MY FILLY... HdG

Actually, I think technically she is now considered a mare, but HdG will no longer be defending her Apple Blossom title, due to unfair wieght assignments.  Instead she will run in the La Troienne at Churchill Downs on the Oaks card (which I will be there for!) HdG was assigned 123lbs, where Plum Pretty (Oaks winner and 5th in the Breeder's Cup Ladie's Classic) was assigned 117lbs, other horses were assigned as low as 114lbs.  I completely understand their decision, I know they're taking a lot of heat "for dodging the competition" .... but who draws the line between safety and "good competition"

Here's what the Fox Hill Farm website said:

The Apple Blossom

By Rick on April 7, 2012

Larry and I really wanted to defend our title in the Apple Blossom. We were expecting fair weights and when they were released today, Larry called me and we were flabbergasted at the weights. Plum Pretty was the most unexpected but a lot of them were very unfair. Tiz Miz Sue was getting 8 pounds after just running over a hundred beyer and winning the graded Azeri Stakes. Absinthe Minded was getting 9. No one can say that we have ducked any one in racing. Hard Spun took on every tough race there was as did Round Pond and the immortal Eight Belles. We love the competition. Havre de Grace took on Blind Luck six times and ran against the boys in the prestigious Woodward and we didn’t bat an eye at running in the granddaddy of them all, the Classic. We have decided one thing though, we will take on any horse and take our defeats when we get them but we won’t let the racing secretaries decide who is going to win the races. That is why we took this stand on the Apple Blossom. The weights are unfair and I have asked all the journalists to demand that Pope explain how he came up with the numbers for the weights. He owes it to the fans that were going to pack the house for the Apple Blossom. He just didn’t invent these weights, his duty as racing secretary is to analyse each horse and their races and come up with fair weights. Since he had to do it, he should make it public so we can see his thinking and reasoning. I hope he takes on his responsibility. We will run in The La Troienne at Churchill Downs on May 4th. This is exactly what I said we would do if Pope came out with unfair weights. I hope you all understand. We have decisions to make in running a racing operation and today was one of those tough ones.
Rick