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Another weekend of death at the Kentucky Derby, but don’t expect change | kentucky derby

Published

5 hours ago

May 8, 2023

I I was 18 when I first saw a racehorse break down. It was the late 1990s, and I was a rider galloping at the Del Mar racetrack with the Pacific gleaming in the distance. The image of a miniature dark bay horse on an inside rail next to a wire in the faded light of a Southern California morning was etched into my mind. The rider, who had escaped injury, stood tugging at the reins, trying to keep the horse in place. The horse suffered a complete fracture of the right anterior ankle and his leg was dangling and dangling at the bottom of his leg, he turned and staggered on his stump in a panic – euthanasia would soon follow. I averted my eyes and was immediately nauseous as I ran past my filly, the siren that howls from behind when there is an accident ringing in my head. At that time, I could not have known that this would be the first of many such scenes that I would see in my years on the track.

Decades later, the deaths continue. Seven racehorses died in the days leading up to this year’s Kentucky Derby. Four breakdowns, a broken neck in a paddock and two unexplained fainting spells paint a grim picture of racing in America.

The horses died at Churchill Downs at the only time of the year when horse racing is relevant to most Americans, so it received a lot of publicity. But hundreds of racehorses across America meet the same fate every year, as always. Deaths are commonplace, and while the industry vociferously states that it has problems, those problems are never solved. Two horses died on Saturday alone, but Derby Day races continued as scheduled. Maybe the powers that be could cancel everything, but there is money and fashion and mints to think about. The message is clear: “We don’t care.”

There is no other popular sport in which carnage and indifference occur so regularly – and are treated with the same tolerance. These horses did what was required of them, and they still suffered and died. Obviously, the problem is what is required of them. Horses can’t handle this kind of speed when they’re so young and underdeveloped. They are driven to exhaustion. The repeated shock training of training and running kills some of them, and ruins others for life. Meaningful reform isn’t just about weeding out doping or resurfacing tracks, it needs to be more holistic. The lack of horsemanship and respect for animals has led to horses being treated like cars.

When coach Todd Pletcher was asked if he agreed with the government veterinarian’s decision to cut his horse Forte out of Saturday’s race, his complacency was appalling. “Obviously we are in an environment where there is a lot of scrutiny. I’m not sure in a few years [Forte’s bruised foot] would be a problem, but this year it was.” He said.

Does Pletcher, one of the leading players in the industry, think it’s over-checking? This almost certainly prevented Forte from running due to injury. Forte’s owner, Mike Repaul, didn’t look much better. He said the “fierce part” of racing was that his horse was cut from the Derby lineup. The death of the five horses killed at that moment seemed much more cruel.

US horse racing is in a downturn, and you can only blame yourself for this. The deaths will not stop, not completely, not when. Horses died 20 years ago when I was a young rider and they still die. The racing industry is touting a reduction in fatalities at every track, but it has yet to put together its own single database to record all deaths. On some circuits, the reporting of fatalities is voluntary. If sport is to save lives and retain any respect, it will need to take big steps. Major reforms in the breeding barn (too many foals are born), and horse training, racetrack experience, and retirement are severely underfunded. Every year, countless purebred animals end up in dealer lots and slaughter pens.

Racing will never be banned – there is too much money to be made from it, especially now that gambling is getting easier in the US. But things could be very different if the world of racing wanted to change. There are many people in the industry who take good care of horses, dream of a better sport and yearn for change.

But, like me, they will not bet that the industry will change for the better anytime soon. For too many in horse racing, a horse is just a money-making machine.

Related Topics:change death Derby Dont expect Kentucky weekend

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Suns’ Mat Ishbia doesn’t want Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic to be penalized for incident: ‘It wouldn’t be right’

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Suns’ Mat Ishbia doesn’t want Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic to be penalized for incident: ‘It wouldn’t be right’

Published

4 hours ago

May 8, 2023

Lynn Straub

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia said on Monday he doesn’t want Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic to be suspended for fighting on the sideline during Game 4.

Ishbia made the comment on Twitter hours after the altercation.

“Great Suns win last night in an amazing series so far!” wrote the billionaire. “This should be and is the only story. It would be wrong to suspend or fine anyone because of last night’s incident. I have a lot of respect for Jokic and don’t want to see anything like that. Excited about the fifth game! “

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In the second quarter, Suns defenseman Josh Okogi crashed into the seats while trying to save a lost ball. He landed in a group of fans at the Footprint Center baseline in Phoenix, which included Ishbia, who grabbed a basketball.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic gets into an altercation in the stands during Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Suns on Sunday, May 7, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Jokic tried to get the ball back into play quickly. When he tried to take the ball away from Ishbia, the ball bounced back into the crowd and Jokic appeared to push Ishbia to make room. Ishbia exaggerated how hard Jokic pushed him and seemed to lean back dramatically into his seat.

Jokic received a technical foul. The Suns won 129–124.

KEVIN DURANT & DEVIN BOOKER Beat the Suns over the Nuggets in Game 4 to an even series

Suns owner Mat Ishbia sits on the court during a Los Angeles Clippers game at the Footprint Center on April 25, 2023 in Phoenix. (Mark J. Rebilas, USA Today Sports)

The two-time MVP didn’t apologize after the game.

“The fan was the first to raise his hand to me,” Jokic said after the game. “I thought the league was supposed to protect us. Maybe I’m wrong. I know who he is, but he’s a fan. Is not it?”

Nuggets coach Michael Malone did not understand why Ishbia got involved.

“(Jokic) is about to receive the ball and some fan is holding it like he wants to be part of the game. Just pass the ball, man,” Malone said.

Jokic scored 53 points in a four-point loss.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic looks at his watch during the Western Conference Semifinals against the Suns on Sunday, May 7, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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The fifth game will take place on Tuesday evening in Denver. The series draw 2-2.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ryan Gaidos is a senior editor at Fox News Digital.

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Lakers vs. Warriors: Draymond Green chokeslammed Anthony Davis in Game 2, but his scoring was just as important

Published

3 days ago

May 5, 2023

Lynn Straub

SAN FRANCISCO. When compared to the all-time greats Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal, his coach didn’t bat an eyelid. His teammate, LeBron James, said he was number one. 3 will one day hang from the rafters of the Crypto.com Arena – or whatever it was then called. The talking heads show spent 48 hours debating whether he was the best player in the series ahead of Steph Curry.

It’s safe to say that Draymond Green is tired of hearing about the great Anthony Davis.

Admitting he “played like crap” in Game 1 with Davis posting a monstrous 30-point line and 23 rebounds, Green made it his personal mission to make Davis’ life miserable in Game 2 Thursday night, and was an instrumental factor in a near-perfect win. Golden State, 127–100, tied the series.

“[Warriors assistant] Chris DeMarco showed me some movie yesterday and said, “I don’t know who this guy is on defense,” Green said after winning Game 2. “He showed himself to me in the fourth quarter and said, ‘It’s me, the guy I know. So come back tomorrow.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr didn’t give details ahead of the game, but said he and his staff noticed some changes they could make to limit Davis, and they were certainly noticeable. The first was the launch of Jamichal Green in place of Kevon Looney, who was a Golden State titan this postseason but allowed Davis to hit 8 of 11 as they tied in Game 1. The Lakers were defending four shooters instead of three, but that also allowed Draymond Green to be Davis’ primary guard early and often. According to Second Spectrum, via Kevin O’Connor of The RingerDraymond went from the Davis defense from 34 percent of the time in Game 1 to 62 percent of the time in Game 2.

Davis scored just two points in the first quarter and finished with 11 points on 11 field goal attempts. He completed just one free throw after playing 8 for 8 in the first game.

“Draymond was great,” Kerr said after the game. “This is the guy we need. He is our engine, and today we decided to put him against Davis from the very beginning. I think he gave us a good start defensively just because of his aggressiveness.”

In Kerr’s opinion, it was clear from the jump that Green had no intention of letting Davis score 30s and 20s again. He was physically, tactically and used his long arms and active arms to thwart Davis’s forays into the lane. The Warriors also provided assistance much earlier, forcing Davis to become a playmaker, which is not his forte despite throwing five assists in Game 1. Davis had four assists in Game 2 but also had four turnovers as Green drove him to the point. disappointment.

From time to time, in a special case, Green recalls that there are no obvious NBA rule forbidding him to score. It came in Game 5 against Sacramento, when he scored over 20 points in a playoff game for the first time in five years. It happened again on Thursday when Green, who had promised to be more aggressive on both ends in Game 2, took over all open lanes, both in transition and half court, to force the Lakers to guard him. So many times when he’s left unattended with the ball, Green immediately tries to start a dribbling shot. On Thursday he went straight to the ring.

This was especially effective against Davis, who did not have Looney to defend and Greene was his primary opponent. If Green caught the ball at the free throw line and saw daylight, he attacked with the intention of scoring a goal, even knocking down the middle distance jumper “Dray Nowitzki”. This forced Davis to at least respect Green as a scorer, which opened up opportunities for Golden State to pass and finish. Green scored 11 points on 10 field goals — seven in the first half alone — in addition to his usual tally of 11 rebounds, nine assists and an interception.

“He’s our Swiss army knife and when he goes downhill and finishes at the rim and hits an open man, we’re at our best,” said Klay Thompson, who led the Warriors to a 30-point win in Game 2. I look forward to Draymond’s further efforts. Like Steph, we walk the same way as Dray.”

Since Game 2 was played on the 4th of May, it would be remiss not to mention the intensity with which Green played. Over the past couple of seasons, it has become a buzzword for warriors – they said it 47 times in two weeks during last year’s NBA Finals, and Green is the leader of the power brigade. His defensive physical prowess and dedication to picking up the pace is contagious, encouraging the Warriors to play like the Warriors we’ve all come to know over the past decade.

“He is the team horse that keeps us moving forward. We feed on his energy. He just did a great job tonight,” Jamichal Green said of Draymond. “Last game I went up to him after the game and said, ‘You have to be more aggressive. Don’t forget who you are. You’re in the league for a reason.” And he showed it tonight.”

Green was superb on both sides of the ball in Game 2, leading Golden State to a win by the time the third quarter ended. The mystery, of course, is how the Warriors continue to restrict Davis as the streak continues, starting with Saturday’s Game 3 in Los Angeles. Even Green admitted that against Davis you can play perfectly defensively and still turn down buckets – that’s how good he is – but it’s all about sticking to the game plan, being aggressive and putting yourself in a position to succeed and then live. with results. .

“When you have a bounce game like we have tonight and you win as decisively as we do, knowing that Game 3 in LA is going to be a lot harder, it’s a big moral boost to give yourself life and faith.” that our game can continue on the road,” Curry said after the win. “So excited about the opportunity and the challenge ahead.”