THE EDUCATION OF MATT HEGARTY or... MATT HEGARTY IS A STUPID FOOL

I have some thoughts about DRF columnist Matt Hegarty, whose name was mentioned by Jerry Brown recently.

Remember the Frank Passero incident in 1996 down at Gulfstream Park when Passero won 14 races in a row? Passero's horses would improve sharply off the claim. It was clear to handicappers with half a brain - particularly SPEED handicappers with half a brain - that Passero's horses were being injected - enhanced by some unnatural means that defied the laws of nature. Thankfully, the courageous Andy Beyer wrote publicly about this in an editorial in the Washington Post, comparing him to Oscar Barrera. But in reaction to Beyer's article, Matt Hegarty got publicly indignant ABOUT BEYER! How dare Andy have an opinion! He's not a horse trainer! He doesn't go to the backstretch! Hegarty also got indignant about people in the press box, and he pooh-poohed SPEED FIGURES as evidence for skepticism about Passero's performance enhancements. Incredibly, he also compared Passero to "guys like DiMaggio, Koufax and Jordan," who "have gotten hot in their careers." Amazing! Hegarty reasoned that the performances in question were explained by Passero's unique techniques in "magnetic therapy" and "acupuncture!" Yeah right, Matt, YOU STUPID FOOL! YOU WORTHLESS LITTLE WEASEL! Passero explained himself by saying that he ran his horses at levels "where they belong."

Where is Passero now? Did he ever repeat his incredible feat? Did he ever come close? Did he continue to move 'em up like he moved 'em up at Gulfstream Park in the Winter of 1996? No! He faded! Vanished. Just like Oscar Barrera and Pistol Pete and others.

The funny part is this: Where's Hegarty now? HE'S WRITING ABOUT DRUGS IN RACING FOR THE RACING FORM! Hahaha. Hohoho! Does that take the cake, or what!? With the Greg Martin incident in the headlines, what do you think Hegarty is saying about that? Do you think this fool has changed his perception of racing since Passero in 1996? Hegarty's front page article about the Martin incident reads, in part:

"In the past five years, form reversals at racetracks across the U.S. have frustrated horseplayers and generated suspicion toward certain trainers..." Oh. really Matt! Are you sure about that? Gee, thanks! Also on the front page of Sunday's Form, and this really kills me, THERE'S AN ACTUAL BAR GRAPH SHOWING THE BEYER SPEED FIGURE ENHANCEMENTS! Hahaha! Here's A ONE ROCKET's Beyer on Dec. 23, 2003. Voila! And just under it, here's the horse's Beyer on December 18! The speed figures are bar graphed! Hegarty denigrated speed figures in the Passero incident, and now he's championing them nine years later, on the front page! Welcome to the world, Matt!

Incidents like the Passero incident are VERY MUCH ABOUT SPEED FIGURES. Speed figures ABSOLUTELY are part of the equation here. It's perfectly all right to express our opinions about anti-theory racehorse performances based on speed figures. Speed figures are tangible evidence here. Don't let the morons like Matt Hegarty tell you differently.

JohnTChance