After a fading, eighth-place finish in the $50,000 Graduate elimination at the Meadowlands on Saturday, May 7, after a lengthy duel with eventual winner Bettor Sweet, owner John Barnard knew something was wrong with
pacer St Elmo Hero.
“That was just not like him. After the race we found out he was sick,” he said, adding that there were inklings before the race that all might not be well.
“I don’t think he had a good trailer ride down from Canada,” said Barnard, who drove the truck and trailer. “He ate his breakfast, but showed no interest in his lunch that day, and then he started nibbling at it later. He jogged well the next day and even scored down well for the race, but obviously, he wasn’t himself. You could see he was in distress at the end of the mile. Sure enough, we had him looked at and he’s sick.”
After treatment by a veterinarian, Barnard said St Elmo Hero is bouncing back quickly.
“He is feeling better today,” Barnard told harnessracing.com on Monday afternoon. “I’m walking him right now and he’s eating Meadowlands grass. If he keeps getting better I might race him in the Open at Pocono this weekend. I don’t want to ship him all the way back home unless he’s fully recovered.”
After just the second loss of his career, Barnard’s faith in his pacer remains strong.
“He’s staying in all the big races we paid him into. His next big race is the Dan Patch at Hoosier on May 28. He’s already been invited and our plan is to go.”
(Harnessracing.com)
IF he wasn't himself and
IF he wasn't himself and still only lost the race by less then a second I guess this horse will go out and win for fun the rest of the season acording to the owner, you can't use the same excuse twice if he was sick why race?
I think St Elmo Hero is
I think St Elmo Hero is clearly a "Great" horse, but I only wish that the excuses would stop when he loses a race. If the horse is as good as ownership says he is, then don't make excuses, let St Elmo Hero do the talking on the track by coming back and blowing away the field.
Dear Mr. Barnard, you have a
Dear Mr. Barnard, you have a great horse on your hands. Remember this, " put your horse in with the cheapest possible company and yourself in with the best possible company." !!!!!!
Send him back up here, Mr
Send him back up here, Mr Barnard - he likes it better here! :)