Taylor Counters Martin Remarks
In the wake of Perry Martin's demeaning comments on Jan. 21 about the turf media while accepting Horse of the Year honors on behalf of connections of California Chrome, Frank Taylor of Taylor Made Farm reached out to NTWAB to express his appreciation for the working press.
Martin is co-breeder of the 6-year-old Thoroughbred and is part of California Chrome LLC along with Taylor Made. As he accepted California Chrome's second career Eclipse Award Saturday night, Martin launched into a monologue portraying reporters in a negative light. While Martin may have believed he was engaged in a stand-up comedy routine, at one time referring to his dry sense of humor, the remarks were insulting and the audience was not amused. Twitter lit up.
Presented without comment pic.twitter.com/Uuuhx8HEJG
— Alicia Wincze Hughes (@AHughesNTRA) January 22, 2017
Jeannine Edwards, who served as host of the awards show, pleaded for mercy while Martin was talking.
Help!!!
— Jeannine Edwards (@jeanninee12) January 22, 2017
Before Martin took the stage, it appeared the event would wrap up as scheduled; however, as Martin's seemingly endless comments went on and on, the telecast went into overtime. With the audience and the show's producers losing their patience, the house band played Martin off the stage.
Perry Martin first Horse of the Year owner to get played off, and to Bronx cheers.
— Jay Privman (@DRFPrivman) January 22, 2017
After Martin stepped aside, Taylor quickly walked to the lecturn and delivered a succinct and appreciative speech fitting to the occasion, bringing the evening to a close on a positive note.
On Jan. 23, Taylor reached out to Alicia Wincze Hughes, NTWAB president, expressing to the organization and racing media in general that Martin's comments in no way represent the opinion of Taylor Made.
"I don't want it to be any reflection of what the Taylors think about what you guys have done," Taylor said in a written statement. "You all have been absolutely fantastic writing about Chrome, and I want to pass on our appreciation to all the turf writers for what they have done for us and try and kill some of this negativity."
Hughes responded on Twitter, "Frank Taylor and his family are all class. When he called to apologize for what went down, I told him that HE had nothing to apologize for."
So far, no further word from Martin.
California Chrome is set to make the final start of his career on Jan. 28 in the $12 million Pegasus Stakes at Gulfstream Park, the site of the Eclipse Awards show.
