Owner of horse struck by track employee: response 'intolerable'
{{monthName}} {{day}}, {{year}} {{hour12}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}}{{dayPeriod}}
Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
The owner of a horse who was struck in the head multiple times by a gate worker on Saturday released a statement saying "the lack of empathy on the behalf of Delaware Park," where the incident occureed before Thursday's fifth race, "is intolerable"
Delaware Park announced it had suspended the track employee and would further discuss the matter Saturday. As of this posting, there has been no update to the track's stewards rulings.
In his statement to WDEL.com, Glenn Fagan, who owns the 3-year-old gelding Accolade, said track officials haven't reached out to either him or trainer Abel Castellano, brother of Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, since Thursday.
Accolade acted up in the gate and settled. But before the break, the horse was struck four times by the assistant starter.
"I am disgusted at what I witnessed," Fagan said in his statement to WDEL.com. "I am bothered by the fact that the head starter after witnessing this attack didn't pull my horse from the race or at the very least make him a non starter for all the people that had wagered on him. The time, effort and patience needed to have your horse ready to compete at a top level on a specific day and race is difficult, not to mention expensive.
"The one factor that people can't handicap, is an employee of Delaware Park taking his frustrations out on your horse. I am happy to see the outrage and indignation that this matter has received on social media. My 14(-year-)old daughter and I travel 50 minutes each weekend to feed Accolade his favorite snack, peeled red delicious apples and baby carrots. She was in tears watching our horse getting beaten over and over and over and over and over again. She didn't sleep Thursday night, as the image of the abuse replayed in her mind."
According to WDEL.com, the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission will rule on the matter early next week.
Delaware Park announced it had suspended the track employee and would further discuss the matter Saturday. As of this posting, there has been no update to the track's stewards rulings.
Accolade acted up in the gate and settled. But before the break, the horse was struck four times by the assistant starter.
"I am disgusted at what I witnessed," Fagan said in his statement to WDEL.com. "I am bothered by the fact that the head starter after witnessing this attack didn't pull my horse from the race or at the very least make him a non starter for all the people that had wagered on him. The time, effort and patience needed to have your horse ready to compete at a top level on a specific day and race is difficult, not to mention expensive.
"The one factor that people can't handicap, is an employee of Delaware Park taking his frustrations out on your horse. I am happy to see the outrage and indignation that this matter has received on social media. My 14(-year-)old daughter and I travel 50 minutes each weekend to feed Accolade his favorite snack, peeled red delicious apples and baby carrots. She was in tears watching our horse getting beaten over and over and over and over and over again. She didn't sleep Thursday night, as the image of the abuse replayed in her mind."
According to WDEL.com, the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission will rule on the matter early next week.
Read More
I'm dubious that we'll actually get the 20-1 price the morning line suggests on Quatrocento in the Grade...
The one-mile Dwyer Stakes for 3-year-olds scraped together a small field of six for its 49th renewal. Grade...
Trainer Kenny McPeek announced Friday that Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan officially has been retired, but fans...
Wolfie’s Dynaghost , a 12-time winner for owner-breeder Woodslane Farm, is set to make his first start with trainer...
Multiple Grade 2 winner Skippylongstocking had his first work since August Friday for a planned return at Gulfstream...