Catch Driver Selection?

[Meadow Ford]

In the 80's/90's like most trainers I started using more and more catch drivers.
I would always ask the owner not who do you want to drive your horse, but who do you not want to drive your horse and why
Here are four possible answers as why they did not want so and so to drive their horse.
To Much Foul Language
To Much Whipping
I am afraid, if he likes my horse he will have one of his other trainers claim it.
No Driving Ability
For fun guess what answer of the four I got the most and what answer I never got.

[Fuguzzi]

Are we talking YR, RR, MR, Big M?

[Meadow Ford]

Are we talking YR, RR, MR, Big M?

I am not talking names. Just reasons not to put someone up to drive.
In the hay days of Chicago.

[Fuguzzi]

I see

[Frank the Zipper]

my uneducated guess - You never got' too much whipping' & you often got 'I'm afraid he might claim my horse'.

[Meadow Ford]

my uneducated guess - You never got' too much whipping' & you often got 'I'm afraid he might claim my horse'.

Thanks Frank
I will be back on Tuesday afternoon and let you know what my small sample found.

[Fuguzzi]

With all due respect as a trainer to another trainer, I would NEVER ask, let alone have an owner tell me who they want to drive their horses. Never would, never did. To me, for a trainer, that's a path to destruction.

[Open bridle]

With all due respect as a trainer to another trainer, I would NEVER ask, let alone have an owner tell me who they want to drive their horses. Never would, never did. To me, for a trainer, that's a path to destruction.

With my current trainer since I'm majority owner I always suggest which driver I want. Since I'm retired I watch many more races and drivers than he does. Now. if that driver isn't available I let him make the decision. Normally, we are on the same page who we like to drive anyways.

[Open bridle]

In the 80's/90's like most trainers I started using more and more catch drivers.
I would always ask the owner not who do you want to drive your horse, but who do you not want to drive your horse and why
Here are four possible answers as why they did not want so and so to drive their horse.
To Much Foul Language
To Much Whipping
I am afraid, if he likes my horse he will have one of his other trainers claim it.
No Driving Ability
For fun guess what answer of the four I got the most and what answer I never got.

Since we're talking about the 80's/ 90's when all drivers whipped I would say no driving ability the most and too much foul language the least.

[Meadow Ford]

With all due respect as a trainer to another trainer, I would NEVER ask, let alone have an owner tell me who they want to drive their horses. Never would, never did. To me, for a trainer, that's a path to destruction.

Just curious
What is your take on Lou Guida, Nihilator, Bill Haughton, and Bill O'donnell?

[Fuguzzi]

I respect Haughton going to the catch driver. Lou Guida was not my cup of tea, especially given his association with Morty Finder who was a degenerate scumbag. Can still picture him at the 52nd street OTB in Manhattan sucking up to the wiseguys who were part of that crew with Rene P. Wont mention names. Finder would wear Wall street suits with converse and look like a pariah. As for Nihilator, flat out monster  I think he could beat his daddy in a heartbeat. 12 wins outta 13 at 2   First horse to earn 3 million   Most money ever earned in stakes races at the time and on and on   Always reminded me of Whata baron

[Meadow Ford]

Just curious
What is your take on Lou Guida, Nihilator, Bill Haughton, and Bill O'donnell?

Was it Haughton's idea to put up Billy O or did Guida insist?

[Fuguzzi]

I dont know really, but I do remember Billy H. saying something about younger and catch driver and saying this great horse deserved every edge. many people were surprised but respected his decision.

[Jazzman]

100% guida wanting billyo haughton would never have given up the drive on his own it was either use odnell or they would move the horse to new trainer

[Fuguzzi]

Well, Billy was whispering about not driving past 86, ironically when he got killed - spooky. I knew Dr. Seeber pretty good and he said Billy told Ernie gaskin he didn't want to get beat with the best horse by one of the new young catch drivers.