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1 of few at rock

Posts: 610 Member Since:03/05/15

#21 [url]

Nov 4 15 6:10 AM

What a bombshell story.   I'm sure the horse will miss her.     Very sadCrying

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GarlandTex.wiretowire

Posts: 3,637 Member Since:03/03/15

#22 [url]

Nov 4 15 7:57 AM

Borell: Runhappy’s Owners ‘Only Care About The Money’

Maria Borell with Sprint winner Runhappy Maria Borell with Sprint winner Runhappy

What a mess.

Less than 24 hours after one of the most uplifting stories of a tremendously exciting homecoming Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland unfolded – the saga of 3-year-old Sprint sensation Runhappy and her unheralded young trainer, Maria Borell –  the story turned sour. Very sour.

Borell was fired by Laura Wohlers, racing manager for Jim McIngvale, known to millions as the flamboyant Houston furniture store owner “Mattress Mack.” Wohlers is also the twin sister of McIngvale’s wife, Linda and works at McIngvale’s Gallery Furniture.

Borell is in good company. More than 30 trainers, including Hall of Famers Nick Zito, Jack Van Berg, the late Robert Frankel and Bob Baffert, have either been fired by McIngvale or quit because of what one of them said was constant meddling by Wohlers. “Almost everyone who’s trained for them, it’s the trainers who usually fire them,” said one of McIngvale’s former conditioners who asked not to be named.

Borell took to Twitter to make public the news that she was being replaced, saying she had a run-in with Wohlers over whether or not Runhappy should go to the track the morning after his winning Breeders’ Cup race. Borell said there was heat and filling in an ankle; Wohlers disagreed with the assessment.

Also Read – Jim McIngvale: ‘Timing Was Terrible, But We Did What We Did’

Borell, in an interview with the Paulick Report, agreed that the tension had been building between her and Wohlers since the Super Saver colt returned to her Thoroughbred Training Center barn in Lexington following his Aug. 29 victory in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga.

“We butted heads quite a bit since the King’s Bishop,” Borell said. “She tried to get very involved, tried to change the bit, his bridle, what time he gets fed, his night feed.”

Airdrie

Wohlers has worked on and off as trainer for McIngvale since 1999, winning 29 races from 239 starts but no graded stakes, according to Equibase. The King’s Bishop was McIngvale’s first Grade 1 win as an owner after more than 1,000 starts and millions of dollars invested since becoming a Thoroughbred owner in 1996.

After replacing Chuck Simon, who had Runhappy earlier in his 2-year-old season, Wohlers trained the colt for his first two career starts – a maiden victory at Turfway Park in December 2014 and a ninth-place finish in the G3 LeComte Stakes at Fair Grounds in January. Runhappy came out of the LeComte with a fractured tibia, Borell said, and Wohlers went back to Houston to her job at McIngvale’s furniture store.

It was then that Wohlers called Borell out of the blue and asked if she would train a handful of McIngvale’s horses. Until that point in her brief training career, Borell had yet to win a race, going 0-for-9 in 2013 and 0-for-13 in 2014.

As she said in a feature that was part of the NBC Sports Breeders’ Cup telecast, “I was in a pretty dire situation until this horse came along.”

That situation included financial problems and an eviction from Walnut Springs Farm and judgment against Borell in court for non-payment of rent at the farm she leased near the training center, where she boarded horses for outside clients. She is also in a dispute with her current landlord, Kara Harrison-Tucker, who alleged Borell stopped payment on an October rent check for the farm she leases in Scott County and has engaged in a “deliberate act of negligence and dishonesty.”

Borell admits that she fell behind paying her rent and said she’s had to put liens on a number of horses she boarded or trained because the owners didn’t pay their bills. “I’ve been making payments to Walnut Springs,” said Borell. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission made that a condition of her being licensed.

McIngvale sent four horses to Borell in April. “Runhappy came off a layup farm,” she said. “Another horse, Triplehott, had a bad knee that was arthritic. They didn’t want to stop on Triplehott and wanted to get her claimed.” The City Zip filly won at Arlington in June, giving Borell her first career victory, and was claimed for $50,000. Triplehott has raced once since then.

Borell said she and Wohlers got along well in the beginning. “I would talk to Laura often,” she said. “We would talk about things other than horses. We were friends.

“It was never her telling me what to do,” Borell said. “It was my decision to take off the blinkers. I got the condition books and found the races. One of Runhappy’s first five-furlong workouts went in a minute and Laura wanted him to go in :57. I wanted him to relax.”

Runhappy won his first start back, an allowance race at Indiana Grand July 7. Then came a victory at Ellis Park in a July 31 allowance/optional claiming race, followed by the King’s Bishop Aug. 29.

That was when Borell first met McIngvale.

“I heard he’s very tough to work for, but I barely talked to him until recently,” she said. “After the Breeders’ Cup win, he told me, ‘I’m so proud of you, honey, you did such a good job.’ He said that several times before he flew back to Houston.”

Borell said there were some strange moments working for McIngvale and Wohlers. “They wanted me to dye my hair and hide my tattoos (she has an image of Sunday Silence tattooed on her back), which has nothing to do with my training job.”

Borell said her verbal agreement with Wohlers was that she would not take outside horses while she trained for McIngvale. She was paid a salary but also assumed she would get 10 percent commission from purses won. That hasn’t happened

(Since this interview was conducted, Borell has retained attorney Richard Getty and issued a statement asking that she be “fairly compensated for my efforts.”)

“Nothing was ever talked about commission until after I won the three races,” she said. “Then Laura said they don’t normally pay it. I thought I would get it. Every private trainer I know gets at least a stakes commission.”

Runhappy has earned $1,284,900 in his five consecutive victories with Borell as trainer.

After their disagreement on Sunday morning, Wohlers returned to the Thoroughbred Center in the afternoon to tell Borell she was taking over training Runhappy. “She said she is going to take the horses to California herself,” Borell said. “Anything that says I wouldn’t go to California with Runhappy isn’t true. I said I would go anywhere with this horse and do anything for him.

“I’ve always looked out for the best interest of the horse. I’ve had to fight them since the King’s Bishop.

“Originally we had decided the horse would get some time off after the Breeders’ Cup and be campaigned next year. Now they are talking about the Malibu or the Cigar Mile. I said, ‘You don’t care about the horse, you only care about the money.’

“They broke down all three horses they had in Louisiana. I don’t care if they take Runhappy away from me, but I hope they will give him to anybody else and not go back to the same situation before where every horse broke down.”

"My bets never lose, they just don't win."

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ClassyBettor.wiretowire

Posts: 1,249 Member Since:03/06/15

#25 [url]

Nov 4 15 4:56 PM

Sent from Samsung Galaxy Note4:

To paraphrase Mandi..These connections make DAP come off like Mensa Members!
I hope they at least pay her,but social media has been the downfall of Many.She now has an attorney and shud let her "mouthpiece" do the talking.The more she goes to vent on social media,the more she "Wags the Dog".

*When you Hear Thundering Hoofs..Think HORSES Not Zebras!*

*Suttons Law

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GarlandTex.wiretowire

Posts: 3,637 Member Since:03/03/15

#26 [url]

Nov 6 15 9:57 AM

ClassyBettor wrote:
Sent from Samsung Galaxy Note4:

To paraphrase Mandi..These connections make DAP come off like Mensa Members!
I hope they at least pay her,but social media has been the downfall of Many.She now has an attorney and shud let her "mouthpiece" do the talking.The more she goes to vent on social media,the more she "Wags the Dog".

Well said Classy... as I told you I have been speaking with Maria via Twitter and have encouraged her to let her Attorney speak for her.
  

"My bets never lose, they just don't win."

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GarlandTex.wiretowire

Posts: 3,637 Member Since:03/03/15

#27 [url]

Nov 6 15 9:58 AM

Breeders' Cup produces a Hollywood drama in Runhappy's saga



Breeders' Cup produces a Hollywood drama in Runhappy's saga


Richard Eng

 covers the horse racing industry. His column appears Friday in Sports. 

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There is no doubt in my mind that a Hollywood movie will be made about a winner of a Breeders' Cup race Saturday at Keeneland. The script is writing itself as we speak.

The horse I'm talking about is not American Pharoah. It is Runhappy. He won the Breeders' Cup Sprint in track record time and is the likely champion sprinter.

Space prevents me from going through a full timeline of the horse. But believe me, Runhappy is a heartwarming success despite all of the human drama.

The script will have larger-than-life characters. The eccentric owner, Jim McIngvale. The jealous racing manager, Laura Wohlers. And the heroine would be the trainer, 32-year-old Maria Borell.

The soap opera began the morning after winning the Sprint. Wohlers told Borell to send Runhappy to the track to gallop and get lactic acid out of the horse's system.

Lactic acid? In a Scientific American report, "contrary to popular opinion, lactic acid buildup is not responsible for muscle soreness felt in the days following strenuous exercise." It said the body "clears the lactate" on its own with a few days of rest.

Borell wrote on her Facebook page that there was some heat in an ankle, too. When she refused, Wohlers fired her.

Now I don't know if Borell is a great trainer, or even a good one. But what she did with Runhappy, winning all five starts for her, including the Grade 1 King's Bishop, Grade 3 Phoenix and the Grade 1 Sprint, is the stuff of fairy tales.

The Grade 1 wins were the first ever for McIngvale in 20 years of owning racehorses. You would think he'd be over the moon.

Borell has asked to be paid 10 percent of the winner's purses, which is the industry norm. Wohlers and McIngvale have refused, claiming she was a private trainer and would be paid a smaller "agreed upon" amount.

McIngvale has a poor history with trainers. According to a Blood-Horse story, he has hired and fired 33 trainers in 20 years. If the count is wrong, it is because it may be higher.

Wohlers will resume training of Runhappy. She was the trainer in the horse's first two starts, a maiden win at Turfway Park and a ninth-place finish in the LeComte at the Fair Grounds.

Highly respected clocker Bruno de Julio, on his Twitter account, wrote that Runhappy was "entered and ran with a fractured tibia" in the LeComte. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

We should be proud of Runhappy for another reason. The horse won all five races without Lasix. He is a poster boy for a sport trying to rid itself of race-day drugs.

Borell has now retained legal counsel.

McIngvale should settle this out of court, and fast. It would make good business sense and cut his losses in the court of public opinion. Since there was no signed contract, any lawyer will point to the industry standard, 10 percent, as a normal rate.

And if Borell wins, she could see a judge's ruling for triple damages plus all of her legal fees. Runhappy still has my vote for an Eclipse Award. He has earned it. It would lead to an incredibly awkward acceptance speech by McIngvale and Wohlers. This before a live audience of the finest people involved in the horse racing industry.

"My bets never lose, they just don't win."

Last Edited By: GarlandTex Nov 6 15 10:01 AM. Edited 1 time.

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StillBaroque.wiretowire

Posts: 391 Member Since:03/05/15

#28 [url]

Nov 6 15 12:21 PM

   "McIngvale should settle this out of court, and fast. It would make good business sense and cut his losses in the court of public opinion."

   It might make business sense, but after nearly two decades of hiring & firing trainers, I doubt that McIngvale is someone who gives a **** about 'public opinion.' smiley: eyes

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GarlandTex.wiretowire

Posts: 3,637 Member Since:03/03/15

#31 [url]

Nov 6 15 10:20 PM

Tomac wrote:
Runhappy will teach them.................smiley: smokinBucked Off

We shall see... it is just so stupid, miserly and Darwinian to not at least pay her the traditional 10%. I mean if this guy can afford to spend $40Mil in the game, he can pay her.

"My bets never lose, they just don't win."

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GarlandTex.wiretowire

Posts: 3,637 Member Since:03/03/15

#32 [url]

Nov 10 15 3:29 PM

Borell Sues McIngvales For Breach Of Contract, Defamation

Maria Borell (second from left) has filed a lawsuit against Runhappy's owner James Mcingvale (second from right) Maria Borell (second from left) has filed a lawsuit against Runhappy's owner James Mcingvale (second from right)

Maria Borell has filed a lawsuit against Gallery Racing Stables LLC and owners James and Linda McIngvale for breach of contract and defamation in the aftermath of Borell being fired by the McIngvales as trainer of Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Runhappy.

The suit, filed in Fayette Circuit Court on Monday, also names Breeders’ Cup Limited and Keeneland Association as third-party defendants holding funds to which Borell claims she is entitled.

Borell, 32, a native of Syracuse, N.Y., has been a licensed trainer since 2013 but quickly rose to prominence after Runhappy’s victory in late August in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes at Keeneland and subsequent victories in the Grade 3 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland Oct. 31. She was fired the day after the Breeders’ Cup by Laura Wohlers, the McIngvales’ racing manager and Runhappy’s former trainer. Wohlers is Linda McIngvale’s twin sister.

In the complaint, which only tells the plaintiff’s side of the story, Borell said she was hired “in or around April 2015” as Gallery Racing’s trainer with the “understanding that she would be paid according to the industry standard for Thoroughbred horse trainers, i.e., $1,000 per week, 10 percent of Gallery Racing’s share of purses won by horses trained by Ms. Borell, 10 percent of any amounts received by Gallery Racing for horses trained by Ms. Borell that subsequently won claiming races and one lifetime breeding right for each Grade 1 win by a horse trained by Ms. Borell.”

The complaint states Borell “has confirmed that other trainers previously hired and utilized by Gallery Racing received compensation according to this industry standard, including in particular the 10 percent of the owner’s share of race winnings.”

Specifically, Borell is seeking $117,752, equal to 10 percent of purse monies won by Runhappy and a second Gallery Racing horse Triplehott, plus $5,000, equal to 10 percent of the $50,000 claiming price Gallery Racing received for Triplehott. The complaint also states that Borell is entitled to two lifetime breeding rights for Runhappy’s two Grade 1 victories in the King’s Bishop and Breeders’ Cup Sprint while under her care.

Shadwell Farm

Borell is suing both James and Linda McIngvale of Houston, Texas, for defamation for statements made by them in a Nov. 4 article published in the Paulick Report. The complaint alleges Borell was “subjected to numerous false, libelous, defamatory and damaging statements” by the McIngvales. “…Mr. McIngvale and Mrs. McIngvale have each published and thereby wrongfully and erroneously imputed dishonesty, incompetence, a lack of knowledge and concern for the well-being of horses and a lack of knowledge and competence as a trainer to Ms. Borell. As a direct and proximate result of such false and defamatory statements, Ms. Borell’s professional reputation has suffered and continues to suffer damage as a result of Mr. and Mrs. McIngvale’s libelous and defamatory statements published in the Paulick Report and other Thoroughbred industry publications.”

Borell is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, in addition to the aforementioned compensation. She is asking for a jury trial on all seven counts of the complaint.

Keeneland and Breeders’ Cup have filed a response to the complaint asking for dismissal, citing rules of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission that require only jockey fees be deducted from an owner’s purse account. A hearing has been scheduled for Friday on the motion to dismiss.

Borell is being represented by Lexington attorneys Richard Getty, Danielle Brown and Matthew English. Houston attorney Monica Orlando, representing the McIngvales and Gallery Racing, could not be immediately reached for comment on the suit.

"My bets never lose, they just don't win."

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ClassyBettor.wiretowire

Posts: 1,249 Member Since:03/06/15

#33 [url]

Nov 11 15 2:20 PM

I still have empathy for Ms. Borell. And YES she should most certainly be compensated for her diligence with 'Happy.But IMhumbleO,the 'FundMe' publicity has hurt her more than helped her Cause.But a big hug to KateyLove for her generous heart and Compassion. 

*When you Hear Thundering Hoofs..Think HORSES Not Zebras!*

*Suttons Law

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oso 7.wiretowire

Posts: 71 Member Since:03/05/15

#34 [url]

Nov 11 15 4:59 PM

Thank you Catalina. I just hope people realize Borel has no income right now and needs to survive. Could her timing have been better before her best friend started the gofundme account? Absolutely, it should have been opened last week before the lawsuit was filed. But I don't care. This woman needs to be able to tread water until her litigation is resolved. So anything donated to her is a good thing. She was naive and susceptible to those who wanted to use her veterinarian back round to hep RH after the Le Compte. Her caring training demonstrated what ability she has and she needs to be rightfully compensated.

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ClassyBettor.wiretowire

Posts: 1,249 Member Since:03/06/15

#35 [url]

Nov 11 15 5:50 PM

oso 7 wrote:
Thank you Catalina. I just hope people realize Borel has no income right now and needs to survive. Could her timing have been better before her best friend started the gofundme account? Absolutely, it should have been opened last week before the lawsuit was filed. But I don't care. This woman needs to be able to tread water until her litigation is resolved. So anything donated to her is a good thing. She was naive and susceptible to those who wanted to use her veterinarian back round to hep RH after the Le Compte. Her caring training demonstrated what ability she has and she needs to be rightfully compensated.

Katey,I have no qualms about anyone who gives to her fund.You and I talked about this entire situation on the phone just the other day.And we both agreed that she may as well tear up the 10g's check they gave her after the K.B...Pretty sure Mcingvale put a brick on that piece of paper the day after The B.C.S.! I really do have empathy for her,but she has a cadre of lawyers now,and she should absolutely let them handle all correspondance with the Mcingvales from here on In. And stay off Social Media.
Love to You & Connie.

*When you Hear Thundering Hoofs..Think HORSES Not Zebras!*

*Suttons Law

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GarlandTex.wiretowire

Posts: 3,637 Member Since:03/03/15

#36 [url]

Nov 11 15 6:38 PM

ClassyBettor wrote:
oso 7 wrote:
Thank you Catalina. I just hope people realize Borel has no income right now and needs to survive. Could her timing have been better before her best friend started the gofundme account? Absolutely, it should have been opened last week before the lawsuit was filed. But I don't care. This woman needs to be able to tread water until her litigation is resolved. So anything donated to her is a good thing. She was naive and susceptible to those who wanted to use her veterinarian back round to hep RH after the Le Compte. Her caring training demonstrated what ability she has and she needs to be rightfully compensated.

Katey,I have no qualms about anyone who gives to her fund.You and I talked about this entire situation on the phone just the other day.And we both agreed that she may as well tear up the 10g's check they gave her after the K.B...Pretty sure Mcingvale put a brick on that piece of paper the day after The B.C.S.! I really do have empathy for her,but she has a cadre of lawyers now,and she should absolutely let them handle all correspondance with the Mcingvales from here on In. And stay off Social Media.
Love to You & Connie.

In all of this furor, a couple facts to remember. First, McIngvale has millions of dollars, so no matter what you think he is wrong. He has every right as the owner to fire her, but he is way off the track not paying her as racing tradition determines is right. An example is that I heard Rich Migliore telling a story today about when he finished 3rd behind Pebbles, his owner was so excited that he gave Rich 10% of the thurd place money which at that time was the biggest check he ever earned. McIngvale may sell mattresses but he 'lies' like a rug. He has no clue as to dealing with people and no redeeming social values I can see.

Second, we all must remember that Maria is very young and is dealing in feelings more than good business sense because she lacks the experience to have those business skills. Likely she is very scared about how she will get by and is confused and overwhelmed by publicity and controversy. Yes, she has made mistakes, but haven't we all?

I just hope that she lands on her feet and succeeds in the future. That would be the best way to show up McIngvale and his minions.

"My bets never lose, they just don't win."

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GarlandTex.wiretowire

Posts: 3,637 Member Since:03/03/15

#37 [url]

Nov 13 15 5:27 PM

Trainer Affidavits Support Borell In McIngvale Lawsuit

Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Runhappy Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Runhappy

Attorneys for Maria Borell have submitted three affidavits from Thoroughbred trainers supporting Borell’s contention that her former employers, Gallery Racing Stables and owners James and Linda McIngvale, owe her a percentage of purse money won by Runhappy while under her care from April until Nov. 1.

Borell, who was fired Nov. 1, one day after Runhappy won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland, filed a breach of contract and defamation lawsuit against the McIngvales seeking 10 percent of purse money won by the colt, two lifetime breeding rights to the horse, and punitive and compensatory damages. The McIngvales have denied that Borell is entitled any percentage of purses because she was a salaried trainer whose expenses were paid by them.

Providing affidavits were trainers Charles Simon, Ken McPeek, and Steven Moyer.

Simon, who trained Runhappy and other horses for the McIngvales from January to October 2014, said he received a “day rate” of $76 plus 12 percent of purses won for first-, second- and third-place finishes.

McPeek, who has not trained for the McIngvales, said in his experience it is customary for trainers to receive 10 to 12 percent of purse winnings whether the trainers are “public” (i.e., training horses for multiple owners) or “private” (having only one client and receiving a salary). McPeek also said it is customary for a trainer to receive a lifetime breeding right to a horse for winning a Grade 1 race.

Moyer, currently an assistant to Jimmy Jerkens in New York, formerly worked for the McIngvales from August 1997 through April 1998. He said he received a $700 per week salary and commission equal to 6.5 percent of purse money the horses in his care won for finishing first through fifth. He trained approximately 20 horses for them during the period in question.

Airdrie

Both Simon and Moyer also spoke of the difficulty they encountered with Laura Wohlers – racing manager for the stable and the twin sister of Linda McIngvale – during their tenure. It was with Wohlers that Borell argued the day after Runhappy’s victory over whether to send the colt to the track for training that morning. Borell contended the horse had filling in an ankle and should not be taken to the track. She was fired by Wohlers several hours after their argument.

“To put it bluntly, dealing with Ms. Wohlers was extremely difficult,” said Simon. “She tried to micromanage training from Houston (where she worked for Jim McIngvale’s Gallery Furniture store) and disregarded my advice or directions regarding the risks involved in over-training horses.”

“I ended my relationship with the McIngvales in approximately April 1998 principally because of the involvement of Mr. McIngvale’s sister-in-law, Laura Wohlers,” said Moyer. “After Ms. Wohlers and her involvement was injected into the training of the McIngvale horses, it became very difficult for me to continue in that position. Ms. Wohlers was very confrontational and, to say the least, was extremely difficult to deal with. It finally reached the point where I severed my relationshiop with the McIngvales.”

The affidavits were entered into the case in support of an effort by Borell to have Breeders’ Cup and Keeneland – both named as defendants in the cast – put 10 percent of the winning Breeders’ Cup Sprint purse into a Court-monitored interest bearing account until such time as the dispute is decided. A hearing on a motion by Keeneland and Breeders’ Cup to be dismissed from the case was scheduled for today.

Plaintiff response and affidavits

"My bets never lose, they just don't win."

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