Saffie Joseph Jr. | Sarah Andrews photo
Saffie Joseph Jr. nominated Violet Gibson (Ire) (Expert Eyes {GB}) to Wild Applause S. in Belmont on Saturday, June 24, and was given 23 booths for the summer at Saratoga Racecourse, according to an email from NYRA Vice President of Communications, Patrick McKenna.
“Following the consistent and productive dialogue between Saffie Joseph Jr. and NYRA, Joseph Jr. will continue to practice and race at the NYRA tracks,” wrote McKenna. “He nominated Violet Gibson for the $150,000 Wild Applause prize and has been allocated 23 booths for the 2023 summer meet at Saratoga Racecourse. The NYRA will adjust accordingly if the Kentucky investigation reveals any wrongdoing.”
Two of Joseph’s cadets died of unknown causes in the week before the Kentucky Derby, prompting Churchill Downs to suspend him indefinitely and scratching his Derby participant Lord Miles (make for curly) out of the race.
Although Joseph was never officially banned from running at the NYRA, the association released a statement following Churchill’s ban making it clear that he would not be running at the New York racetracks.
“Following recent events at Churchill Downs, which are still under investigation by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, the NYRA entered into discussions with trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.,” McKenna said at the time. “Mr. Joseph has no horses at the stables at Belmont Park and, to our knowledge, there are currently no plans to transport horses to New York or participate in races at Belmont Park while the matter is being investigated. . NYRA will continue to evaluate our response should new information come to light.”
“Generally speaking, after what happened in Churchill, we want answers,” Joseph said as he explained his absence from New York. “I will respect the NYRA until I get an answer, think four weeks at most. Obviously, this is done over a much longer period of time.” According to a statement from the Kentucky Equestrian Commission on June 3, the autopsy results published on the first of two horses, Parent Pride, were inconclusive. The autopsy report of the second horse, Chasing Artie, is still pending.
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This story was posted in Top News and tagged Belmont Park, NYRA, Patrick McKenna, Saffie Joseph Jr., Saratoga, Violet Gibson, Wild clap stakes.
