Kentucky Derby 137

Horrible news.

Just to be clear, he has ridden Nehro but wasn't on him in the Derby, Corey Nakatani was.

 

No horse foul play expected. Could he have committed suicide?

 

The broad surrounding circumstances beg the question.

 

According to a Louisville TV station, Baze was due in court on Thursday to deal with a felony charge of cocaine possession.

 

Cocaine.

Is there drug testing for jockeys?

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=6527702&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

 

There are times I wonder if most jockeys aren't using some sort of illegal drug.

What those guys put themselves through to make weight would shock most of the 164,000 at Churchill on Saturday.

 

The people who weren't at Churchill probably would be more shocked than the people who were.

Cocaine has reared its head in the career and life of many jockeys, notably Jose Santos, Chris Antley and Patrick Valenzuela. Their licenses are subject to suspensions, etc. for positives, of course.

Some tracks have random Breathalyzers, which Kent Desormeaux has been tiptoeing around.

 

Oppressive drug testing regimes will soon force these jockeys to become NASCAR drivers.

 

A professional tennis player had his suspension overturned after he said he didn't actually use the drug but it only turned up in his system because he kissed a girl at a party who had been using cocaine. This excuse actually succeeded.