke to Joan and she asked me to share this information on Zenyatta’s website. I will try to keep this short as I summarize the events that have transpired over the last 2 weeks.
Deputy Broad last raced at Mountaineer on July 11, 2011. On July 20th, I was having a conversation with a TB trainer that I know well. She told me that Deputy had finished poorly the week before and said that his trainer of record,Danny R. Bird, had told her that Deputy was “gone” and he didn’t deserve a home. She then told me that Danny meant what he said and she wanted to know if there was anything that I could do to help Deputy. Little did I know at the time, but Deputy was processed at the Richilieu slaughterhouse in Canada that very day. At that point, I reached out to several people and begged for help. By Thursday morning, the 21st, things were moving fast. Another trainer at Mountaineer approached Bird and asked him about the gelding that had finished poorly the week before and wanted to know if Bird might be interested in selling him. She received the same response from Bird. Deputy was “gone” and he didn’t deserve a home. Two other people contacted Bird and were told the same story. I then called Bird and he told me the same story so, by this time, Bird has admitted to five different people that Deputy is “gone”. I asked Bird if Deputy might be at the Sugarcreek kill auction the next day, but Bird said no because Deputy was already with the kill buyer. I asked Bird if he knew about the Mountaineer “no horse to slaughter” policy and he said he didn’t care. He then told me that he would “take care of” anyone who came after him for breaking the law. I took that as a threat but reassured Bird that I couldn’t be easily intimidated and that he would be held accountable for the death of Deputy Broad. On that Thursday, the 21st, I spoke to the kill buyer three different times because I thought that there was still a chance that Deputy might be alive since it had only been a little over a week since Deputy had been handed off by Bird to the “middleman” at Mountaineer. However, during my last conversation with the kill buyer, he told me that his horses had arrived at Richilieu on Tuesday the 19th and they were processed, i.e.slaughtered, on the 20th. I was heartbroken. I then called Rosemary Williams, the Racing Director at Mountaineer, and left her multiple messages. She did return my calls on Friday, the 22nd. I told her what had transpired and she said that Mountaineer would “look into it”. The next week, I called Williams again and she then told me that Bird had sold the horse to a Bob Lee and Lee is the one that turned Deputy over to the middleman. I now knew that Mountaineer was into the damage control mode and might potentially be part of a cover up to protect Bird. Bob Lee was already banned from the track for refusing to take a drug test, so it would be easy to make him the scapegoat. I also knew that Lee was in dire financial straights and had lost his house among other things, so I was doubtful that Bird would sell Lee the horse since Lee was struggling just to exist. How could Lee afford to buy Deputy from Bird? However, it did make sense that Bird sold the horse to the middleman at Mountaineer and then gave Lee “hush money” to keep him quiet and have Lee take the blame. Bird hadn’t mentioned Lee to me during our phone converstion so I felt sure that Bird was the culprit.
During my phone conversation with Rosemary Willams on July 25th, I asked her if she knew that TB racehorses went to slaughter and she admitted to me that she did. I then asked her if she knew that Mountaineer horses went to slaughter and she said that she had no documentation. I then asked her if she remembered the HBO documentary (hosted by Bryant Gumbel) about No Day Off, A MOUNTAINEER HORSE THAT WENT TO SLAUGHTER AFTER HER LAST RACE. Williams said she didn’t remember that even though the documentary was shown nationally and was the REASON that Mountaineer instituted the “no horse to slaughter” policy. I knew Williams was lying and before she cut the converstion short, I told her that she had the blood of Deputy Broad on her hands. She vehemently denied that, which I knew she would. No one likes to be caught with their “pants down”. I then realized that Mountaineer had no intention in bringing Bird to justice so it was up to me, and others, to seek justice for Deputy Broad.
There is a lot going on behind the scenes. Several national organizations have been contacted. I did contact the editors of the Bloodhorse, including Ray Paulick, but all is quiet and I haven’t heard back from anyone which, of course, doesn’t surprise me. Also, I have been told who the “middleman” is at Mountaineer. He operates openly at that track and he is the main player in the slaughter pipeline. Of course, there are minor players as well. The owners and trainers who want to “discard” their unproductive horses hand them off to this kill buyer and collect a couple hundred dollars for doing so. That makes more sense to them economically than holding onto the horse for several months and having to feed, worm and care for the horse and then donating that horse to a rescue. Rescues are full and there are long waits to get into their facilities. There are thousands of horses looking for a good home. With the economy in shambles, there just aren’t enough places for these low level horses to go.
Also, I wanted to share with everyone a little bit about my background. I have been involved with horses for 50 years and currently own six of them, including two off-track Thoroughbreds. My one TB, Fleet Crossing, is by Afleet and he ran at the upper level tracks, including Churchill and Keeneland. My other TB is a low level horse who ran most of her races at Beulah Park here in Columbus, Ohio. I have another TB who was dumped by her owner when her showing days were over. Two others were pulled out of the Shipshewana, Indiana, kill pen in March, 2008, and my broken down Saddlebred was on his way to Sugarcreek when I saved him. Also, back in the 60’s when I was a teenager, I galloped racehorses for a friend of my mother’s who had a small training facility outside of Cincinnati. I have volunteered for CANTER-Ohio at Beulah Park and have worked the shedrows of that track, sometimes buying horses out from under the resident kill buyer who also happens to be a “trainer”. His name is Edward J. Harvey and he, too, operates openly at Beulah Park even though they have a “no horse to slaughter” policy. With this policy instituted, horses now go “underground”. In other words, they go directly to the kill buyers and circumvent the auctions where they did have a chance of being purchased by a private buyer. Now they have no chance at all.
Deputy Broad isn’t the exception here. He is the rule. His situation happens multiple times a day at tracks across the country. However, he now represents all the TB racehorses that have been slaughtered before him and all those that will be slaughtered after him. He is the poster horse, so to speak. I do believe that this is carried out at all tracks, but probably happens more at the lower level tracks. However, I don’t care if a horse wins $5 or $5 million dollars. In my eyes, they all deserve a happy home and a dignified death. Not every horse is a Zenyatta.
I will never forget Deputy Broad and I will continue to fight for the justice he deserves. I don’t care if I step on toes in doing so. Also, if anyone wants to e-mail me privately, please feel free to do so. I am keeping the name of the main kill buyer at Mountaineer off this post for now because there is a lot going on behind the scenes. Thank you all for reading about Deputy Broad and how this wonderful horse never had a chance to enjoy the “good life”. RIP DEPUTY BROAD…
Mary Johnson
cconroy4150@att.net
Columbus, OH
DJ
Dear Mary, Thank you for a concise statement regarding the slaughter of these racehorses. This is all true. Keep following the crumb trail as you are doing..it will be blown out of the water soon! Do not post names here, you are correct in not doing so. There are higher ups always that know about these evils and turn their heads. The root of all evil is the almighty dollar, unfortunately. We will all band together when the time comes, you are not alone in this fight for justice! God bless you, In the Spirit of Deputy Broad and all of the other lost precious equine souls…
zenyen
@Barbara Grimaldi
Ferdinand was sold to Japanese interests as a breeding prospect, yes. Bernardini, Smarty Jones, Street Cry are doing what’s called ‘shuttling’ which means they are still owned by their farms but ‘shuttled’ to other farms in other countries to service that breeding season. In Bernardini’s case he is simply shuttled to another one of Darley’s holdings in the Southern Hemisphere.
DJ
For those who would like to start the day with a Morning Prayer/Hymn:
……………………………………
Eternal glory of the sky,
Blest hope of frail humanity,
Uplift us with thine arm of might,
And let our hearts be pure and bright.
Ardent in God’s praises, pay
The thanks we owe him every day.
The day-star’s rays are glittering clear,
And tell that day itself is near:
The shadows of the night depart;
Thou, holy Light, illume the heart.
Within our senses ever dwell,
And worldly darkness thence expel:
Long as the days of life endure,
Preserve our souls steadfast and pure.
The Faith that first must be possessed,
Root deep within our inmost breast:
And joyous Hope in second place,
Then Charity, thy greatest grace.
…………………………………
DJ
To DMCQ: Thank you for sharing the very touching poem. I am keeping this. Have a blessed day!
DJ
To Gary M: Congratulations! I envisioned your ‘Happy Dance!’
Jo
This picture is…Too cute!
Yvonne and Maurice
Hi Zenyatta. Love the hat Rafael is wearing. Thanx for the great diary. Zenyatta, you have worn so many hats and continue to do so – great champion, ambassador for the racing sport, charity worker and mommy to be. Love you, Angel in Disguise.
Catherine
oh my gosh, is that one of Barbaro’s younger brothers? He has that same look in his eyes that Barbaro had. That’d be amazing if it was.
Paul
Zenyatta, you are right that horsetracks are very fortunate to have exercise riders/jockey valets as dedicated to their jobs as Rafael is. It all makes you realize how important every person’s job is in horseracing. Their job in the morning is to be an exercise rider for the trainer who employs them depending on where the horses are in their exercise routine. Their job in the afternoon is to make sure the jockey or jockeys riding that day have everything they need and that everything is in good condition. They are smart to weigh the jockey after each race to make sure that everything is accounted for.
Robyn Mullhausen
Very interesting, Zenyatta. I never knew the Jockeys had a Valet.
Mary Johnson - Deputy Broad
I just want to thank everyone on Zenyatta’s website for the support that has been given to me over the last several days. People have privately e-mailed me asking what they can do to help seek justice for Deputy Broad and the thousands of other horses who have nowhere to go when their racing days are over. I have tried to respond to everyone. If I have missed you for some reason, please reach out to me again. By the way, Deputy has his own FB page. It is called RIP Deputy Broad.
Mary Johnson
cconroy4150@att.net
OraJean Stevenson
Dear Q-Z & T-Z,
Food for thought! My favorite FUN-HAT is the ZENYATTA fan hat. The hats that I’m
most proud of, these days, are my VFW-HONOR GUARD HAT, and my Vietnam Veteran cap.
Thanks for this interesting Diary Up-date.
Hugs to all the different HATS in the world. Fondly, OraJean