Pointing a Finger at Rider, Not Trainer

This is in reply to a letter from Bob Angus (Viewpoint, June 29) in which he would like us to compare oranges with apples. How Gary Stevens’ stupid ride in the Nassau County Handicap has anything to do with Wayne Lucas’ training methods is beyond me. Stevens and Lukas went over the instructions before the horses went to the post, but Stevens, for reasons known only to him, decided to forget the agreed-upon instructions and go head-to-head with the speed horse. After the first six furlongs in 1:08 and change, Farma Way showed his excellent conditioning by finishing third. If I were Lukas, Stevens would never ride for me again.

And Angus’ comment that the “old-timers” never used horses in the manner of Lukas indicates he has either forgotten or never knew how Swaps was treated or how Woody Stephens sacrificed Forty Niner trying to go with Winning Colors in the early going.

No wonder Angus is an ex-handicapper. I hope he’s also an ex-writer.

PAUL M. WILLIAMS

San Diego