Lord, give me guidance. Teach me the way which I already know but do not follow. Guide my mind before my steps, and hold my tongue tight, that I may be guarded by the shadow of the wings of your quiet mercy. Give me council through Jesus Christ, and temper my enemies, keeping me even more stronger than they! Raise the bar and lower the haughty gracefully, may it be swiftly, but in your time, which is outside of my judgement. Have mercy on my soul, for the torment is not of my choosing; and happiness, through repentance, through your Son, Jesus, is my daily choice. Remind me to make that choice always, to keep me in your right hand, and deliver me from your left. In Jesus Name,
Whenever someone yelled “LOOSE HORSE,” nobody stopped to ask whose horse it was. They only asked where? And then they ran towards the problem.
“What do you do with an aging backstretch employee who has lived in a tackroom most of their life and depends on the racetrack for an income and is or will become too frail to work? When that fragile horse person loses his or her job, he or she stand to lose their living quarters and benevolent benefits. The answer is far from easy, in fact, I remember (on several occasions) it being a nightmare! There is a new developing program called “STABLE FOOTING” heading to starting gate and I am very hopeful for a strong finish and we could all pitch in no matter how little or a lot. Let’s get this horse to the Finish Line!
Here is a message from former Maryland trainer Scott Regan and retired pony girl Cathy Rosenberger.
“Good afternoon and thank you for allowing me a few moments of your time.
The decision to scratch Great White behind the gate at the Kentucky Derby was the wrong decision.
“I’m sure the horse is shook a little bit, but it didn’t appear like he thumped his head on anything …” -Jerry Bailey
Horses suffer falls harder than that while playing out in the field!
The Sport of Kings is the sport of champions- a competition showcasing the unity between horse and man.
Scratching Great White is a black eye inflicted upon an already beaten-down industry!
Horseracing has genuflected to the fascism of bureaucratic red tape in the guise of “safety”.
Greetings, Fellow Horsemen,
While witnessing the scratch of Great White behind the gate during post time of the running of the 2026 Kentucky Derby, I vehemently disagreed with the decision to scratch him! I was greatly appalled, heartbroken and stricken with grief for our beloved sport! I mourn over your loss! The whole team of Three Chimneys Farm has been deprived of being able to reap the rewards of its work: the stall muckers, the grounds keepers, assistants, foremen, secretaries, investors (and all of the little people who nobody’s ever heard of whom keep the Operation running smoothly,) the efforts of Thoroughbred Conditioner John Ennis and of Journeyman Jockey Alex Achard.
‘Tis a Great Loss to Three Chimneys Farm! ‘Tis a Greater Loss to Horseracing!
‘Tis an unaccountable Void in History’s Great Record Book!
The decision to scratch Great White pierced the thin veil of truth and integrity which protects the Sport of Horseracing!
Question:
What part of Great White’s body did the Vetrinarian claim there was not enough time to evaluate at that moment in time? His head? An ankle? Which part?
“… Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls. …”-JEREMIAH 6:16
“…ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it,…”
“ …as they ride on their horses; they come like men in battle formation …”JEREMIAH 6:23
With Anticipation at Springdale Racecourse (circa. 1999 A.D.)
–Words of God-
“Flee for safety, people of Benjamin! Flee from Jerusalem! Sound the trumpet in Tekoa! Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem! For disaster looms out of the north, even terrible destruction. I will destroy Daughter Zion, so beautiful and delicate. Shepherds with their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents around her, each tending his own portion.”
Which training method did Jonathan Sheppard employ?
When somebody complained how Jonathan Sheppard would never explain his training program to them, this was my response:
Well, some of us understood his training program which was essentially reverse-engineered in congruency with the horse’s running date, its condition, the competition it would be up against, along with the expectations of its upcoming performance while always keeping the race AFTER that performance in mind.
These people do not like me, because I do what the boss would want done when the boss is not around!
The Bullshit I Put Up With
I do what the boss would want done when the boss is not around. That is why coworkers do not like me. I am a guy who, “pulls the wooden shoe out of the cogs of the gear.”
The Lazy Racetracker
Nobody wants the boss or the boss’s son around all the time; and the Lazy Racetracker wants a promotion for doing nothing.
Which training method did Jonathan Sheppard employ?
When somebody complained how Jonathan Sheppard would never explain his training program to them, this was my response:
Well, some of us understood his training program which was essentially reverse-engineered in congruency with the horse’s running date, its condition, the competition it would be up against, along with the expectations of its upcoming performance while always keeping the race AFTER that performance in mind.
“…The most taxing act of any relationship is when somebody speaks the unabashed truth!”
The Santa Clause Conspiracy
Teaching Our Children to Lie & How To Grow Up To Become Stupid :
From Santa Clause to the Easter Bunny to the Tooth Fairy, our parents told us Lies while we were children.
After that, we are expected to teach those same lies to the next generation of children when we become adults.
Society indoctrinates us to believe lies, then, after seeing the truth, to perpetuate those lies, thus, engraining into society that lying is good and correct and done for good reason. Therefore, doing what is wrong is expected of us; and being truthful is not accepted in society but, rather, shunned.
Picked up my check, Leave work. Stop at gas station. Battery Dead. Don’t have enough cash for a new battery. Battery is $121.00. I have $42.00 on one debit card. $72.50 on my other debit card. Hmmm,… … Paycheck = $260.00 Get a Jumpstart. I payed a gas station $20.00 to cash my check, because I had a whopping 114.00 available funds. -(Step number, “Fuck!”) Take battery out. Purchase new fucker. Install new fucker. As I am installing the thing that holds it down- (You know the long bolt with a U on the end), I think, “Maybe, I should put the key in and see if it works before I tighten this down.” I had faith. Crank it! Put key in ignition. NOTHING. Repeat step number, Fuck! Bring Dead New Battery back in. Get another one. I suggested counter-testing it. DEAD. Third battery was a charm. Being a man is fun.
“The Scout goes by compass, both morally and navigationally and ventures only to glean the best of the whole. Mankind is dependent on The Scout. Information is The Holy Grail. Clarity is the Treasure! In our Scouts, our Rangers, the young men of the old, Mankind instills its faith.”
-Christopher Van Hassel
MSA
Non Nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini Tuo da gloriam
“In arrogance, there is great ruin and great instability. In idleness, there is loss and dire poverty, for idleness is the mother of famine.”
Book of Tobit 4:13
“Do not keep with you overnight the wages of those who have worked for you, but pay them at once. … Be on guard, son, in everything you do; be wise in all that you say, and discipline yourself in all your conduct. Do to no man or woman what you hate yourself.”
“Such is the decree of destiny. If the people are content with freedom of conscious and constitutional liberty, it will be well. If, going to the other extreme, they plunge into universal doubt and anarchy, let us hope that this may be but a step in the process of spiritual and political regeneration. For us, the only law is, to fulfill our duty.”
-LEGENDA XXXII
“Blue Masonry neither remembers its duty, nor knows its powers. It can neither prevent political convolutions, nor avert the horrors of civil war. When these rage, it’s voice is not uplifted to still the storm; but it withdrawals into its cells and asyla, hoping to emerge again when the skies are clear once more, to renew its self-glorification, and weary men with its idle vanities.”
I ate at a restaurant today; and there was no knife on the table. I used my pocket knife. The owner of the place got all nervous and started acting scared and giving me the “side-eye”. I’ve used my knife
§ 47-9-730:
“Under South Carolina law, an equine activity sponsor or equine professional is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in an equine activity resulting from an inherent risk of equine activity, pursuant to Article 7, Chapter 9 of Title 47, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976”
Trainers Already Have Immunity and do NOT Need to Purchase Insurance for their Riders. SEE:
South Carolina Statute Title 47; Article 7, Chapter 9 “Equine Immunity”
Code of Laws of South Carolina 1976 Annotated. Title 47. Animals, Livestock and Poultry. Chapter 9. Livestock Generally. Article 7. Equine Liability Immunity.
Summary:
This South Carolina section provides that an equine activity sponsor or an equine professional is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant resulting from an inherent risk of equine activity. The statute also requires the visible displaying of warning signs that alert participants
“…The change that has occurred within the racing industry is not something that is lasting.”
-Retired Journeyman, Christopher Van Hassel
I had always planned to train racehorses after I retired from my riding career, but I had not predicted that the racing business would change the ways in which it has. The change that has occurred within the racing industry is not something that is lasting. Why do I say that?
… because they purposely create a toxic work environment…
‘Tis a strange experience, being an expert in my field, surrounded by people who are beginners, however, these beginners act and feel as though they are superior to me! The, “Dunning Krueger affect,” comes to mind.
