I was keeping up with my reading in the Bloodhorse tonight and I saw a letter to the editor about one of my favorite horses, Gorella, and her chances in the Eclipse Award voting.  The letter was in the December 9th issue and the letter was titled “Wrong Place.”

The author suggested that the owner of Gorella cost himself an Eclipse Award by running Gorella against the boys in the BC Mile instead of head to head with Ouija Board in the Filly and Mare Turf. 

I could have sworn that Gorella had actually won races against males, but the author suggests otherwise and I’ll concede the point.  The author used this piece of information to suggest that Gorella was in over her head in the mile and the F&M Turf was a much easier race for her to win.   And that win would have locked up the Eclipse Award for Gorella.

It is conjecture to say that Gorella would have won the F&M Turf.  But I have a problem with the suggestion that it was a bad call to put her in the Mile.

The fact of the matter is that Gorella had a terrible trip in the 2005 BC Mile.  I know because I had money on her and I watched her try to find room repeatedly in the stretch while full of run.  It was so frustrating watching her so full of energy but totally bottled up.  She was the best horse that day, but as I have said many times, being the best horse is not enough.  It takes being the best horse and getting the right trip.

I was one of many who were very excited to see Gorella take another shot at the Mile.  The field in the 2006 BC Mile was actually a little softer top to bottom, so she certainly belonged in the race.

She was installed as the morning line favorite for the 2006 BC Mile and went off the second choice.  There is absolutely no reason to believe that Gorella would not have just a good of a chance in the Mile as in the F&M Turf. 

I have a lot of respect for Martin Schwartz’ decision to put Gorella in the Mile.  Not just because it was a race she was definitely capable of winning, but because beating the boys would have been a nice statement about Gorella’s talent.  It was one of the few things she didn’t have in her resume. 

I have a soft spot for owners and trainers who swing for the fences.  It is these types that continue to race quality horses into their four year old seasons when the easy thing to do is to retire their lightly raced colts as three year olds.  These types of owners and trainers look for the best competition they can find for their horses.  It gives us on the enthusiast side something to cheer for, and it gives us unique handicapping opportunities like seeing Gorella take on the boys. 

It is also conjecture to say that the decision cost Gorella the Eclipse Award.  Ouija Board is a tremendously talented horse, but she raced just once in NA between BC races.  I hope Gorella gets a good look from the writers and her strong resume stacks up against Ouija Board. 

But win or lose, my hat is off to Mr. Schwartz for going for it in the Mile.Â

The National Boxing Association got another black eye this past weekend as fans and people trying to be fans across America (and points further) were witness to another ugly brawl, this one between the Knicks and the Nuggets. 

The penalty phase of the sport began and ended today and the league’s leading scorer was handed the stiffest penalty of all.  Carmello Anthony was suspended 15 games for a sucker punch thrown at a Knick as the initial confrontation was trying to die down.  Anthony’s punch reignited the melee.  And for that reason he deserved the harshest penalty.

The person who got off too lightly was Knicks coach Isaiah Thomas, who lowered himself to thug level by making provocative remarks to or about Carmello Anthony, taunting him about not going in the lane.  His players followed their coach’s example and thuggery prevailed. 

Thomas later tried to justify his actions and comments by saying something to the extent that visiting coach George Karl fueled a hostile situation by leaving his starters in too long into the fourth quarter, despite a 20 point lead. 

I don’t think I’m the only one who has a problem with that logic. 

I think this is a professional sport.  Coaches and players are supposed to act in such a fashion that it brings credit to the players, the franchise, and the sport itself. 

Commissioner David Stern did a nice job by hitting the key players hard with significant suspensions.  But he really missed the point by leaving Isaiah Thomas unpunished.  Thomas should have been suspended for as many games as Anthony.  And the Knicks should follow suit by dismissing him permanently.  I will be very disappointed if Thomas remains the head coach for even one more game.  Even if the commissioner didn’t take action, the franchise should.  He is not good for the team and not good for the sport. 

The last time we saw something like this was in college basketball when John Cheney ordered a hard foul on a member of the opposing team.  The opposing player ended up with a fractured arm.  Cheney was suspended for the rest of the season and he subsequently retired.  I think for 99% of his career, John Cheney was a good guy.  But at some point he just lost it.  He had the class to know he should step down for his failure in judgment, and for setting a bad example for his players.

My favorite sport, horse racing, is also famous for underpenalizing its worst offenders.  Doping, drugging and milkshaking is still too possible.  All these forms of cheating need to be removed. Any trainer with an offense should be banned for a year and any two-time offenders need to be banned from racing lifetime.  The horse should also be kept from competing for a significant period of time.

Yes, I know it was hardly the horse’s fault, but if you want to get a trainer’s attention, this is one way.  Because owners will not want to do business with trainers who get their horses suspended.  It is just too easy for the big name trainer to get suspended and then just continue on in the background while his assistants take over on paper for the duration of the suspension.  Bench the horse for six months and we will start to see owners becoming part of the solution. 

 The sport of horseracing needs to be ten feet above the law because the indication of improper activity can be as damaging as the act itself. 

This just in - Terrell Owens fined $35,000 for spitting in the face of an opponent.  Are you kidding me?  I’m embarassed for the NFL.  The guy is poison.  I can’t believe the NFL chose to mock its own attempt at justice by slapping Owens so lightly on the wrist for such blatently classless behavior.